“I Wish the Whole Country Were Shouting It from the Rooftops!” Harris’ Historic Campaign Strategy Explained

Vice President Kamala Harris stands on the brink of making history as the first woman, the first Asian-American, and the second Black person to hold the office of U.S. President. However, her campaign has notably avoided focusing on this groundbreaking potential — and there’s a clear reason for that, according to Jill Filipovic, writing for Slate.

Filipovic explained that Harris is intentionally steering clear of the “identity trap” that has tripped up Democrats in previous elections. Instead of centering her campaign on her race or gender, Harris aims to focus on the issues that matter most to voters.

“For feminists like me, this is uncomfortable: For one thing, I’m psyched about the prospect of the first female president. I wish the whole country were shouting it from the rooftops!” Filipovic wrote. However, she added, “I also believe there is something shallow, and sometimes incredibly counterproductive, about a focus on identity.”

Filipovic pointed out that in recent years, particularly after Donald Trump’s election, progressive circles have increasingly turned their attention to racial and sexual justice. While this brought much-needed attention to issues of inequality, she noted that the intensity of the focus sometimes became divisive, leading to what she called “excesses.” This included “the quickness to abandon other principles in the name of the cause” and a tendency for “ritual shaming” of those who didn’t perfectly align with ever-changing social norms.

In contrast, Harris is working to transcend this identity-focused narrative. Her strategy is about focusing on practical issues — the economy, health care, and the challenges everyday Americans face — rather than her unique identity as a candidate.

The Democratic Party has largely adopted this approach, too. Aside from lighthearted fundraisers like “White Dudes for Harris,” which aimed to show broad support for her campaign, Democrats are avoiding identity-heavy messaging. Instead, they are emphasizing economic and healthcare issues — the concerns that polls suggest are top priorities for voters, particularly among Latino communities.

While Harris’ potential victory would undeniably be historic, Filipovic concluded that she will only succeed if Americans follow the advice of social justice advocates: to see Harris not as a symbol of “firsts” but as “simply the best person for the job.”