Democrats Prepare to Approve Party Platform Without Harris’ Candidacy Update

NEW YORK (AP) — On Monday night, delegates at the Democratic National Convention are expected to cast their votes on the party platform for the 2024 election. This platform outlines standard party priorities but inaccurately identifies President Joe Biden as the candidate for reelection.

The vote, which is mostly ceremonial, will take place in Chicago and is crucial as it reflects the party’s unity and shared vision for the coming four years. However, the platform feels outdated, especially since Vice President Kamala Harris has only outlined a few distinct policy positions since assuming the Democratic presidential nomination last month.

According to the Democratic National Committee, the more than 90-page platform document expresses strong support for the achievements of President Biden and Vice President Harris. It aims to present a vision for a progressive agenda that the party intends to build upon as they approach the next electoral cycle.

The platform committee had approved the document on July 16, just days before Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed Harris on July 21. As a result, the document frequently references Biden’s administration and its accomplishments, while mentioning Harris’s contributions as vice president but failing to detail her stance on various critical issues.

Since taking over the top spot on the Democratic ticket, Harris has generally supported the Biden administration’s ambitions, which the platform endorses. The platform advocates for restoring abortion rights across the nation, advancing green energy initiatives that would create jobs while combating climate change, capping childcare costs for low-income families, and calling on Congress to establish a pathway to U.S. citizenship for long-term undocumented residents.

It also reaffirms that Israel’s right to self-defense is “ironclad” while backing the Biden administration’s efforts to negotiate a lasting ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Recently, Harris shared new economic proposals but has yet to provide a comprehensive list of her policy positions since becoming the Democratic nominee. Campaign aides have suggested she may no longer fully support some liberal stances she previously endorsed during her 2020 presidential campaign, such as advocating for a ban on hydraulic fracturing.

Ultimately, it is important to note that candidates are not obligated to follow their party’s platform, and they often choose not to.

The Democratic National Convention represents a pivotal moment for the party, as it aims to move forward with a cohesive strategy despite recent changes in its leadership and policy outlines. As the convention unfolds, the discussions and votes will shape the direction the party takes moving into the election season.