As the 2024 presidential election approaches, the Kamala Harris campaign has taken a rightward shift in an attempt to appeal to disaffected Republican voters. Harris has embraced bipartisanship, including teaming up with former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, and has moved towards more conservative positions on issues like immigration and fracking. However, this strategy has so far failed to gain significant traction with voters. One notable omission from Harris’s campaign messaging is any support for Lina Khan, the chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) who has taken an aggressive stance against corporate monopolies. Despite Khan’s popularity with both progressives and some MAGA Republicans, there are rumors that Harris could push for her removal if elected, likely due to pressure from billionaire donors to her campaign who have clashed with Khan. This episode highlights the influence of wealthy corporate interests in U.S. politics, even as Harris tries to fashion herself as a champion of the working class. Ultimately, it seems that whichever candidate wins the presidency, the country’s billionaires stand to benefit, as the “Country Over Party” slogan rings hollow.
All that donor class money comes with strings attached.