ATLANTA — Nearly two years after her vice presidential campaign ended in defeat against Donald Trump, Kamala Harris continues to energize Democratic supporters with sharp criticism of the former president and calls for renewed political engagement. Speaking at multiple events during the final phase of the midterm elections, Harris urged Democrats to channel their frustration into concrete action, emphasizing the need for vigorous governance and structural reforms.

Over a recent two-day visit to Georgia, Harris campaigned vigorously for Democratic candidates, delivering pointed remarks about the current political landscape and the party’s future direction. She described Trump as “callous, corrupt and incompetent” while mocking his White House renovations as emblematic of his leadership style, referring to him as the “decorator in chief.” Harris framed the midterms as a pivotal moment, imploring voters to transform their anger into effective participation.

Her itinerary spanned seven states, including early primary battlegrounds such as Nevada, New Hampshire, and Michigan, as well as Mississippi, where she supported U.S. Senate candidate Scott Colom. Harris highlighted the strategic importance of the South, stating that investing in the region could yield electoral victories for Democrats. During events in Georgia, the first Black woman elected to national office connected the civil rights legacy to contemporary voting challenges, condemning the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision weakening the Voting Rights Act. She labeled this ruling as “backdoor racism” that enabled Republicans to redraw districts favoring Republican candidates over nonwhite lawmakers.

At a Fulton County Democratic Party fundraising dinner, Harris underscored the necessity of what she called “ruthlessness,” clarifying that the term referred not to cruelty but to the resolve to wield political power effectively. She also called for ambitious initiatives to revitalize American democracy, including expanding the Supreme Court, granting statehood to the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and reconsidering the role of the Electoral College. Her message reflected a broader push within the party for transformative institutional change.

Harris acknowledged the emotional toll that the 2020 presidential loss had taken on Democrats. Addressing students in Georgia, she described the collective experience as ranging from “anger, depression, sadness, frustration, a sense of helplessness and powerlessness.” With the midterms underway, she warned of potential interference by Trump but urged voters to counteract it with robust turnout. Speaking at Atlanta’s Elizabeth Baptist Church, she echoed one of Trump’s tactics by encouraging turnout large enough to thwart any attempts at election manipulation.

Observers like Melinda Johnson, a retired nurse attending the Atlanta fundraiser, praised Harris’s approach, noting that she was “hitting all the right notes” in mobilizing the party’s base. As speculation about Harris’s own political ambitions grows, her active campaigning and policy prescriptions signal her continued prominence within Democratic ranks ahead of the 2024 presidential race.