What if it’s President Harris, but a GOP Senate? That’s her allies’ fear.

Oct 20, 2024 Story by: Editor

If Kamala Harris wins the presidential race in November, she could enter office with one of the weakest starting points in decades , with her allies already concerned about the potential challenges ahead.

Democrats close to Harris fear that, even if she wins the presidency, Republicans could gain control of the Senate—a scenario that would mark her as the first president since George H.W. Bush to begin a term without a Senate majority. This has spurred contingency planning within the Democratic Party, as Harris remains locked in a tight race with just under three weeks to go.

Harris’ team has discussed creative solutions to build a Cabinet if a Republican Senate blocks her appointments. These options include keeping some Biden administration officials, appointing acting secretaries, or, in an unlikely move, confirming some key nominees before she takes office.

Democratic strategists are also preparing for legislative hurdles related to tax policies and government funding in 2025 , analyzing which of Harris’ policy priorities could be embedded in must-pass bills. Such measures could require compromises to win support from a divided Congress.

A GOP-majority Senate could significantly impact Harris’ plans , narrowing her choices for appointments and limiting her influence on judicial appointments, including potential Supreme Court vacancies. Given Harris’ limited bipartisan ties with Senate Republicans, her team worries she could face immediate challenges in negotiating key appointments and legislation.

“No matter what, I think it’s going to be a very difficult time for the next two years if the scenario is Harris wins the presidency but loses the Senate,” stated former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel, who supports Harris. “I suspect that she will have some Republicans who will work with her. I don’t think that will be the majority or anywhere near it in the Republican caucus.”

Harris’ campaign, however, is working hard to support Democratic Senate candidates, already transferring close to $25 million to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and other allied groups.

Campaign spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg stated, “Vice President Harris is working hard to help Democrats win key Senate and House races so we can have a coalition ready on day one to take action to lower costs for the American people, protect reproductive freedom, and other key priorities.”

If Harris is elected without Senate control, she would be one of the few presidents in modern history to face this scenario. Since George H.W. Bush in 1988, no president has entered office without Senate support, and the last Democrat in this position was Grover Cleveland in 1884 .

Democratic insiders are exploring several options to staff Harris’ administration despite possible Senate resistance. These include retaining some senior Biden officials in their current roles, where their Senate confirmations remain valid, as well as temporarily elevating certain aides into acting Cabinet roles.

Another strategy floated involves asking President Joe Biden to nominate key Harris appointees during the post-election lame-duck period. However, Harris’ team is hesitant about this approach due to potential logistical challenges and concerns about undermining any bipartisan goodwill.

Some advisers believe Harris can begin her administration smoothly, relying on Biden officials willing to remain in their positions temporarily. “There’s not going to be the rush necessarily to get your team in place because this is partly her team,” said former Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) , while remaining optimistic that Democrats could retain Senate control.

Should the Republicans gain control, Harris’ new appointees would likely be more moderate to gain a few Republican votes. Advisors also consider previous lawmakers and congressional staffers for Cabinet roles due to their Hill connections. Given the political landscape, they acknowledge that some nominees may not make it through the confirmation process.

Harris’ administration, if faced with a Republican Senate, is expected to focus on achievable goals like expanding the Child Tax Credit and extending Obamacare subsidies, as well as investing in childcare. Some of these initiatives may find bipartisan support, especially if Republicans see benefits for their constituencies.

Harris’ team also sees housing as a potential area for bipartisan legislation, where she could seek the 60 votes needed to pass a substantial bill aimed at boosting affordable housing incentives and aiding renters.

One adviser involved in the policy planning remarked, “If the margins are close, then the administration has a lot of juice for those things,” noting that some Republicans may be inclined to support popular measures, like expanding insulin price limits.

To improve bipartisan relations, Harris’ allies highlight her Senate experience on the Intelligence Committee, where she worked across the aisle, as well as her outreach to Republican senators during the campaign. However, neither of the prominent Republican Senators, Susan Collins of Maine nor Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, has publicly endorsed Harris.

Ultimately, Harris’ team remains hopeful for a shift in the Republican party post-Trump, which could open opportunities for collaboration. Jim Kessler, executive vice president for policy at Third Way, remarked, “You’ve got all these members that spent $60 million and fought like hell to get there, and they’re going to say eventually, ‘I want to do something. I want to get something done.’” Source: Politico