OPINION: Kamala Lost the Election, But Our Fight for America’s Promise is Far From Over

By Josiah Carrasco

November 6, 2024

In the wake of Kamala Harris’s election loss, many of us are reeling from both the blow and the profound implications of her absence in the White House. This election held so much hope: hope for advancing social justice, protecting individual freedoms, and leading our country into a brighter, more equitable future. But we cannot allow our disappointment to morph into despair. This setback is a call to reaffirm our commitment to the work that remains.

We need to reckon with what lies ahead if we, as progressives, falter in our dedication. This election wasn’t just a contest between candidates—it was a referendum on the kind of country we want America to be. With Project 2025 now moving into view under a conservative administration, the stakes have risen sharply. The initiative, a conservative roadmap for reshaping the federal government, threatens to unravel decades of progress and could usher in a new era of regressive policies. This project is not just theoretical; it’s the cornerstone of an aggressive strategy to dismantle social safeguards, roll back hard-won rights, and centralize unchecked power. We cannot let this vision define the America we pass on to future generations.

What Project 2025 Means for America

To grasp the gravity of this moment, we need to understand Project 2025. Billed by its supporters as a plan to “restore constitutional government,” this initiative proposes sweeping changes to federal institutions and power structures. But let’s be clear: this is not about safeguarding constitutional principles. This is about creating an administration with near-absolute authority that operates with minimal accountability to the people. At its core, Project 2025 seeks to enact an agenda that would affect nearly every aspect of American life.

The project’s proposals include transforming federal agencies to align with far-right ideology, undermining regulations that protect the environment, and reversing policies that promote racial and economic equity. It advocates reducing oversight of industries like oil and gas, which would worsen climate change at a time when environmental action is more crucial than ever. With Project 2025, protections for public lands, clean air, and water could be brushed aside in the name of corporate profit, favoring billionaires while leaving communities vulnerable.

Perhaps most disturbingly, Project 2025 sets the stage for a full-scale assault on reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ protections, and other civil liberties. Abortion rights would face new threats, with the federal government empowered to strip funding from states that uphold these rights. LGBTQ+ Americans—already navigating relentless political attacks—could find themselves fighting against an administration intent on erasing hard-fought progress on marriage equality, healthcare protections, and anti-discrimination policies.

This initiative doesn’t just spell trouble for marginalized communities; it threatens democracy itself. By consolidating presidential power, Project 2025 envisions a government where critical decisions are made not by representatives accountable to the people, but by a few elite officials shielded from oversight. This centralization is the antithesis of the democratic principles we hold dear, and it’s one of the most dangerous aspects of this plan. When power is concentrated in the hands of a few, history shows us that the rights and freedoms of everyday citizens are the first to be sacrificed.

The Promise of America: Why We Keep Fighting

Kamala Harris’s campaign spoke to the heart of American ideals: a belief in freedom, equality, and opportunity. Her vision for America was one where healthcare was accessible to everyone, where climate change was addressed as the existential threat it is, and where all people—regardless of their race, gender, or background—could find justice and equality. Losing this vision in the White House is devastating, but it should only strengthen our resolve.

Progressives understand that America’s promise has always been about pursuing what we believe to be true and just, even in the face of setbacks. We may not have seen our candidate cross the finish line, but our values, our community, and our dreams for America remain intact. Change has never been easy, and it’s often come about through the tireless work of people who believed in a cause larger than themselves. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” This loss may feel like a detour, but it’s not the end of the journey.

We need to remember that grassroots power can still challenge even the most ambitious agendas. Activism, community organizing, and voter education will be critical tools in pushing back against Project 2025. We can look to past victories as a reminder: movements that secured civil rights, fought for reproductive freedoms, and won labor protections did so in the face of intense resistance. Our power lies not in elected office alone, but in our ability to mobilize, inform, and inspire each other.

Where We Go from Here: Building Resilience and Unity

Kamala’s loss is a call for reflection, but it’s also a rallying cry. We must turn our disappointment into action, engaging in community efforts that foster resilience and support for progressive causes. If we feel disillusioned today, that’s all the more reason to come together, reinvigorate our mission, and prepare for the challenges ahead. We need to think creatively, find new ways to engage and motivate voters, and bridge divides within our communities.

This moment is also an opportunity to deepen our commitment to the causes we believe in. Supporting progressive candidates at the state and local levels, donating to organizations that fight for social justice, and volunteering to protect vulnerable communities are all ways to take a stand. The conservative vision embodied by Project 2025 may have political momentum now, but we have a movement that extends beyond any one election or administration. This is about building the future we know is possible.

We Are the Keepers of America’s Future

The spirit of Kamala Harris’s campaign isn’t gone—it lives on in everyone who believes in a more inclusive, compassionate America. This vision doesn’t belong to any one candidate; it’s the collective dream of everyone who values fairness, justice, and opportunity. We must remember that progress is built on persistence and that every fight we face now is part of a larger journey toward justice.

So, let us grieve, but let us also find strength in this moment. America’s promise is too great to let Project 2025 define our future. We have fought before, and we will fight again, because we believe in the power of the people and the promise of this country. Kamala may not have made it to the White House this time, but her vision—and our commitment to it—will carry us forward.

This is a setback, not an end. Together, we hold the future in our hands. And together, we will continue fighting to make America a place where freedom, equity, and justice are realities for all.