Addressing attendees at the National Urban League’s annual conference in Nashville, former Vice President Kamala Harris strongly encouraged Democrats to mobilize voters in unprecedented numbers for the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Speaking on July 31, Harris framed overwhelming voter turnout as the most effective defense against policies designed to restrict ballot access.
Emphasizing the mechanics of civic participation, Harris urged citizens to proactively verify their voter registration status to ensure their names have not been erroneously purged from electoral rolls. She also cautioned voters to double-check their designated polling locations, accusing certain election officials of manipulating the process by relocating voting sites. Advocating for an aggressive, uncompromising grassroots strategy, Harris remarked that the Democratic movement must be “too big to rig,” explaining that such an effort requires the same level of strategic ruthlessness demonstrated by political opponents. When questioned regarding her own political future, Harris clarified that her immediate priority remains focused entirely on the 2026 midterms, noting she has not yet determined whether she will pursue a presidential bid in 2028.
Embrace of Progressive Policy Proposals:
Beyond immediate electoral strategy, Harris threw her support behind several ambitious progressive structural reforms that were not central pillars of her 2024 presidential campaign:
Supreme Court Expansion: Joining other high-polling Democrats such as former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who previously advocated for a 15-justice bench, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Harris voiced support for expanding the U.S. Supreme Court. Proponents argue that enlarging the bench is necessary to correct an ideological imbalance that fails to reflect contemporary America.
Revisiting the Electoral College: Acknowledging the sensitive nature of the topic given her own political background, Harris openly called for a reevaluation of the Electoral College system.
Statehood Additions: Expanding territorial representation, she endorsed granting statehood not only to Washington, D.C., but also to Puerto Rico.
