In July, Harris stated she has an “unwavering commitment to the existence of the state of Israel, to its security, and to the people of Israel.” However, she added, “I also expressed to [Prime Minister Netanyahu] my serious concern about the scale of human suffering in Gaza, including the death of far too many innocent civilians. And I made clear my serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation there, with over two million people facing high levels of food insecurity and half a million people facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity.”
She also reiterated her support for a two-state solution: “I remain committed to a path forward that can lead to a two-state solution. And I know right now it is hard to conceive of that prospect, but a two-state solution is the only path that ensures Israel remains a secure, Jewish, and democratic state and one that ensures Palestinians can finally realize the freedom, security, and prosperity that they rightly deserve.”
Harris’s Position on Cannabis Legalization
Harris’s history with cannabis is perhaps one of the biggest PR battles she will have to overcome, as her new position can either be seen as flip-flopping or as an evolution of thought, depending on whom you ask and how you choose to look at it.
As the AP reported, in 2010, while running for attorney general of California, Harris stated she opposed the sale of recreational marijuana in the state. And, as the AP noted, previously, as district attorney of the state, the prosecutors under Harris convicted more than 1,900 people for cannabis-related offenses.
However, it appears Harris has pulled a 180 with her thoughts on cannabis.
In early 2024, Harris called the federal classification of cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance “patently unfair.”
“I cannot emphasize enough that they need to get to it as quickly as possible, and we need to have a resolution based on their findings and their assessment,” Harris said of the need to reclassify the drug. “But this issue is stark when one considers the fact that on the schedule currently, marijuana is considered as dangerous as heroin.… Marijuana is considered as dangerous as heroin and more dangerous than fentanyl, which is absurd. Not to mention patently unfair.”
Harris’s Position on Home Affordability
One more important policy stance you need to know about is Harris’s plan to make homeownership a reality again for Americans—especially young people.
In August, Harris announced that within her first 100 days in office, she would call upon Congress to pass the “Stop Predatory Investing Act,” introduced by Ohio senator Sherrod Brown in 2023. The act, Quartz reported, removes tax benefits for investors and firms that purchase large numbers of single-family homes, pricing many others out of the market in the process.
“Some corporate landlords buy dozens, if not hundreds of houses and apartments, then they turn around and rent them out at extremely high prices,” Harris stated at a campaign rally. “And it can make it impossible then for regular people to be able to buy or even rent a home.”
How big of a buying spree are investors really on? Quartz pointed to MetLife Investment Management data that shows if the trend continues in the same way, investors could control 40% of US single-family rental homes within the next six years. NBC reported that Harris additionally aims to call on Congress to pass the “Preventing the Algorithmic Facilitation of Rental Housing Cartels Act,” proposed by senators Ron Wyden of Oregon and Peter Welch of Vermont, which would prevent corporate landlords from being able to use price-setting tools to dramatically raise rent prices.
Now, all that’s left to do is watch the remainder of the Democratic National Convention and watch the presidential debate on September 10—that is, if Trump actually shows up.
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