Former Vice President Kamala Harris / X Via @KamalaHarris

Former Vice President Kamala Harris called on Democrats to embrace a certain kind of “ruthlessness” in confronting injustice and corruption, while separately urging voters to turn out in massive numbers in the upcoming November elections to counter what she described as mounting “obstacles” to voting.

Speaking at a Louisiana Democrats’ fundraising gala on Aug. 7, Harris urged her party to adopt a firmer political posture, saying Democrats can no longer wait for Republicans to change their approach after a defeat for Donald Trump.

She called for “ruthlessness” that remains uncompromising in confronting injustice and corruption while stopping short of cruelty or unlawful tactics.

Harris referenced former President Joe Biden’s past optimism that Republicans might change after a Trump loss, saying Democrats cannot afford to wait for that shift anymore.

Her remarks came as Harris has increasingly focused on mobilizing voters ahead of the November elections, warning that legislative and judicial efforts to alter voting rules could make it harder for Americans to cast ballots.

In a video posted on X, Harris argued that rising legislative and judicial challenges to voting rights represent a direct response from political opponents who “fear the growing power” of the electorate.

She emphasized that these are “challenging times,” but reminded voters that they are not powerless, declaring that those attempting to restrict voting access are ultimately afraid of the power and voice that citizens hold through their votes.

“These are challenging times, but we are not powerless. If our votes did not matter, they would not be working overtime to make them harder to cast. This November, we will show them what happens when millions of Americans turn out in our numbers,” she said.
 

These are challenging times, but we are not powerless.

If our votes did not matter, they would not be working overtime to make them harder to cast.

This November, we will show them what happens when millions of Americans turn out in our numbers. pic.twitter.com/nsftER5T90

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 7, 2026

Harris outlined a multi-tiered effort to complicate the voting process across federal, judicial and state levels. Highlighting recent legal developments, she cited the Supreme Court’s Callais decision, which she argued further eroded core protections established under the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

“You've got the Supreme Court, they just sealed the deal with this case that just came up recently, the Callais decision, which basically took the power out of the Voting Rights Act, which was designed to protect your right to vote. So you got the Supreme Court doing its thing,” she said.

Also Read: In midterms, we need to be 'too big to rig': Kamala Harris

She also targeted federal legislative efforts, specifically taking aim at the proposed SAVE Act backed by Donald Trump and congressional allies. The measure would require proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, to register to vote, requiring documents that millions of Americans do not readily possess.

“Then, this president is trying to push this SAVE Act, which basically would require that for people to register to vote, you're going to have to have proof of who you are through a passport, which a lot of Americans don't have, or a birth certificate,” Harris said.

“Same point, obstacles to make it difficult for you to register to vote. And then you got the states. 19 states have already passed laws to make it more difficult to vote, and the ones that haven't passed a law are doing it in practice in many places around our country,” she said.

Despite these systemic “obstacles,” Harris maintained that mobilization remains the most effective countermeasure for voters. She stressed that if votes did not matter, there would not be such dedicated efforts to make them harder to cast, calling on citizens not to stay home but to turn out and demonstrate what happens when millions of Americans exercise their rights.

“They are scared of your power, the power you have, the power of your voice through your vote,” she said.

To prepare for upcoming elections, she urged citizens to immediately check their registration status to guard against ongoing voter roll purges, work to register eligible family members and neighbors who have not registered before, take full advantage of early voting windows and mail-in options where available, and ensure their ballots are cast to make a definitive difference at the polls.

Harris’ sharper rhetoric drew mixed reactions, with her supporters describing it as a needed tougher stance while critics pointed to her 2024 presidential defeat, when Trump won 312 electoral votes to her 226 and held a narrow popular vote edge.

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