Challenges Faced by Kamala Harris: Obstacles and Turning Points

Life is full of challenges, and Kamala Harris faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Kamala Harris is an American politician and attorney. She served as the 49th Vice President of the United States from 2021 to 2025, under President Joe Biden, marking her as the first female, African-American, and Asian-American to hold the office. Previously, she was a United States Senator representing California from 2017 to 2021, and the Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017. A prominent figure in the Democratic Party, she was also the party's nominee in the 2024 presidential election.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

2004: Did not seek the death penalty in the case of Isaac Espinoza

In 2004, Kamala Harris kept her campaign pledge never to seek the death penalty, even in the case of Isaac Espinoza, a San Francisco Police Department officer who was shot and killed.

2009: Did not seek death penalty in the case of Edwin Ramos

In 2009, Kamala Harris kept her campaign pledge never to seek the death penalty, even in the case of Edwin Ramos, an illegal immigrant accused of murdering a man and his two sons.

2015: Criticism for Blocking Gender-Affirming Medical Care

In 2015, Kamala Harris faced criticism for a federal court motion she filed to block gender-affirming medical care for a transgender inmate, after a court ruling that denying treatment violated the 8th Amendment.

October 2018: Target of mail bombing attempt

In October 2018, Kamala Harris was a target of the United States mail bombing attempts.

March 2019: Called for William Barr to testify before Congress

In March 2019, Kamala Harris called for U.S. Attorney General William Barr to testify before Congress regarding the Mueller report on Russian interference in the 2016 election.

April 2019: Urged Trump not to cut aid to Central America

In April 2019, Kamala Harris, along with other Senate Democrats and independents, wrote a letter to President Trump urging him not to cut aid to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

May 1, 2019: Barr testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee

On May 1, 2019, Kamala Harris questioned Attorney General Barr during his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. She inquired whether he had reviewed the evidence before deciding not to charge Trump with obstruction of justice, and Barr admitted that he had not. Harris subsequently called for Barr's resignation.

May 5, 2019: Harris comments on voter suppression in Georgia and Florida

On May 5, 2019, Kamala Harris asserted that voter suppression prevented Democrats Stacey Abrams and Andrew Gillum from winning the 2018 gubernatorial elections in Georgia and Florida.

June 2019: Harris scolds Biden during the first Democratic presidential debate

During the first Democratic presidential debate in June 2019, Kamala Harris criticized Joe Biden for his remarks about senators who opposed integration efforts. Following the debate, Harris saw a rise in her poll numbers.

December 3, 2019: Harris withdraws from the presidential race

On December 3, 2019, Kamala Harris withdrew from the 2020 presidential election due to a shortage of funds.

January 16, 2020: Harris delivers remarks before Trump impeachment trial

On January 16, 2020, prior to the impeachment trial of Donald Trump, Kamala Harris delivered remarks on the Senate floor regarding the integrity of the American justice system. She later voted to convict Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

2020: Comparison point for the 2024 presidential election

In 2024, All 50 states and DC trended rightward compared to the 2020 presidential election.

March 24, 2021: Harris assigned to address migration with Mexico and Northern Triangle nations

On March 24, 2021, Kamala Harris was assigned by President Biden to work with Mexico and the Northern Triangle nations to address irregular migration to the U.S. border. This led to the creation of the Root Causes Strategy (RCS).

June 2021: Harris visits Guatemala and Mexico to address migration

In June 2021, Kamala Harris made her first international trip as vice president, visiting Guatemala and Mexico to address the root causes of migration from Central America to the United States. During her visit, she issued an appeal to potential migrants: "Do not come."

2021: Economic factors impacting Harris Loss

The loss of Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election was in part due to the 2021-2023 inflation surge.

August 2022: Harris's Low Approval Ratings

In August 2022, Kamala Harris had a record low approval rating of 34.8% among Americans.

November 2023: Harris Pledges Unconditional U.S. Aid to Israel

In November 2023, Kamala Harris pledged that the Biden administration would place no conditions on U.S. aid to Israel in its war with Hamas in Gaza.

2023: Viral Video Clip of Harris

In 2024, a video clip from 2023 went viral of Kamala Harris saying "You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you" at a White House event.

2023: Economic factors impacting Harris Loss

The loss of Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election was in part due to the 2021-2023 inflation surge.

March 2024: Harris Criticizes Israel's Actions in Gaza

In March 2024, Kamala Harris criticized Israel's actions during the Israel–Hamas war, advocating for an immediate ceasefire of at least six weeks to facilitate hostage release and aid delivery.

July 2024: House Resolution mentions Harris as "border czar"

In July 2024, a House resolution referred to Kamala Harris as "border czar," despite her not holding that title or having authority over the border, tying her to the Mexico-United States border crisis.

2024: Harris Loses Presidential Election to Trump

In 2024, Kamala Harris lost the United States presidential election to Donald Trump, with losses in key states contributing to her defeat. The loss was influenced by a global backlash against incumbent parties and the 2021-2023 inflation surge.

2024: Biden-Harris Ticket Confirmed

In 2024, after the Democratic primaries, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris became the party's presumptive nominees in the presidential election. Concerns about Biden's age and health persisted.

2024: Harris Remarks Become Viral Memes

Since the launch of her 2024 presidential campaign, remarks made by Kamala Harris have been widely shared as memes, resulting in press coverage of her public image.