MALIK: Why did Kamala Harris lose?
In the past week, after the 2024 election, I have seen a lot of dejected women posting about how Vice President Kamala Harris lost because she is a woman.
The fact that a man, like President-elect Donald J. Trump can even win, especially since he is a felon, seems shocking to most of us. The election results are a rude awakening, showing us just how much of a bubble our algorithms and friendships have created around us.
Harris has worked in all three branches of government and is one of the most qualified candidates, in terms of experience, to run for president in recent times. She had an economic plan backed by 23 Noble Prize-winning economists, but many voters felt Trump would do a better job of fixing the economy. The qualifications that Harris had when compared to Trump added further confusion as to how the latter could win.
Some people want to argue that the U.S. is simply not ready or progressive enough for a woman president. Harris' loss is hailed as a loss for women everywhere, especially with a campaign that focused heavily on expanding abortion rights for women.
In a blue state like New Jersey, where many are surrounded by other blue voters, Trump's win is even more confounding, especially with how it relates to identity. On any given day after the election, you might hear, "Trump is a misogynist, how was the race even that close?", "Trump will take away abortion rights, how is he winning?" or "Trump is racist, how could so many people of color vote for him?"
If you list out the names Trump is called, it might seem confusing how he even has people left to vote for him. He has been called misogynistic, racist, xenophobic, islamophobic and homophobic, and by extension, his supporters have been, too.
When you look at it through the lens of identity, the data is clear. A woman cannot win in the U.S. against a man who is misogynistic, racist, xenophobic and homophobic. Identity, however, is not everything, nor is it enough to make the case for all seven swing states swinging toward Trump.
In the 2024 election, more than 50 percent of white women voted for Trump, the misogynist. A majority of Latino men voted for Trump, the racist. Trump, the islamophobe, won more of a percentage of Muslim votes than Kamala Harris.
If identity claimed this election, most bets would be wrong. The reality is that identity can only get you so far, and both Harris and Clinton had flaws in their campaigns that must be understood. While I am not denying that many people did not vote for or consider voting for Harris because she is a woman, to frame her loss as a loss for women everywhere is simply not true.
Democrats also won senate races in states that Trump won — Wisconsin and Michigan. Arizona, Missouri, Montana and Nevada are all states that had a majority vote for Trump, while also passing abortion rights ballot measures.
Florida had a majority of 57 percent for their abortion-focused amendment, but they needed 60 percent. These numbers show that abortion rights were enough for voters to vote yes to amendments, just not enough for them to vote for Harris.
The big thing many people failed to consider in this election was the number of voters who decided to stay home rather than vote and the number of people who are disillusioned with the two-party system. Harris' loss is not because she is a woman, and it is not because people did not care about abortion or women enough.
Harris' loss has to do with her following President Joseph R. Biden's highly unpopular administration with similar policy, her inability to address real issues — because that would have to address flaws from the Biden Administration concerning the economy and Gaza — along with her going for the Republican vote rather than focusing on her base.
Her loss is not singular nor is it a failure for women. Hopefully, it will tell the Democrats which way they need to move. Hint: It is not to the Right.
Sehar Malik is a junior in the School of Arts and Sciences majoring in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and minoring in French. Malik’s column, “People Talking,” runs on alternate Tuesdays.
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