The 2024 Presidential Election is arguably the most important political event this year. The competition between Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump is becoming immensely fierce in this election’s final stages.
As their campaigns have both come to a close, and as we have rounded the corner to Election Day, it becomes increasingly important to recognize the differences in those running. Notably, here are the reasons why Harris is the better candidate.
Firstly, Harris has been vocal about her desire to implement gun safety laws to reduce gun violence. Her policy would “require universal background checks” and she has also noted that she favors stronger gun-control measures. Trump meanwhile has stated in a speech at the NRA’s Great American Outdoor Show that he “did nothing” to restrict guns during his first presidency.
Unfortunately, both Harris, and her running mate Tim Walz, are gun owners, but Trump’s obvious leniency towards gun control policies is rather concerning, with the U.S. having the highest firearm death rate in the world. His policies will certainly be a cause for increasing safety issues among the American population.
Moreover, during the Biden-Harris administration, Harris was committed to listening to public health advice and guidance for the COVID-19 pandemic. The administration enacted multiple federal policies to boost funding and resources for our public health departments. Conversely, Trump, during his presidency, proposed significant budget cuts to federal public health programs, and he downplayed the threat of COVID-19 at the outset of the pandemic and made unscientific suggestions for dealing with the coronavirus.
Harris’s views on public health, especially during the pandemic, are all the more reason why she is the better candidate. Her continuation of the Biden-Harris healthcare policies would both protect and strengthen public health, something immensely important to the American public.
Looking forward to the future, Harris has taken a decisive stance for climate and environmental justice. As Vice President, she helped pass pro-climate bills and supported other clean-energy technologies, such as energy-efficient housing and cleaner industry. However, during her campaign, she did note that the Biden/Harris administration has overseen a large increase in domestic oil production, although she has moved to accelerate renewable energy projects.
On the other hand, Trump is poised to unabashedly move in the exact opposite direction, pushing America towards a reliance on fossil fuels. He’s been openly against Biden’s climate policies and has openly endorsed oil industries.
Needless to say, a Trump win would have a disastrous effect on climate change laws. His press secretary has mentioned that, should he take office again, he would give the oil industry “more freedom” which would lead to increased fossil fuel usage. This would result in America going backwards in its fight against climate change.
In addition, Trump himself as a candidate is also an extremely divisive figure, both in political policies and in conduct. In 2024, Trump was convicted of thirty-four felony crimes, stemming from “hush money” payments he made to an adult film star in the days before the 2016 Election. He also has three pending cases against him.
Furthermore, Trump was impeached in 2019 during his presidency, and he was then impeached for a second time in 2021. His brushes with the law, both inside and outside of his presidency, are all the more reason to avoid him this Election Day.
What’s more, Trump has been reported to have made multiple degrading comments towards women and immigrants, as well as racist remarks against many different ethnic groups. Even the people who worked closely with him during his administration have come out against him.
Today will be a tense and highly contested day. While both candidates have their flaws, one has a decisively better track record and more appealing policies for the future of America. If you are able to vote this Election Day, there is no question that Kamala Harris should have your vote.
Additional editing provided by Hasmik Tumasyan
