Harris thanks supporters for defending democracy at DNC winter meeting

Former Vice President Kamala Harris thanked her supporters for “defending our democracy” and “the rule of law” Friday at the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) annual winter meeting in Los Angeles.

Harris, who became the party’s 2024 presidential nominee without a primary election after former President Joe Biden dropped out, said Democrats are expressing gratitude to her because she is “the public face of a lot of the work that we do.”

“People then come up to me in various places, and when they thank me, they thank you for defending our democracy, the rule of law, the values ​​and principles, the community, the breadth and depth of who we are with all our beautiful differences as a nation,” she said during her speech.

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Former Vice President Kamala Harris thanked her supporters for “defending our democracy” and “the rule of law.” (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Harris continued: “When they thank me, they thank you for the work you do to uphold the basic principles that are the basis of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. So thank you for all that you have done, what you are doing, and you will do.”

Harris recently backed away from launching a 2026 gubernatorial campaign in her home state of California, but is keeping the door wide open to a 2028 presidential bid.

“Obviously we need to focus on the midterm elections,” she said Friday. “But Democrats, we also need to have a clear vision of what happens after the midterm elections. And then after Trump. We need to answer the question. We need to answer the question: What’s next for our party and our democracy?”

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Former Vice President Kamala Harris said Democrats express their gratitude to her because she is “the public face of a lot of the work we do.” (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

“And in doing so, we must be honest: For many, the American dream has become more myth than reality,” she added. “Whether it’s the cost of food, energy, health care, transportation or housing, America is facing an affordability crisis, one we are witnessing fuels fear, frustration and lack of trust in our systems.”

The former vice president also discussed recent Democratic victories in key local elections.

“From Jackson to Atlanta, from Sacramento to New York. The American people have sent the message that they want leaders who fight for affordability, for health care, for the right of people to participate in their democracy,” Harris said.

Harris also criticized President Donald Trump and his policies and his “Make America Great Again” movement.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris is keeping the door open for a 2028 presidential bid. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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“We all know that in the midst of all this, the truth and the reality of the moment, a few days ago he said the economy was, I had to count the pluses there. A plus, plus, plus, plus, plus. That’s what he said when asked to rate the economy – a plus, plus, plus, plus, plus. There’s no A plus in any of this,” she said.

“We need to be frank and clear. Donald Trump is not the only source of our problems,” Harris added. “He and the rise of the MAGA movement, I believe, are a symptom of a broken system that is the result of years of outsourcing and offshoring, financial deregulation, growing income inequality, a broken campaign finance system, and endless partisan gridlock that all contribute to how we got here today.”