At her first rally as the presumptive Democratic nominee last month, Vice President Kamala Harris was greeted by supporters chanting “Kamala, Kamala” instead of “Harris, Harris” and holding blue and white ‘Kamala’ signs. The shift in the Democratic presidential nominee’s branding from ‘Harris’ to ‘Kamala’ was deliberate. The Democratic Party campaign changed its social media from ‘Biden HQ’ to ‘Kamala HQ’ within 48 hours. President Joe Biden drops out of White House race and endorses HarrisWhich made her the Democratic presidential candidate. The name Kamala is a cultural and ethnic name given to her by her mother.
The US Vice President has adopted her first name Kamala in her presidential campaign to build a personal connection with voters. By changing from ‘Harris’ to ‘Kamala’ and branding her campaign’s social media, she wants to present herself as accessible and relatable.
After Biden dropped out of the presidential race, his rapid response page on X, BidenHQ, was changed to KamalaHQ. It is now the official rapid response page for Vice President Harris’ presidential campaign.
When Barack and Michelle Obama endorsed her, the campaign promoted it as “Obama the Call Kamala”, and included a selfie with her Vice presidential candidate, Minnesota Governor Tim WalzAccording to a report by Politico, it carried a sign that read, “Kamala and Koch”.
The US presidential election is scheduled for November 5, and Kamala’s popularity is increasing among voters against Donald Trump,
Kamala Harris sworn in as Vice President — The first woman, first Black American, and first South Asian American to be elected to the position. She is an Indian-American politician.
Harris campaign to reinstate ‘Kamala’ as first name
Harris’s campaign has adopted her first name to forge a more personal connection with voters.
However, the move has sparked debate.
To his critics, using his first name is often seen as a tactic to disparage him, as seen in the 2016 campaign against Hillary Clinton.
Donald Trump, who mispronounces Kamala Harris’s name and frequently employs race- and gender-based tactics, often calls her “Crazy Kamala.”
Many Republicans have used the term for years.
In 2020, Democrats were outraged when David Perdue mocked her name during the Georgia Senate race, Politico reported.
Despite these attacks, Harris’s campaign strategy has included reclaiming her first name.
“She’s not hiding her ethnicity. She’s not hiding who she is. She was a public servant first,” Latifa Simon, who worked with Harris, said, as quoted by Politico.
Harris’ use of her first name is also seen as a way to be more comfortable and informal with voters.
Harris’ aide defends use of her first name
People like Simon who have known her for a long time say this is a way for her to send the message that she is working for the people and that people should hold her accountable.
“Kamala’s name has a very deep meaning. It’s an ethnic and cultural name given to her by her mother. Black people are more than our last names. Our last names often don’t define where we’re from or who we are,” Simon said.
The Harris campaign has maintained balance in its branding.
She is referred to as Vice President Harris in official communications, while her personal interactions and campaign materials often use “Kamala”.
The approach mirrors his previous roles, where he used his first name to build trust with his voters, particularly in Black communities.
Leah Daughtry, a longtime Harris ally and Democratic activist, highlighted the importance of using her first name to defend against efforts to denigrate her.
“It’s a little bit of aggression and disrespect because you’re refusing to call her by the name that her mother gave her, and that she wants to be called. In that way, you’re dismissing her, you’re insulting her, you’re diminishing her and her own agency. It’s just disrespectful. But to her it is — it’s my name, call me by my name,” Daughtry told Politico.
Kamala Harris is gaining popularity among young voters
Harris’s approach has proven particularly popular with young voters, with Politico reporting that her support among this group has surged significantly over the past month — up 16 points.
“My nephew, he’s 19. This will be his first presidential election and he’s saying, ‘Kamala, she’s really great.’ The nice thing is there’s no big name for him to call her. He can relate to that,” Daughtry said.
Harris’s first-name strategy reflects her long-term efforts to connect personally with the public.
During her tenure as district attorney, she personally met with the families of victims and with members of the community who specifically requested her.
This personal touch was intended to build trust in government, particularly in communities whose trust levels have historically been low.
As Harris continues her presidential campaign, her use of the word “Kamala” serves as a powerful tool to signal authenticity, relevance, and a break from traditional political norms.