South Middlesex Times

Minutes after President Joe Biden announced his decision to bow out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Kamala Harris as his successor on the Democratic ticket, discussions regarding her electability began among politicians and pundits.

With the Democratic National Convention approaching in less than three weeks, a key question has emerged: Will Harris’s identity as a woman of color impact her performance at the polls in November?

Kelly Dittmar, an associate professor of political science at Rutgers-Camden and director of research at the Center for American Women and Politics, explores the reasons behind questions about Harris's electability. Dittmar points out that bias is inherent in questioning whether women are less electable. "When, in fact," she says, "the data points prove otherwise in and since 2016." She notes that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in 2016 despite losing the electoral college.

Discussing how Harris's campaign might differ from Clinton’s, Dittmar highlights that Clinton set new expectations for what a presidential contender could look like. "Harris will benefit from having seen and heard and understood what Hillary Clinton did – what worked and what didn’t."

The current political climate also plays a role. According to Dittmar, "The country not only had four years of a Trump presidency but also another four years of Trump denying the legitimate election of Joe Biden." This context creates a different sense of urgency among those wary of another Trump presidency.

Addressing whether Harris’s ethnicity will help or hurt her at the polls, Dittmar suggests it may offer electoral advantages. She cites increased success rates for women of color running for office since 2016 as evidence against claims that a Black woman couldn’t win over a majority white electorate.

Dittmar acknowledges disadvantages Harris faces due to her identity. "On the negative side," she says, "it means folks are going to question Harris’s credentials and qualifications to a degree that is greater than her white male counterparts." However, she also notes positive aspects such as strong mobilization efforts among Black women supporting Harris.

Voter mobilization is crucial. While shared identities do not typically drive voting behavior directly, they can enhance voter turnout through increased enthusiasm and engagement. Higher turnout can significantly influence election outcomes by boosting donations, volunteer activities, and voter information-seeking behaviors.

Finally, on how motivated voters are by the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Dittmar observes that while only 8 percent consider it their top issue, it has mobilized pro-choice women across the country. Both Biden and now Harris have leveraged this energy against Republican opposition to reproductive rights.