After President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential election in July, his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris garnered widespread attention. Videos of Harris dancing, laughing and delivering her iconic line, “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” have captured the interest of millions of young voters. However, as these voters prepare to cast their ballots for Harris, it’s crucial to not only focus on her viral moments but also the policies and presidential strategies she champions. As more people become familiar with her vision for the future, it becomes apparent that Harris is the right choice in this election. 

The next president will be stepping into a complex political landscape. Challenges such as the Israel-Hamas war, inflation and demand for gun control make the role of the president more crucial now than ever.

In the midst of this, Harris has already proven that she can handle the pressure of a position in office. For one, she was the first female, Black and South Asian vice president and made her mark on American history. As a U.S. senator, she fought for criminal justice reform, championed healthcare and supported immigration. Her achievements extend further back to her position as California’s first female, Black and South Asian attorney general, where she focused on issues such as consumer protection and environmental justice. 

Through her infamous campaign slogan, “We’re not going back,” Harris embodies the desire many Americans have for proactive change. This slogan also serves as a jab at former President and 2024 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, whose administration enacted several policies that reversed a lot of American progress, such as rolling back environmental policies and abortion protections. While the Biden-Harris administration has attempted to fix the damage of Trump’s term, Harris emphasizes the need to continue this progress. 

In addition to her progressive mindset, Harris appeals to young voters for many other reasons, but one of the main ones is her commitment to relieving student debt. During her presidential run in 2019, she emphasized her support for debt-free college enrollment and, in 2023, implemented the Saving on a Valuable Education Plan alongside President Biden, which successfully forgave student loan debts for millions of Americans. 

Trump, on the other hand, would only add to students’ financial burdens. He has said that, if elected, he would decrease student loan forgiveness programs and reverse the existing plans the Biden-Harris administration has enacted. Like many of my peers, I’ve felt the pressure of impending student debt. Harris’ commitment to relieving this burden makes me hopeful for a future where education is significantly more accessible.

Further, abortion rights is one of the more largely debated topics in the United States, a topic that Harris is unafraid to discuss, as seen in her campaign video. As vice president, she has voiced her disapproval of anti-abortion state laws. She has equated these laws to a health crisis and has called for Congress to restore Roe v. Wade. After seeing multitudes of predominantly male politicians making decisions about women’s bodies, a woman in office who supports women’s rights is a welcome change, especially for young voters. 

While Trump has taken many different stances on abortion, the position he took during his presidency should not be forgotten. The overturning of Roe v. Wade was made possible by the Supreme Court justices Trump nominated. Trump has even said that he’s proud that his jurisdiction overturned this essential law. 

To make matters worse, Trump has also been very clear about opposing transgender rights, another hotly-debated social justice issue. Trump has equated gender-affirming care to “child abuse” and has pledged to issue an order to cease programs that promote gender transitioning, yet another example of the former president dictating what people can do with their own bodies.

Harris has openly expressed support for transgender citizens. The Biden-Harris administration expanded Title IX, a federal law that prohibits gender discrimination, to protect transgender students. This showcases Harris’ commitment to expanding sanctions for the LGBTQ+ community through legislation.

Harris’ campaign also highlights her commitment to affordable healthcare: “We choose a future … where we can all afford healthcare.” Unlike Trump, who attempted to repeal the Affordable Care Act during his term and has not provided a clear plan for its replacement, Harris has a history of supporting policies like the Medicare for All bill aimed at giving millions of Americans access to health care.

Harris also has strong experience dealing with climate change issues; she co-sponsored the Green New Deal and supported the United States rejoining the Paris Agreement. In contrast, Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement and rolled back environmental protections, showing a clear disregard for climate action.

One of the most significant foreign affairs recently has been the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. During a campaign rally in Detroit, Harris was faced with chants from pro-Palestine protesters, where she effectively shut them down.

At a following campaign rally in Arizona, she recognized her mistake and called for a ceasefire. For me, the Israel-Hamas war affects the moral standing of our nation. While my views slightly contradict Harris’, I believe Palestine needs liberation from oppression. I am heartened by Harris’ willingness to listen to citizens and vow not to stay silent on the issue. 

Meanwhile Trump, who has said that he “fought for Israel” more than any other past president, has been nothing but insensitive regarding the war in Gaza. In an April radio interview, he said Israel just needs to “get it over with” and is “absolutely losing the PR war.” The fact that the former president is so unconcerned about the genocide taking place and equates the war to a public relations competition suggests that he will not attempt genuine efforts toward peace and justice if elected. 

Trump also has close ties with The Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank that created the infamous far-right agenda titled “Project 2025.” This document includes several plans bent on undermining freedoms in the United States, such as banning abortion medications and other plans that would halt efforts to expand renewable energy production.

One of Project 2025’s most dangerous proposals is to dismantle the federal bureaucracy. This would eliminate the U.S. government’s system of checks and balances by allowing the president to implement policies single-handedly. The U.S. was built on a system of checks and balances within our government, and the mere thought of removing this is incredibly harmful to the state of our nation.

While Trump claims not to know who is behind Project 2025 or even what it is, multiple of its contributors served under his administration. This raises serious concerns about the potential of Project 2025’s influence if Trump was to take office. 

To prevent any and all possibilities of Project 2025 from becoming a reality, supporting a candidate who upholds checks on power is crucial. 

While Harris brings a lot to the table, it’s important to note criticisms against her. While Harris is by no means a perfect candidate, her stances are significantly better than those of Trump. 

The upcoming presidential election proves to be one of the most consequential in this nation’s history. As someone who has taken a great interest in this election and has followed Harris’ career closely, I find her approach and conviction refreshing in our current political climate.

Harris brings the leadership needed to navigate our nation’s complex challenges and steer it into a brighter future. As new voters, we must make our voices heard and choose the candidate who will lead us into a better tomorrow. 

Shreya  Pillamari is a second-year computer science and business administration combined major. She can be reached at [email protected].