On July 21, President Joe Biden announced the end of his candidacy and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for president. This comes after a historically chaotic campaign season, which included an assassination attempt on Republican nominee Former President Donald Trump and calls from Democratic lawmakers for Biden to end his campaign after a disastrous debate performance.
Harris, a 59-year-old former prosecutor, is the first woman, the first Black person, and the first person of South Asian descent to serve as vice president of the United States. If she wins the Democratic nomination, which she is likely to do, and beats Trump in the general election, she will be the first female president. The enthusiasm over Harris’ sudden rise is palpable: She’s gained overwhelming support from Democratic party officials and raised over $50 million since Biden’s withdrawal and endorsement.
Many voters fearfully remember Hillary Clinton’s inability to beat Trump in 2016. In the eight years since Clinton’s loss, The Supreme Court has overturned the federal right to abortion, the number of college-educated women in the workforce has increased, and Trump has been found guilty of sexual abuse — factors that could drive more women to the polls and increase the likelihood of a female candidate winning the presidency.
The U.S. is, to say the least, late to the game when it comes to electing high-level female leaders. The United Kingdom has had three female prime ministers, and Mexico elected its first female president this year. The overturning of Roe v. Wade has amplified the importance of having a woman who will prioritize women’s issues in political leadership roles.
The country is long overdue for a female president, and Harris, if awarded the Democratic nomination, will be a stark contrast to Trump. The daughter of immigrants, Harris has prosecuted sexual predators and defended reproductive rights. Trump, on the other hand, supports mass deportations and has been judged to be a rapist. Democrats hope that Harris will energize women of color—the very people Trump will harm the most if he is re-elected. Beyond making history, a Harris presidency would save the American people from a second Trump administration—during which he has vowed to reverse Biden’s climate change agenda, restrictions on guns, protections for transgender people, and to restrict the reproductive rights of women further.
Harris’ path to victory won’t be easy. Trump has seen revived support following an assassination attempt, and the vice president is beginning her campaign months after the former president began his. Her success will rely on renewed excitement from voters about a younger and newer candidate and the work of grassroots organizations of all types.
Art, in particular, can be political and hugely inspirational in important elections like the upcoming one. After the 2016 election, The Untitled Space presented an exhibit, titled UPRISE/ANGRY WOMEN curated by Indira Cesarine that addressed Trump’s misogyny, sexism, and stance on reproductive rights. The following year, One Year of Resistance, an exhibit responding to the rollback of immigration rights, Trump’s policies on gun control, his restriction of trans rights, and the rising white supremacy movement was shown in The Untitled Space. These exhibits continue a legacy of protest in the art world, where art becomes a vehicle that both inspires and resists. The Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam War, and the Reagan administration’s negligence of the AIDS crisis all inspired artists to create an act of protest.
Keeping with the gallery’s history of advocating for social justice through artwork, The Untitled Space is holding an open call for a nationwide public art billboard series and exhibition, partnering with SaveArtSpace and curated by Indira Cesarine. Revolving around the theme of “FUTURE VISION,” the exhibit invites artists to create compelling visual narratives to imagine a better tomorrow, focusing on ideals such as justice, peace, equality, diversity, and sustainability. The importance of envisioning a hopeful and equitable future cannot be overstated, especially given the urgency of the 2024 election. The Untitled Space invites artists to submit to the open call and have a chance to make a difference in this politically precarious time.
