Kamala Harris Says State and Local Leadership Matters as Much as Washington

June 29, 2026

Following her 2024 presidential election loss, former Vice President Kamala Harris embarked on a book tour that doubled as a listening campaign across America. During a June 23rd UCLA event hosted by The States Project, she discussed how these conversations revealed widespread feelings among Americans that Washington doesn't hear their everyday struggles with issues like affordable housing, healthcare, and basic needs. Harris emphasized that state-level elected officials are better positioned than federal lawmakers to understand and address these community challenges, which is why she now supports investing in state legislative races.

Who is affected

Americans struggling with everyday challenges, particularly working families
A single mother of three in Jackson, Mississippi attending cosmetology school on a $150 weekly grocery budget
Students at North Carolina A&T State University who had their campus early voting location removed
College students across North Carolina facing removal of polling places from campuses
State legislative candidates in competitive states supported by The States Project
North Carolina families benefiting from child welfare reforms
Maine residents now receiving paid family leave benefits and childcare access
Black Americans and civil rights communities facing voting rights challenges

What action is being taken

Kamala Harris is traveling the country on her book tour listening to Americans
Harris is supporting The States Project organization
North Carolina Senator Sidney Batch is working with Republican colleagues on child welfare reforms
Maine's Democratic majority is implementing paid family leave (benefits beginning in May)
Students from North Carolina A&T traveled to the state capitol to protest voting access restrictions
The States Project is supporting state legislative candidates in competitive states

Why it matters

This matters because it represents a strategic shift in Democratic organizing toward state-level politics, where officials may be more responsive to local needs than federal lawmakers in Washington. State legislatures hold significant power over everyday issues affecting Americans—from healthcare and housing affordability to voting rights and childcare access—yet historically receive less attention and funding than federal races. The emphasis on state races is particularly significant given recent restrictions on voting access and policy changes being implemented at the state level, demonstrating that many consequential political battles are now occurring in state capitols rather than Washington. Harris's message also highlights a broader disconnect between political leaders and ordinary Americans struggling with basic needs, suggesting that addressing this gap is essential for Democratic electoral success.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint