The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a sharp spike in violent crime, sparking intense public concern. Although recent data from the FBI shows violent crime rates trending toward historic lows, public fear of crime remains high. According to a September 2024 Pew survey, crime ranks fifth among voter concerns, driving both major parties to address crime control measures in their campaigns.
From Reform to Realignment
Kamala Harris, the current Democratic presidential candidate, once championed criminal justice reform as part of her 2019 presidential platform. At the time, Harris, then a California senator, called for an overhaul of the criminal justice system. Her vision included ending mass incarceration, eliminating private prisons, and ending the war on drugs. Harris even pushed for juvenile justice reform, proposing to halt life sentences for minors and provide opportunities for sentence reductions for young offenders.
However, the rise in violent crime in 2020-2021, partially linked to pandemic-related stresses, led to a notable shift in priorities for both Harris and the Biden administration. As public anxiety over violent crime grew, Democrats realigned their messaging to address safety concerns, moving away from previous reform-centered approaches. Leading Democrats, including Harris, began emphasizing a more “tough on crime” stance, which has continued in her current campaign narrative.
Marijuana Legalization Takes Center Stage
One area where Harris has maintained her original reform stance is marijuana policy. Since Harris became the Democratic nominee after President Biden’s withdrawal, she has been vocal about federal marijuana reform. In April 2024, the Biden-Harris administration requested that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reclassify marijuana to recognize its medical value, although it stopped short of proposing full legalization. However, Harris went further, pledging to support complete legalization, a position backed by 70% of Americans according to a 2023 Gallup poll.
Harris’s stance on marijuana aligns with her 2019 Senate sponsorship of a bill aimed at decriminalizing the substance. This commitment reflects the broader public and party support for decriminalization and legalization at the federal level, especially as numerous states have already taken steps toward full legalization of recreational marijuana.
A Campaign Balancing Act
Despite her early emphasis on criminal justice reform, Harris has adopted a more cautious tone during her 2024 presidential campaign. Her campaign’s policy guide notably lacks dedicated crime or criminal justice reform sections. During her nomination acceptance speech, Harris leaned into her background as a prosecutor, underscoring her commitment to victims’ rights and “a right to safety, dignity, and justice.” This rhetoric echoes a more traditional “law and order” approach, contrasting sharply with her 2019 platform.
Harris’s pivot is also strategic in positioning her stance against former President and Republican nominee Donald Trump, who is facing multiple felony charges. As Harris embraces her background in prosecution, she appears to be highlighting a distinct contrast between herself and Trump’s legal issues. This shift in tone aims to reassure moderate and undecided voters, underscoring Harris’s capability in enforcing the law.
Shaila Dewan from The New York Times observes that Harris’s approach reflects a newfound “prosecutorial identity” that would have seemed out of character just a few years ago. Whether this approach resonates with voters will be crucial to Harris’s success in the 2024 election. Her campaign seeks to balance crime concerns with a pragmatic stance on reform, appealing to a diverse voter base with varying perspectives on law enforcement and public safety.
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