The Suffrage Playbook: Will Harris’s Women’s Suffrage Strategy Win 2024?

 

Kamala Harris is reframing the 2024 election as a modern-day women's suffrage movement, shifting focus from policy to a moral battle for America's future.

It seems like Kamala Harris is rewriting the playbook for the Democrats, and in doing so, she may have turned the 2024 election into a modern-day women's suffrage movement. This isn't just an election anymore—it is a character contest, one where Harris positions herself not only as a viable alternative to Donald Trump but as the face of women's empowerment and equality in America. A natural question to ask at this point simple: is this strategy simply a rebranding effort aimed at masking a lack of substantive policy with a wave of historical significance and moral high ground?

The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, gave women the right to vote, and since then, the narrative of women in politics has slowly evolved. Harris's rise to the Democratic ticket marks a watershed moment for women of color, reinforcing the strides made over the past century. However, this historical framing also risks pigeonholing the election into a binary: progress versus regression, equality versus oppression. It reduces a complex political landscape to a referendum on gender politics and morality, a strategy that may alienate voters more concerned with economic issues, immigration, or national security.

Harris's acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention was full of rhetorical flair. Her insistence that "We are not going back" echoes the cries of suffragettes, but it also places the entire election into a moral framework. Harris isn’t just asking voters to choose her policies; she’s asking them to choose what kind of country they want to live in. By invoking a "new way forward" and contrasting it with a return to Trump’s America, Harris positions herself as a harbinger of a better future—especially for women and minorities.

However, this strategy conveniently glosses over the very real political and policy challenges that Harris has faced and will continue to face. It is easy to see why Democrats would lean into the symbolism of Harris’s candidacy. After all, her very presence on the ticket can be framed as a rebuke to Trump's often incendiary rhetoric. But reducing the election to a character contest could backfire. For many Americans, the 2024 election is about pocketbook issues—rising inflation, healthcare, and immigration, to name a few.

Harris’s shift on immigration, for example, has been one of the most striking aspects of her political evolution. Gone are the days when she advocated for decriminalizing unauthorized border crossings and dismantling Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Now, she speaks of securing the border while also creating pathways to citizenship—a far cry from her earlier, more left-leaning positions. This balancing act may be a tactical pivot, but it also raises questions about the authenticity of her platform. Is this the new Kamala Harris, or is it merely a political makeover designed to broaden her appeal?

Similarly, Harris's defense of abortion rights and government-run pension programs are safe Democratic talking points, but the vagueness surrounding her housing policies and economic plans suggests that her campaign may be more focused on building a narrative of character than articulating a coherent vision for America's future. By positioning herself as the "president for all Americans," Harris may be trying to capture the moderate and independent vote, but is this enough to address the deep-rooted concerns that voters have about the economy and national security?

The framing of the election as a women's suffrage movement isn't just a political strategy—it’s a clever way to shift the focus away from policy shortcomings. The appeal to gender politics, while significant, may obscure deeper issues that voters are grappling with. By making this election about morality and character, Harris risks alienating voters who want to see more concrete solutions to their problems, not just historical milestones.

Harris’s handling of foreign policy also plays into this character-driven narrative. Her condemnation of Hamas as a "terrorist organization" while simultaneously calling for a ceasefire in Gaza highlights the tightrope she’s walking. On the one hand, she needs to satisfy her base, which includes coastal leftists with strong opinions on Israel and Palestine. On the other hand, she needs to appeal to Trump-skeptical Republicans and moderates who prioritize national security and stability in the Middle East.

This balancing act is reflective of a larger trend in the Democratic Party. Much like Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign, Harris is walking a fine line between appealing to the progressive base and the more moderate center. But while Clinton’s campaign focused heavily on policy specifics, Harris seems to be leaning more into the narrative of moral superiority. By positioning Trump as a dangerous, unfit leader who threatens American democracy, Harris is framing this election as a battle for the soul of the nation.

But let’s not forget that the Trump camp is banking on this very strategy peaking too early. If Harris turns this election into a character contest, she runs the risk of overplaying her hand. The Trump campaign is already painting her as an opportunist, someone who shifts with the political winds. By invoking women’s suffrage and framing the election as a moral decision, Harris risks alienating voters who are more concerned with tangible issues like inflation, immigration, and healthcare. They may see her focus on character as a distraction from the problems that affect their daily lives.

In the final stretch of the campaign, Harris will need to tread carefully. She’s already the slight favorite according to some forecasts, but this doesn’t guarantee victory. Much like in 2016, the polls could tighten, and focusing too much on moral platitudes rather than policy specifics could lead to a repeat of Clinton’s electoral struggles. As Harris encourages voters to help her "write the next great chapter" of American history, she may find that some voters are more interested in the here and now than in the grand narrative she’s trying to create.

Perhaps the biggest challenge for Harris is reconciling her role as the symbolic face of progress with the realities of running a national campaign. Turning this election into a women’s suffrage movement may energize the base, but it could also limit her appeal to a broader electorate. As she continues to navigate the political landscape, Harris may find that while history is on her side, winning the presidency requires more than just being on the right side of history.

And if she fails to adjust her strategy? Well, at least she will have made history while missing the point entirely.