Kamala Harris is Struggling in Her Push for Voting Rights

More than six months ago, Vice President Kamala Harris took on a new mission. It was to lead the government's promotion of federal election rights law. It was an opportunity to mark a very important theme. And  as her tenure became bumpy in the summer, it became more important.

For months, she helped build a political alliance with civil rights activists, put external pressure on parliament, and personally engaged  with parliamentarians. She met with black leaders and helped create a list of actions that federal agencies could take to promote voter involvement, and recently had a larger media profile with a high percentage of national interviews. She spoke with President Joe Biden at a rebellion commemorative event on January 6, and then accompanied  a speech in Georgia last week, making a final public plea for passage of new election protection.

However, Friday, when two moderate Senate Democrats said they did not support weakening parliamentary rules to pass the party's two priorities for election reform, Harris’ work, and the entire administration hit a wall. It left Harris in a now familiar place: blocked with an uncertain road ahead. Harris's aides and advisers say she hasn't succumbed to frustration. They see her more aggressive attitude and increasingly public appearance as an implicit sign that she has solidified her position in the White House.

Allies claim that after her previous downfalls, she finally has a chance to succeed. The hope for the future is that Harris and her administration will continue to drive legislative progress in addition to meetings with key stakeholders. A White House official said Harris's team was planning the next step and was discussing a proper course of action.