Before Kamala Harris was thrust into the spotlight via the Democrat Party’s ungraceful political coup against Biden, she was never well liked. For much of the Biden presidency, her approval rating was well below Biden’s – which is saying something.
Maybe it was the uncanny, cackling laugh. Or maybe it’s all of the accents she pretends to have when it’s politically convenient to pander.
Whatever the reason, her latest escapade sure isn’t going to put her in Americans’ good graces.
Vice President Kamala Harris is actively raising funds for a recount following her defeat to former President Donald Trump, but deadlines in key battleground states suggest a formal request for a recount is no longer possible.
Harris’s campaign, which raised over $1 billion during her Democratic presidential bid, reportedly finished with $20 million in debt. Despite this financial burden, the Harris Victory Fund — a joint effort involving her campaign, the Democratic National Committee, and state Democratic parties — continue to solicit contributions, some of which are earmarked for a recount fund.
“The first $41,300/$15,000 from a person/multicandidate committee (‘PAC’) will be allocated to the DNC,” the fundraising committee explains. It adds, “The next $3,300/$5,000 from a person/PAC will be allocated to Harris for President’s Recount Account.”
However, any recount effort appears more symbolic than actionable at this point. In Wisconsin, a state Trump won by less than 1%, the deadline for a recount request passed last Tuesday. Similarly, Nevada’s deadline for requesting a recount expired on the same day, and Pennsylvania’s deadline looms early next week. In Michigan, the process is less clear, requiring candidates to allege fraud or mistake with credible evidence — a high bar to clear.
Some liberal voices, including the group Free Speech for People and radio host Thom Hartman, have called on Harris to pursue a recount, alleging potential vulnerabilities in voting systems. Last week, cybersecurity experts joined these efforts, urging Harris to contest results in Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Yet, with deadlines missed or nearly so, these pleas appear to be too little, too late.
Harris, meanwhile, has remained largely silent, reportedly vacationing in Hawaii following her loss. Neither her campaign nor the Democratic National Committee responded to media inquiries regarding the recount fund.
Critics argue that raising money for a recount fund without actively pursuing a recount could raise ethical concerns, but the Federal Election Commission (FEC) notes that such practices are permissible under current campaign finance laws. Funds collected for a recount can legally be redirected to other purposes, such as donations to charity or national party committees, as long as they aren’t used to influence a federal election.
The FEC cited a 2019 advisory opinion involving former Sen. Bill Nelson, who lost a close Senate race in Florida. The commission ruled that surplus recount funds could be donated to charity or a party committee without violating campaign finance laws.
“The commission concluded that the proposed disposal of surplus recount funds is consistent with the act since neither the charitable donation nor the donation to the national party’s recount account would be made to influence a federal election,” the FEC’s opinion stated.
As Harris’s recount fund continues to operate, Republicans view the effort as another example of Democrats refusing to accept electoral outcomes, even as Trump prepares to return to the White House. While Harris vacations, her campaign’s fundraising strategy may signal an effort to salvage some dignity — or dollars — amid growing criticism from both sides of the aisle.
Should Kamala Harris and her team pursue a recount? Or is it too little too late for her? Let us know in the comments below!
