Black staffers from Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign have accused leadership of “outright racial discrimination” and mistreatment following the campaign’s failed bid. The accusations surfaced in a recent New York Times report, shedding light on frustrations among staff that had been previously kept under wraps.
The report detailed findings from an internal survey commissioned by the Harris campaign, which showed that Black staff members were significantly more dissatisfied than their peers. They felt their ideas were frequently dismissed, and some went as far as to allege direct racial discrimination.
Despite campaign leadership being made aware of these concerns, the issues remained hidden from public view, with staffers reportedly fearing that speaking out would harm their future job prospects. The report, titled How Alarmed Harris Staffers Went Rogue to Reach Black and Latino Votes, highlighted the disconnect between leadership and minority outreach efforts. Many Black staffers felt that Philadelphia’s racially diverse neighborhoods were overlooked by campaign leadership.
Frustrated by the lack of attention to minority communities, a group of Black staffers took matters into their own hands. They launched an independent initiative dubbed “Operation Dunkin’kirk,” a play on the WWII Dunkirk evacuation, to organize a last-minute door-knocking campaign in Philadelphia’s minority neighborhoods. They reportedly planned the effort from a Dunkin’ Donuts.
Tensions within the campaign continued to escalate as the election neared. According to the Times report, campaign employees held a call with political strategist Angela Rye to discuss career opportunities. However, the call quickly turned into an outlet for staffers to vent about the mistreatment and underfunded field operations in key battleground states. The call was recorded, capturing the anger and disappointment felt by many Black staffers.
The survey conducted at this time confirmed these feelings of discrimination. Furthermore, some staff alleged that campaign offices in Philadelphia were “filthy” and lacked basic supplies such as tables, chairs, cleaning products, and printers. In response, Black staffers were reportedly reassigned to wealthier neighborhoods, further away from the areas they were originally tasked with covering.
These revelations highlight deeper issues within the Harris campaign, adding another layer of controversy to the already troubled presidential run. The concerns raised by staffers reflect a broader disconnect between the campaign’s messaging and its internal operations, particularly when it came to engaging with key minority constituencies.
