Many Jamaicans in the diaspora, along with other Caribbean nationals, are throwing their support behind Kamala Harris’ 2024 campaign for the United States Presidency. This wave of support has stirred up what Community leaders say is a level of enthusiasm they haven’t seen since former President, Barak Obama’s candidacy.
Reports indicate a rush by Jamaicans in Florida to get registered so that they can vote in the November election. Many are also increasingly trying to find ways to get involved in the Harris campaign.
The Jamaican diaspora in the United States is quite significant, with over a million residents. There are also large Jamaican populations in key swing states like Georgia and Florida that could have a huge impact on the elections if they continue to mobilize and turn this current momentum for Harris into a movement.
A Facebook page, ‘Jamaicans for Harris 2024’, has been established for Jamaicans to join and receive information on the campaign.
US President Joe Biden announced just over two weeks ago that he is ending his bid for re-election, bringing an abrupt conclusion to his half-century-long political career and reshuffling the race for the White House with less than four months to go before Election Day. The announcement came amid increasing concerns within his party about his ability to serve and the belief that he was likely to lose to Donald Trump in November.
Upon dropping out of the race, Biden immediately endorsed his Vice President, Kamala Harris, to replace him as the Democratic nominee. Vice President Harris is the older of two daughters born to Shyamala Gopalan, a cancer researcher who grew up in India, and Donald J. Harris, a prominent Jamaican economics professor who taught at Stanford University.
Kamala Harris, the first Black and first Asian vice president, now looks to add another first to her political career and American history by becoming the first female president of the United States of America. Can the Jamaican/Caribbean diaspora help her to get there? Only time can tell.
