Kamala Harris Calls for Change in Senate Rules to Defend Key Rights

At a Glance

Vice President Harris supports eliminating the Senate filibuster to codify Roe v. Wade.
The move aims to distinguish her stance from former President Trump.
Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema reaffirm their support for preserving the filibuster.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer may consider eliminating the filibuster for abortion votes.
Sen. Bernie Sanders is open to an exception for abortion rights.

Harris Advocates for Filibuster Elimination

Vice President Kamala Harris has expressed support for eliminating the Senate filibuster in order to enshrine Roe v. Wade as federal law. This marks a notable shift from her position in 2017 when she favored preserving the filibuster. Harris’s updated stance aligns her closely with progressive values and reflects an adaptation to the changing legislative landscape. She emphasized that removing the filibuster would allow a simple majority of 51 votes to restore protections for reproductive rights.

During a recent interview with Wisconsin Public Radio, Harris stated, “I think we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe and get us to the point where 51 votes would be what we need to actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom.” This is the first time Harris has publicly supported ending the filibuster while running for president, despite her previous endorsements of such actions for voting rights and abortion rights during her vice-presidential role.

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

Reactions from Influential Senators

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has indicated that he might consider eliminating the filibuster specifically for abortion access votes if Democrats maintain their majority. Meanwhile, Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, both staunch defenders of the filibuster, have reaffirmed their positions, emphasizing the tradition as essential for promoting bipartisan cooperation. Manchin and Sinema’s likely retirements in January open potential opportunities for Democrats to alter the filibuster rule next year.

“Shame on her,” Sen. Manchin told CNN in response to Harris’ comments. “She knows the filibuster is the Holy Grail of democracy. It’s the only thing that keeps us talking and working together. If she gets rid of that, then this would be the House on steroids … I think that basically can destroy our country and my country is more important to me than any one person or any one person’s ideology.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders, traditionally skeptical of eliminating the filibuster, has also expressed openness to making an exception for abortion rights. This development highlights how the ongoing debate over abortion continues to influence broader political strategies and alliances within the Senate.

🚨 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

Implications and the Road Ahead

Despite Harris’s and other Democrats’ advocacy, the move to eliminate the filibuster to codify Roe v. Wade holds potential risks. For instance, Sen. Sinema warned on Twitter, “To state the supremely obvious, eliminating the filibuster to codify Roe v Wade also enables a future Congress to ban all abortion nationwide.” This underscores the complex interplay between immediate legislative gains and long-term political consequences.

Additionally, the filibuster debate further complicates the electoral landscape for Democrats who face a challenging map in the Senate. With seats to defend in several key states, the party must balance its push for legislative reforms with the need to maintain a broad electoral coalition. The upcoming decisions on the filibuster and reproductive rights could have far-reaching impacts on both legislative practices and the 2024 presidential race.