For Black Democrats, Kamala Harris’s defeat of Trump is personal

“They were willing to risk everything,” Plaskett said of the vulnerable communities that mobilized to elect Harris, including some white allies. Unfortunately, their efforts weren’t enough to place Kamala Harris within the White House in 2025.

While many feel helpless and terrified on the prospect of a second Trump administration, Plaskett had a direct message for these voters, especially Black women – 91% of whom voted for Harris.

Since the election was called, Democrats have engaged in a blame game, attempting to make sense of not only Harris’ loss but, more importantly, Trump’s growing share of the voting electorate, including from white women, Latinos – and to a small extent Black men – who they consider were voted against own interests.

“People chose to side with someone who at least felt comfortable saying that, which clearly sent a signal to his supporters that it was not only okay, but somewhat accepted,” explained Payne, who worked on Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2016.

As Trump returns to the White House, Payne warned there might be a “very heightened level of concern for vulnerable communities, especially Black people.”

Plaskett, who served alongside Harris on the Congressional Black Caucus, stated that she believed Harris’ loss was partly a result of her identity as a girl and an individual of color. When President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris, the congresswoman recalled telling others, “I trust us black women, but I’m not entirely sure what white men and white women will do.”

When the election results confirmed her suspicions, she added: “It’s very painful.”

In addition to expected hurdles in winning over white voters on account of Harris’ identity as a black and South Asian woman, Clyburn, an in depth confidant of Biden, said he was particularly concerned about black men.

Although former President Barack Obama and others were heavily criticized for suggesting that some black men wouldn’t vote for Harris because she is a girl (78% of black men voted for Harris, in response to an exit poll), Clyburn said he and other Democrats have already recognized the primary signs of some defections within the party’s second most loyal voting bloc.

“(There was) a strong feeling growing among African-American men that…the black woman was the backbone (of the party)…black men took offense to that,” Clyburn said.

Congresswoman Plaskett said that given the white vote and the small portion of black and brown voters who joined them, she didn’t consider “we have aligned interests in this country.” She added: “In order to defeat Donald Trump and white privilege, we must acknowledge this.”

While it is argued that Harris lost the election because Trump won over voters together with his message on the economy and immigration, Democrats don’t exactly buy it. While they acknowledge that the present president-elect has won the knowledge and messaging war, they consider this only tells part of the story.

In their view, Harris had a more comprehensive economic plan (backed by data) that has been proven to grow the economy. Democrats also said Trump clearly encouraged Republicans to create chaos around the difficulty quite than work with Democrats to pass already proposed laws to deal with the country’s border and broken immigration system.

Plaskett said that despite Harris being the “perfect candidate” and running a “flawless campaign against a convicted felon, twice impeached, poorly disciplined man who said he would do terrible things to people,” voters felt “They have nothing to do with it.”

Regardless of the cause, Payne expressed concerns that the 2024 election results may lead to the “potential marginalization of already marginalized groups,” akin to Black voters, Arab-American voters and Latino voters.

“I am concerned that these groups who are already marginalized… may be judged or essentially blamed en masse for an election outcome that is less targeted and more systemic,” he continued.

“I would borrow words from modern hip-hop philosopher Jay-Z and remind people that no one wins when family feuds,” said Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic strategist who advises on national campaigns.

“It was Joe Biden who helped bring Kamala Harris to the forefront of our party,” Seawright said, “as his running mate, vice president, and willing and able partner on the political floor and in the political dance.” floor for the last 4 years.

As they appear ahead to the 2026 midterm elections and the 2028 presidential election, Democrats proceed to view Harris because the viable leader of the party.

Congressman Clyburn said he hopes Harris will “turn this obstacle into a stepping stone and provide a vision for it.”

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“I see no reason why Kamala Harris shouldn’t have a place in the future Democratic Party,” Payne said, noting that the vp “has been put in an extremely difficult position,” including having only 100 days to construct a national campaign while competing with Trump in “attention economy,” raising money and reuniting the Democratic coalition.

“I think Kamala Harris has a lot to be proud of,” he said. “You could have put a lot of Democrats there – governors, senators, former candidates, etc., and honestly, a lot of them wouldn’t have done as well as she did.”

However, Payne also stressed that Democrats must “cast a wide net to determine who in the next group of leaders is best positioned to help the party make small reforms and help it grow and evolve.”

The Democratic strategist noted that many Democrats “felt similarly concerned about the party’s political future” after John Kerry lost the 2004 election to President George W. Bush.

“We didn’t know Barack Obama was going to happen,” Payne said.

As Democrats scramble to position themselves because the opposition party to Trump, which could include regaining a majority within the U.S. House of Representatives once the remaining races are called, Payne said: “We needs to be disenchanted because I believe we all know what a mean Trump presidency will do, but I do not think we must always hang our heads as if we were helpless.

“We have the power. We represent tens of millions of voters,” he argued. “Democrats were able to oppose Donald Trump in good faith in 2016, 2017 and beyond, and I think we are well-positioned to do so again.”

Ultimately, Seawright said, “the American people have spoken.” He added: “They gave (Trump) essentially unchecked power. So we just must see what this actually means.