Vice President Kamala Harris is pushing to end the Senate filibuster to secure Roe v. Wade into federal law, highlighting her evolving political strategy.
At a Glance
- Vice President Harris supports eliminating the Senate filibuster to codify Roe v. Wade.
- Harris’ new stance aims to distinguish her from former President Trump on abortion.
- Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated potential filibuster elimination if Democrats maintain the majority.
- Harris emphasized that eliminating the filibuster would allow 51 votes to reinstate protections for reproductive freedom.
- Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, both defenders of the filibuster, reaffirmed their positions following Harris’ remarks.
Harris Advocates for Filibuster Change
Vice President Kamala Harris has openly supported eliminating the Senate filibuster to ensure the codification of Roe v. Wade. This marks a significant shift from her past stance when she defended the filibuster to protect legislative debate. Her policy evolution is aligned with the progressive goals she advocated during her 2020 presidential campaign, including her commitment to abolish the filibuster for environmental legislation like the Green New Deal.
Harris’s stance on the filibuster reflects her adaptive legislative strategies amid changing political and social imperatives. For the first time during her presidential campaign, Harris endorsed removing the filibuster specifically to codify Roe v. Wade, a move designed to enhance her appeal to voters concerned about reproductive rights.
Kamala Harris supports eliminating filibuster to reinstate abortion rights from Roe v. Wade https://t.co/1dhyFAlFRu via @RebeccaMorin_
— Joey Garrison (@joeygarrison) September 24, 2024
Differentiating from Trump on Abortion
Supporting the elimination of the filibuster allows Harris to differentiate herself from former President Donald Trump on the contentious issue of abortion. Trump’s stance has been to leave the decision to the states, creating a battleground that Harris aims to nationalize by codifying abortion rights into federal law. This contrasts sharply with her criticism of Trump potentially signing a nationwide ban on abortion.
“Vice President Harris told Wisconsin Public Radio that she supports eliminating the Senate filibuster to codify Roe v. Wade.”
Despite her advocacy, Harris faces resistance within her party. Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, both defenders of the filibuster, have reaffirmed their opposition to its elimination. Manchin emphasized the filibuster as essential for democracy and bipartisan cooperation, stating, “She knows the filibuster is the Holy Grail of democracy. It’s the only thing that keeps us talking and working together.”
🚨 NEWS: Kamala Harris says that as president she would end the 60-vote Senate filibuster to codify Roe v. Wade.
However, when given the chance to buck decorum to advance progressive policy in the past, Harris declined: https://t.co/pxKPiMmYzW pic.twitter.com/K3GMA2wcxP
— The Lever (@LeverNews) September 24, 2024
Potential for Democratic Division
Eliminating the filibuster remains a divisive issue amongst Democrats. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer hinted he might support filibuster elimination for abortion access votes if Democrats maintain control. Meanwhile, Senator Bernie Sanders, typically skeptical of eliminating the filibuster, showed openness to an exception for abortion rights. However, Sinema notably warned that removing the filibuster for Roe could set a precedent enabling a future Congress to ban all abortion nationwide.
“To state the supremely obvious, eliminating the filibuster to codify Roe v Wade also enables a future Congress to ban all abortion nationwide,” Sinema wrote on X. “What an absolutely terrible, shortsighted idea.”
President Biden has also shown support for altering filibuster rules post-Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe in June 2022. With Harris’s current advocacy, the Democratic Party continues to grapple with internal debates on how best to secure reproductive rights while maintaining legislative processes that encourage bipartisan cooperation.
Sources
1. Harris backs eliminating filibuster to codify Roe v. Wade
