Kamala Harris
Former Vice President of the United States; 2024 Democratic presidential nominee · Democratic Party
2 changes of mind on record, 2019–2024
How this works
Each change shows what they said then and what they said later, in their own words, dated, with the source.
Every quote is checked word for word against a saved copy of its source. Translations are labelled.
The short labels on each line are our summaries.
At a glance
- A ban on fracking Ban frackingWon’t ban fracking Sept 2019Aug 2024
- Private health insurance under Medicare for All Eliminate private insurersPrivate plans inside Medicare Jan 2019Jul 2019
first said said otherwise
A ban on fracking
Then
Ban fracking
She supports banning fracking, starting with public lands on day one.
“There's no question I'm in favor of banning fracking, so yes. And starting -- and starting with what we can do on day one around public lands, right?”
Source CNN Climate Crisis Town Hall with Sen. Kamala Harris (transcript)
4 years, 11 months later
Later
Won’t ban fracking
As president she will not ban fracking.
“No, and I made that clear on the debate stage in 2020, that I would not ban fracking. As vice president, I did not ban fracking. As president, I will not ban fracking.”
Source CNN Exclusive Interview With Harris & Walz (transcript)
Context: In the same 2024 interview, asked about the 2019 answer, Harris said her values had not changed; she served as vice president from 2021 to 2025.
Private health insurance under Medicare for All
Then
Eliminate private insurers
Asked whether Medicare for All would end private insurance for people who like theirs, she said the insurance-company step should be eliminated.
“Well, listen, the idea is that everyone gets access to medical care, and you don't have to go through the process of going through an insurance company, having them give you approval, going through the paperwork, all of the delay that may require. Who of us has not had that situation, where you've got to wait for approval, and the doctor says, well, I don't know if your insurance company is going to cover this? Let's eliminate all of that. Let's move on.”
Source CNN town hall: Jake Tapper hosts Kamala Harris in Des Moines, Iowa (transcript)
6 months later
Later
Private plans inside Medicare
Her Medicare for All plan lets private insurers offer plans inside the Medicare system, under Medicare's rules.
“Essentially, we would allow private insurance to offer a plan in the Medicare system, but they will be subject to strict requirements to ensure it lowers costs and expands services. If they want to play by our rules, they can be in the system. If not, they have to get out.”