Harris Appeals to Union Workers in Crucial ‘Blue Wall’ States

As presidential candidate Kamala Harris continues to build a strong foundation for her campaign, she specifically reaches out to the union voters in the ‘blue wall’ states. The ‘blue wall’, a term coined by political pundits and strategists in the US, refers to the 18 states and D.C., which have consistently voted Democratic in Presidential elections from 1992 to 2012. These states include Maine, Pennsylvania, Minnesota among others. Harris is leveraging her outreach work in these areas, proving strategic in fostering the grassroots support of unions. Unions have always been a stronghold of support for the Democratic Party, and Harris truly understands that garnering their favor is crucial to her campaign. Harris believes in the power of unions and their capacity to redefine the economic landscape of America. During a campaign stop in Detroit, she said, “Unions built the middle class in this country. With unions, we’re going to rebuild it. This statement sets the tone for her outreach to the ‘blue wall’ states. One of the policies Harris is pushing as part of her outreach is a significant increase in teacher pay. As the daughter of a former teacher, she understands the role educators play in shaping future generations of Americans. Harris is proposing the largest federal investment in teacher pay in U.S. history, a move that resonates powerfully with unionized educators. Furthermore, Harris has also established her standing as a staunch opponent of right-to-work laws, legislation that weakens union power by preventing unions from requiring workers to pay dues or fees. This position endears her to the unions in the ‘blue wall’ states, as it signifies her dedication to preserving and expanding their influence. Aside from labor issues, Harris is outlining her vision for healthcare, a high priority topic for union voters. She advocates for universal healthcare, a principle lifted from her Medicare-for-all proposal which aims to guarantee every American access to quality health care regardless of their ability to pay. This stand on healthcare is a major selling point for union voters who are concerned about the rising cost of healthcare. Harris’s campaign also consists of comprehensive plans to address climate change, criminal justice reform, and tax cuts for the middle class, all of which are issues important to union and working-class voters. Her Green New Deal proposal caters not only to environmental concerns but also assures stable jobs for workers transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. The importance of the ‘blue wall’ states in the upcoming election cannot be overemphasized and Harris,