Following President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the race, Vice President Kamala Harris is poised to potentially become the Democrats’ new nominee.
Biden has thrown his support behind Harris, endorsing her as the party’s nominee for this year. Harris, in turn, expressed her intention to win and earn the nomination. However, the possibility of other Democratic politicians challenging her for the nomination remains uncertain, whether at an open convention or through an alternate selection process.
If Harris secures the nomination, the Democrats will have a presidential candidate hailing from the Bay Area, with roots in Oakland and strong ties to the tech industry. Prior to her senatorial role, she served as San Francisco’s district attorney and California’s attorney general.
Early supporters like venture capitalists John Doerr and Ron Conway, as well as LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, swiftly endorsed Harris, while other industry figures have shown varying levels of support or called for an open convention.
Critics in the tech industry have raised concerns about Harris’ past stance on curbing the power of tech giants. While she has advocated for privacy regulations and criticized tech CEOs, some remain wary of her approach to tech regulation.
As vice president, Harris has also highlighted the importance of regulating AI, stating that protecting the public and advancing innovation should not be seen as mutually exclusive. She has supported Biden’s executive order on AI standards and emphasized the need for strong government oversight in tech regulation.
Venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz have expressed concerns about potential overregulation of AI under the Biden Administration, citing it as a factor in their support for Donald Trump.
Regarding the hot-button issue of TikTok and national security concerns, Harris emphasized the need to address the owner of the app while expressing no intention to ban it. On the topic of cryptocurrency, Harris has been less vocal but is likely to align with the Biden Administration’s stance on crypto regulations.
