Don't vote Harris in November

The time has come for the Left to break with the Democrats

Biden 2024?

Before October 7th, I was partially dreading the next election cycle. Not only did the return of Trump already seem inevitable, but I also knew that as it drew nearer to November, I would be forced to endorse someone; I would be telling people to vote Biden, and I knew I was going to get a mouthful for it. For newer, predominantly online leftists, Biden was a betrayal from the moment he stepped into office. In reality, his agenda was a positive surprise in many cases, and where it disappointed - minimum wage, student loans - much of this was due to factors outside Biden's full control. On the National Labour Board - perhaps the most significant area of domestic policy - the Democrat's reforms have done much to help bring America’s trade unions back to life.

I say this to make it clear that I do not write this as some mindless online zealot who ‘doesn’t understand’ the consequences of a second trump term or sees everyone voting Harris in November as a bunch of traitorous liberals - someone who was always going to tell people not to vote democrat. Today however it is clear; the Left must break with the Democrats and vote for either Jill Stein (the Green candidate) or Claudia and Karina (the PSL candidates), if you are lucky enough to have them on your ballots. Before addressing the arguments against this it is important to highlight the aims of socialists in bourgeois elections. The first and perhaps most important is raising class consciousness. This was done with unprecedented effect by Bernie Sanders' run for the Democrat nominee in 2020. Despite ‘failing’ by the criteria of liberal politicians, for Marxists this electoral campaign was a roaring success which helped elevate class consciousness in the US to its highest point in decades. The second aim is to maintain good conditions for organising and building a mass movement. An apparent tension can sometimes exist between these two aims, despite the fact that they are ultimately the same principle repackaged; the former encourages distinction from the liberal establishment whilst the latter leans towards uniformity.

Wrong Arguments

Most people on the Left advocating for a break with the Democrats go about it in the completely wrong way. They use slogans such as “fascism is already here” or “liberalism is fascism”, claim that there is no difference between the Democrats and Republicans and an off-putting nihilistic defeatism, which posits that fascism “cannot be defeated at the ballot box” and that no change can come from bourgeois elections. Whilst there are elements of truth in all these statements (many right liberals are embracing more authoritarian policies, possible change is limited within elections etc), there are ultimately false claims.

These people who claim that “fascism is already here” are simply wrong, mostly because if it were, you would not be posting about it on Instagram, you would be dead. Bourgeois democracy, for all its flaws, is a progression on past systems of authoritarianism and absolutism. It will always be a progression on fascism and is not “the same”. Whilst liberal democracy is in a state of decay, and many past freedoms have already been lost, things can certainly get worse, and the implication of the slogan ‘fascism is already here.’ is certainly that they cannot. There are also differences between Republicans and Democrats (on important issues); they are not “the same” and it is ridiculous to claim otherwise. The final argument, that fascism cannot be defeated at the ballot box, is also brainless. It absolutely can, and has been defeated in such a manner many times in the last few years alone (France, India, Brazil to name but a few). Grasping the issues with a dependency on electoralism (and the limits of parliamentarianism) must not collapse into political apathy, neglecting a potential weapon in the class struggle.

Right Arguments (In Solidarity with Palestine)

So if all these arguments against the Democrats are so erroneous, what are the actual reasons for withholding our votes? Naturally for those with family or friends in Palestine there is no question on supporting the Democrats; they will not be voting for the same regime responsible for wiping out their bloodline. For them, the argument that Trump would be worse on Palestine is redundant; they will not fall into the false trap of being made to “choose” between who will kill less of their family, who will take away fewer friends. For the rest of the US Left, it is quite simply a question of solidarity. Will you stand by Palestinians in their boycott of the Democrats, or will you fall in line and offer no punishment for the establishment that gave Netanyahu a standing ovation only days ago?

At present the political establishment in the West has gone with the common assumption that the Palestinians, as an isolated, minority community of voters, hold no electoral power and can therefore be ignored without consequence. In the UK election, the British public proved how wrong this was, with both Labour and the Conservatives losing seats to pro Palestinian candidates even in areas with relatively low Muslim populations. The effects are already being seen, with Labour scrambling to prove its newfound Palestinian credentials after the shock show of strength. The millions of voters who opted for a Left third party in the UK has bolstered calls for a new socialist party, proving to both class allies and enemies that the Left does exist, does have strength, and does have the power to challenge the established consensus. The gains we have already seen are a direct result of the British Left having the bravery to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian community rather than simply cowering in fear and voting against the Conservatives. This is despite the fact that the UK has been suffering under Tory rule for 14 years. In France the Left, rather than unenthusiastically falling behind Macron as they have in the past, decided to unite against both the ‘centrist’ and rightist blocs and came out on top, again in a shock show of strength that has increased the self confidence of a Left that had become accustomed to tragic defeats. It is now the time for the American Left to prove that the Palestinians are not alone; that when it matters the Left will not abandon them, and that the Democrats cannot get away with the mass murder of tens of thousands of men, women and children.

It is of course true that unlike in France, the American Left is not winning the upcoming election. Quite frankly, they will do well to exceed the 1% achieved by the Greens in 2016. They do not however need to win to be successful, just as the UK Greens and Independents did not “win” (or even come close to winning) the UK election. A surge in support for third party candidates or a record high share for the PSL/Greens are all clear, loud signals to the US ruling class that they must immediately offer concessions or risk further damage. Just as the uncommited movement during the primaries immediately led to a shift in rhetoric (if not action) over Palestine, a second mass electoral campaign in solidarity with Palestine will yield even greater results.

Not only this, but it will provide a foundation on which both the PSL and Green parties can continue to build on in future. The work of building a coherent Left alternative to the Democrats and Republicans is something that should have begun long ago but unfortunately, did not have the necessary mass base until this moment.

The Fascist Threat

I'm sure those committing to voting Harris in November will be quick to point to Project 2025; there will be no opportunity to build on 2024 if it is the last American election. It also raises the second critical aim of Marxists when voting, which is to maintain the best possible conditions for organising - to prevent a regression from liberal democracy to authoritarianism. It was this logic which - I would argue - made a Left bloc vote for the Democrats in 2020 understandable. Today however the situation has radically shifted. With the rise of a radical mass movement in the form of the Student Intifada, the Democrats have aligned themselves with the Republicans in espousing state brutality, a far cry from their rhetoric following the death of George Floyd. They have done nothing to protect workers fired from their jobs, harassed, beaten and even killed for being Palestinian or for being pro Palestinian. They have cheered on the arrests of thousands of students across the country. In the face of a radicalised mass movement, many rightists in the Democratic establishment are themselves helping to turn the lights off in the US.

The reality is that American liberalism is dying whatever you choose to vote in November. The Supreme Court, under the control of conservative zealots, is already remaking the country in its image, able to act with impunity no matter if a Democrat or Republican sits in the White House. Under the guise of federalism, empowered state legislators in safe Red states are unleashing a savage agenda, also able to act with impunity no matter if a Democrat or Republican sits in the White House. What ‘democracy’ are you protecting by sacrificing your own beliefs to install a Democrat in the White House? Democracy in the US is already dying, the Democrats are doing nothing to save it and the only social force capable of doing so is a revolutionary movement. This can only be achieved through increased class consciousness, and continuing to stay in line with the Democrats will do nothing for this.

Endorsing Reaction

A vote for the Democrats today is an endorsement of the party's rightward shift, yet it is the rightward shift which is precisely what is feeding the fascist threat. In 2016, when Left voters either stayed at home or moved to a third party (or even Trump) in protest against Hilary Clinton and the liberal establishment, less clever individuals (including Clinton herself) blamed the voters for enabling Trump. They were ‘misogynists’ who would do anything but vote for a female president. The more intelligent in the political class however understood what had really happened - the Democrats had not been Left enough. The radical change promised by Obama had been exposed as empty and they offered up one of the most despised faces of the establishment to replace him. The complacency of the Democrats and their neoliberal agenda had put Trump in the White House, not voters.

Following the 2016 defeat the Democrat Party underwent some radical changes. In 2018 AOC won her primary on a radical platform, with the “Squad” being formed shortly after. Then came Bernie Sanders' historic presidential run, whilst the Democratic Socialists of America emerged as a formidable faction in the Democrats with a relatively large mass base. Despite Biden's eventual victory the party had indeed moved Left since the days of Clinton and Obama. Had Left voters fallen in line in 2016 and backed Clinton where would we be today? Would we have won any of these gains? Would an even more radicalised fascism simply have won in 2020 as the neoliberal crisis deepened and the Democrats refused to change?

Despite the left shift, the last year has seen a counter movement to the right within the Democrats. Facing economic crisis and plummeting approval ratings the political class (rather than recognise the role of Biden’s age and faltering capacity) has blamed radical excesses and sought to return the party ‘back to the centre’. Whilst the recent presidential debate made it clear that the issue was not in fact Left policy, Kamala’s condemnation of anti-Netanyahu protesters shows that the rightward shift is here to stay. If the Left is not willing to act as it did in 2016 this time, it will not be saving America from a rightwing shift, but rather encouraging it. The politicos urging the dumping of a left agenda will be vindicated and the once extreme trumpian language of ‘illegals’ and ‘aliens’ will become common speak.

The period following 2016 was difficult. A Trump agenda in the White House dealt extreme damage to an array of working class communities across America whilst the Left was forced to fight viciously against his agenda. On the streets of America the Left battled (quite often literally), suffering casualties and treating the Right in kind. And yet 2016 taught the Democrats things they needed to hear, it emboldened the Left, maturing the movement and giving it the more developed character it has today. This time, the Left must not cower in fear and hide behind the shield of the Democrats, because they are no shield at all. Do you want to die on your knees, or fight standing, with the possibility of victory? That is the question the Left faces in November.

It is often said that ‘if only’ the left and liberals had been more united, fascism would never have won in Europe. This is probably true. However, unity in the face of the fascist threat, whilst vital, must never become a Left capitulation to the Right as this makes fascist victory inevitable, if not today then tomorrow. Ultimately it is only the Left program that is capable of saving the US from fascism; by not voting for it and instead falling in line behind the Democrats, the Left seals its own tomb.

“Grow up”

It is not, nor will ever be, ‘out of touch sectarianism’ to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people. It is time for the Left to stop dreaming of something better and to begin taking practical steps towards realisation. There will never be a ‘good’ or ‘safe’ election in which the Left can break with the Democrats without risk. Revolutionary, class struggle is not safe. The fight for a better world is not one without risk. Yet that itself must never become a reason not to fight. It is the Democrat Party, with its rightist turn, that has forced this break, not any mindless sectarianism. It is the Democrat Party, with its hands covered in the blood of the Palestinians, that must hang its head in shame, not the Left. What did they expect us to do when we saw a young boy carrying his sister’s mutilated body in his hands? What did they expect from us when we heard the sound of seven year old Hind as she was gunned down by the IDF? What did they expect from us when they branded us antisemites and beat us on our own campuses? That we would turn up at campaign HQ ready to go door knocking?

You will only ever get the politics you want if you fight for it - both on the streets and in the ballot box. Socialism will not magically appear one day, free of all struggle. You can either remain an invisible minority, no different from any other Democrat voter, or you can send a clear message that the workers' movement is here to stay. That when it matters most, we will not abandon the Palestinians and fall back in line.

She's No Different

Prior to Harris’ nomination, it was relatively uncontroversial to be on the Left advocating for a break with the Democrats. The PSL, spying an opportunity, has had its most visible and active campaign to date. I have no idea why suddenly the position is controversial - there has been no material shift in the position of the Democrats. Actually that is misleading - Kamala Harris can string a sentence together, and that is certainly a material difference!

There has been no meaningful shift in policy towards Palestine, no economic concessions, no defence of refugees and migrants. It is disappointing that so many on the Left continue to be fooled by the illusions of identity and representation. Obama did not save us, and neither will Kamala Harris. She is not more progressive simply because she is ‘young’. She is the continuation of Biden and everything he has stood for.

Lessons from History

In 1933 Spain, CEDA, an anti-democratic, far right party displaced the center left PSOE and entered government. Many feared Gil Robles, an admirer and friend of Hitler and Mussolini, would strangle the new Spanish democracy and install a fascist regime. CEDA had won a dramatic majority after over a million Spanish anarchists and revolutionary socialists had boycotted the Left slate, in protest at the rightward shift of the PSOE and liberals. The centre left had failed to enact significant reform and had repeatedly sent in the police to crush strikes by workers and peasants, leading to arrests, beatings and even killings (sound familiar?). The next few years under rightist government were brutal, and are known in Spain as ‘the black years’. However, following its overwhelming defeat, the centre left and liberals lost considerable political clout and the revolutionary Left bloc was greatly strengthened. Forced to capitulate to the Left, in 1936 the liberals and centre left won a landslide majority alongside the revolutionary bloc under the unified banner of the Popular Front. Despite great suffering and struggle, the Left, rather than simply accepting the demands of the liberals, had been forced to fight and had won, emerging more developed and competitive. The liberal commitment to Right appeasement had cost Spain several years of reaction, not the Left response. In 1933, the Spanish Left drew a line in the sand and bravely defied the demands of the centre, enjoying a dramatic shift in its favour as a result. Today the US Left faces a similar situation.

No to capitulation!