Opinion: Uniting in joy over Kamala Harris’ history-making candidacy

In this op-ed, Chester County resident Lynn Strauss reflects on canvassing for the Biden-Harris campaign and the joy of reconnecting with a fellow supporter as Kamala Harris steps up as the presidential candidate.

“This election will present a clear choice between two different visions. Donald Trump wants to take our country back to a time before many of us had full freedoms and equal rights. I believe in a future that strengthens our democracy, protects reproductive freedom and ensures every person has the opportunity to not just get by, but to get ahead.” – Kamala Harris 7-22-24

I signed up for the July 21st noon canvassing shift for the Biden-Harris coordinated campaign in Chester County, PA. Loaded with about 50 pieces of literature and a West Chester, PA, list of 39 houses, off I went!

My list was made up of households with mixed party registration, only Independents, or low turnout Democrats. Everyone was expecting a close election. It was 90° and a hilly route. Talking with voters considered undecided can be hard.

But when I knocked on doors and actually talked about what was on the line, and the binary choice in the election, potential voters got it. Media talking heads pontificate about double-haters, but the people who hate Trump and worry about Biden could be persuaded. I know that because I did it.

And then my phone blew up.

On route, between doors, my phone rang, beeped, dinged with messages. Biden stepped down. So, all my campaign literature was immediately out of date. I went back to campaign headquarters and everyone was “WOW, let’s honor President Joe Biden by electing Kamala Harris.”

Let’s go!

And the first, the very first person I thought about was the nice lady in the strappy silver shoes I spoke to at a Harris event. After Vice President Harris stepped up to replace President Biden, I could visualize her joy. I forgot her name but I remembered our 4 to 5 hour conversation.

We met on August 8, 2023, in the LONG line to see Kamala Harris at the Carpenters Union Finishing Trades Institute of Philadelphia. She was invited by the Urban League. I was invited by Senator Casey. She was in line right in front me wearing heels. Heels. I was in sneakers. LONG lines with security. Sneakers, of course.

So we struck up a conversation. Turned out we both knew Tia Watson, Southeast Regional Director for US Senator Bob Casey. And we had something else in common. We both loved Kamala Harris! Outside during the wait on line. And inside during the wait for Kamala to speak. We talked. Talked about our jobs, our lives, our families and what Kamala meant to us.

She spoke of how she cried with joy when then-nominee Biden selected Senator Harris as his running mate. Kamala is a Black South Asian American with a resume that can’t be matched. But she would never even have been seriously considered for Vice President even a decade ago. Hillary Clinton had an amazing resume. Best resume, possibly ever, for the job. Hillary had filled us with hope in 2016 but the country was not ready. They chose the bad resume, self-proclaimed “pussy grabber.”

But to us, for some similar and different reasons, Kamala represented new possibilities.

Her reasons: She and Kamala both are proud graduates of Howard University. (Howard University is an HBCU- historically Black University.) They both have long careers in public service. Never in her lifetime did she think the women to crack this uncrackable glass ceiling would be Black. Kamala, accomplished and vibrant, is the embodiment of the hope promised for generations of Black families and women all around the country.

My reasons: Kamala represents such a modern vision of a life well lived. She got married well into her career. She is Black and South Asian. Her Husband is Jewish. He gave up his substantial and successful career for hers. His kids love her. What an example of possibilities for my children.

I had forgotten Katrina’s name but had texted the photos during the event so I had her number. Today I texted again. 11 months after we met. Two days after the big announcement. And we are reunited again in joy. Joy and hope.