In the realm of political traditions, Kamala Harris participated in one that’s been carried out since the 1940s – signing the top drawer of the Vice Presidential desk. This event, held just prior to the inauguration of her successful opponent, was her last public appearance as Vice President during this term. Displaying a characteristic lack of insight, she seemed buoyant despite the fact that she was recounting a considerably battered tenure; a period filled with stark partisan division, and unfortunately not much in the way of accomplishment.
Harris, who was the first female vice president, had her supporters emphatically cheering her on during the event. Unfazed by the fact that most American voters elected her opponent, she exhibited an unwarranted optimism with a statement of commitment to keep working, though it wasn’t made clear for whom.
This traditional act of signing the inside of the top drawer of the desk marks the end of a vice president’s term. It seemed more of a desperate grasp at the role rather than a dignified departure. Her intended ambitions of taking residence in the West Wing have seemingly crumbled to dust since last November.
Instead of spearheading new agendas and fostering positive change from her very prominent political elevation, Harris was found tied down by her constitutional duties in Washington, exemplified by her presence at the certification of the election results on January 6. Boasting a peaceful transfer of power, inadvertently ignoring the fact that much of the nation wasn’t pacified by the results.
As Inauguration Day dawns, her office paraphernalia is to be retired to the National Archives, while the vice president herself makes a less than triumphant return to California. It’s a state enduring pressing issues like wildfires – a reality, along with many other significant state problems, which her stint in national leadership seems to have largely overlooked.
Harris will be reportedly relocating to Los Angeles, seeking refuge in an undisclosed location within the city while she plans her ‘next steps.’ As some might see it, these steps must involve some serious reflections on her tumultuous term and divisive political career thus far.
Harris’s exit from office, is not your run-of-the-mill departure story. Indeed, following her vice presidency and brief presidential run, she has carved a certainly contentious national profile for herself. The approval ratings convey a mixed picture: while they’ve slightly improved since the inception of her campaign, they are notably lower than when she first took office. This downward approval trend surely requires some introspection from the once Vice President.
Harris represents a younger era of Democratic leaders, with a level of experience unparalleled by those beneath the age of 75 within the party. Yet, despite these seeming credentials, it’s clear her approach has not wide majoritarian appeal, given the recent election results.
Promising to stay active in the public arena, she continues to be flanked by a small group of advisers. However, as she contemplates her potential influence in the coming months, critics might suggest she needs to consider a new approach to her decision-making processes and standpoints.
Upon exiting office in the upcoming days, Harris will be removed from public service for the first time in more than two decades. Despite what may seem like a chance for self-reflection and course correction, those close to Harris affirm she views this departure as anything but an opportunity to recalibrate her compass.
Harris’s previous colleagues like Rep. Lateefah Simon, D-Calif., who joined her team when she was the District Attorney of San Francisco, are still firmly occupying roles in public office. Simon is now representing Oakland in Congress, a role that puts her in a district where Harris grew up. Yet, it’s evident that there are ever-widening gulfs between these former colleagues’ present circumstances.
Simon insists categorically that Harris is far from retirement, repeating this mantra with zeal that seems disproportionate to the political reality. Here too, it’s puzzling given the recent rejection that Harris faced in the election.
The adamant denial of Harris’s political twilight is an interesting narrative being spun by those in her inner circle. This possibly indicates a deep-seated refusal to acknowledge her trajectory or, curiously, a mistaken belief that her next chapter will be anything like her past.
Concluding with speculative prognoses, it’s difficult to predict for sure what is to come for Harris. One can only hope that the coming steps, unlike her past ones, bring about the much-needed harmony and progress she failed to deliver while in office.