Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday called on Democrats to abandon expectations of a “fair fight” with Republicans, arguing that her party must meet GOP tactics with equal force as the 2026 midterms approach.
Speaking before a packed audience at the Durham Performing Arts Center, Harris drew laughter as she mimicked Democrats who complain that Republicans “aren’t playing fair.” She quickly added: “They’re playing with fire, and we need to play with fire.”
Harris cited California Democrats’ proposed congressional map — expected to add five new Democratic-leaning seats — as an example of the aggressive posture she believes her party must take. The move follows Texas Republicans’ redistricting plan, which added five GOP seats in August. California’s proposal will appear on the ballot next month, and its outcome could influence similar moves in other states.
In response, North Carolina Republican lawmakers announced this week that they plan to take up their own redrawn map that could give the GOP one more seat. Harris warned that such shifts could “skew national representation and displace whole populations of people that have a voice that should be heard.”
Her comments echoed growing calls within the Democratic Party to match Republican redistricting efforts. Former President Barack Obama endorsed California’s plan this week, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats “will not let Republicans successfully rig the midterm elections.”
Harris’ appearance in Durham was part of a national tour promoting her new memoir, 107 Days, which recounts her brief 2024 presidential campaign. During the event, moderated by comedian Roy Wood Jr., Harris also endorsed former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper in his bid for the U.S. Senate next year, calling him “one of the stars in the party.”
Harris dismissed speculation about finding a singular Democratic “savior,” instead praising a new generation of party leaders, including Reps. Jasmine Crockett of Texas and Brittany Pettersen of Colorado. “We have so many stars doing good work,” Harris said. “If we spend all our time asking ‘Who’s the one?’ we’ll miss what’s right in front of us.”
