Kamala Harris Urges Democrats to Use New Power for Economic Relief and Accountability – Former Vice President Kamala Harris has urged Democrats to use their midterm victories to deliver economic relief and investigate the Trump administration, joining senior party figures in setting priorities for the incoming congressional majorities.
In a statement posted Wednesday, Harris said elected Democrats must use their power ruthlessly to help working families and hold the administration accountable for alleged corruption.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the CHCI 47th Annual Legislative Conference, Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton also welcomed the results, pushing for accountability and rebuilding public trust.
Results and Accountability
Harris portrayed Tuesday’s outcome as a rejection of the White House’s conduct and Republican lawmakers’ willingness to support it.
“On Election Day, the American people spoke loud and clear: they are done with the corruption, incompetence, and callousness coming from the White House and the capitulation of Republican leaders,” the former vice president wrote on social media. “As I traveled the country to campaign for Democrats up and down the ballot, I witnessed the resolve of the people to turn pain into purpose, and anger into action.”
Congratulating candidates and volunteers for a “resounding” election victory, Harris added: “Now, the work begins to actually deliver results. The American people have elected Democrats across the country in federal, state, and local races who must be ruthless in using every lever of power to deliver economic relief for working families and hold this administration accountable for their deep-seated corruption.”
She concluded that the American people “demand nothing less.”
Time to Deliver
Harris was not the only former Democratic Party presidential nominee to react to Tuesday’s election results. In a post on X, Hillary Clinton said Americans had “made a clear call for accountability and affordability.”
Barack Obama Back in 2024 Creative Commons Photo
“A body politic cannot recover until its harms have been treated and its wounds have been healed,” said the former secretary of state. “The historic abuses of the last two years must be prevented from happening again.”
She added: “American families should be able to thrive, not just survive. Every child should have the chance to live up to his or her full potential. The American Dream must be more than a mirage.”
Clinton said she was “confident” that the Democrats could deliver “both, and much more,” adding that the “post-Trump era begins now.”
Rebuilding Trust
Former President Bill Clinton also issued a statement following Tuesday’s vote, in which he said the Democrats had been given the opportunity to “rebuild trust.”
“The American people have given us clear direction: to put their needs ahead of the chaos and corruption coming out of Washington,” he said in a statement. “That means helping families with the cost of living and protecting their health care. It means ending senseless wars and tariffs that drive up prices. It means getting our national debt under control. And it means holding those in power accountable to the people they serve.”
He added: “Last night’s victory gives us an opportunity and a responsibility to rebuild trust. We should do so with humility and determination, and an open hand, not a clenched fist, to those who didn’t vote for our candidates.”
A Blue Tsunami
Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to become the first-ever Black American Speaker of the House of Representatives in January, described his party’s successes as “an American tsunami.”
“The American people have chosen common sense over corruption, chaos, and cruelty,” he said at a press conference on Wednesday. “We’re humbled by the outcome,” he added, promising a “relentless effort to make life more affordable for everyday Americans.”
Earlier in the day, he told MS Now’s Morning Joe that the Democratic Party had “won on affordability” and pledged to govern on the issue.
While Democrats will control the committees able to investigate the Trump administration and challenge its legislative agenda, as well as block presidential nominees, Trump’s presidential veto allows him to block Democratic legislation that he opposes. A congressional majority in both the Senate and the House does not automatically overcome that power. Overriding a presidential veto requires two-thirds of members voting in each chamber, with a quorum present.
Trump said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that while he looked forward to working with the Democrats, he would use his presidential veto if required.
About the Author: Shay Bottomley
Shay Bottomley is a British journalist. He has written for the Western Standard, Business Insider, Maidenhead Advertiser, Slough Express, Windsor Express, Berkshire Live and Southend Echo.
