In Harris’ home of California, voters weigh economy, reproductive rights | 2024 US Election News

San Francisco, California – Under a gold leaf dome in downtown San Francisco, the usual procession of wedding parties drove out of City Hall with newly minted marriage licenses.

But there was a rival line stretching down the stairs for another reason: Californians had arrived in droves to take part in the crucial 2024 US election.

This year’s presidential election was rich with symbolism for the San Francisco Bay Area. One of the two major candidates, Democrat and Vice President Kamala Harris, considers it home.

Born in nearby Oakland, raised in neighboring Berkeley, and in San Francisco she built a reputation as a prosecutor that saw her rocket up the political ladder.

First, she was elected the city’s district attorney, serving at City Hall from 2002 to 2011, steps away from the law school where she received her degree.

Later, she became the state’s attorney general and then its senator in the US Congress.

California is known as a Democratic stronghold, part of the so-called “blue wall” of states that consistently vote for the party.

And as the most populous in the country, the state boasts a whopping 54 electoral college votes. Al Jazeera spoke to voters outside City Hall on Tuesday to understand what motivated their votes this election cycle.

Anjali Rimi, social worker

Standing in the shadow of City Hall’s towering 94-metre (307 ft) dome, Anjali Rimi hoped to encourage other voters to re-elect Democratic Mayor London Breed for a second term.

The wider general election also weighed heavily on Rimi’s mind.

“At every level – federal, state and the city of San Francisco – what is at stake is democracy,” Rimi told Al Jazeera.

“What is at stake is the lives of immigrants. What is at stake are the lives of minority religious people, like myself, or many of my Muslim, Sikh, non-white, non-male, non-Christian people who need to be protected in this country.

“What’s at stake are the basic rights of every human being in this world that we sometimes tend not to see right here in the United States. And that’s why this election is historic on so many fronts.”

Rimi’s words echoed critics’ concerns about Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee and former president known for nativist rhetoric.

When asked why certain voters in the United States did not see these basic rights, Rimi was unequivocal.

“You have to give and attribute a lot of white supremacy. It may not always look white, but privilege and those in position still want to conquer and rule and brutalize this world,” Rimi said.

“That’s why we don’t see the struggles of those on the fringes – the many of us who have come to this country to make it our home and are just trying to live a happy and peaceful life with our families, but still have a connection back to our homelands.”

She added that she hoped to “protect black and female leaders” in this election cycle.

Melanie Mathewson, 26, political consultant

The decision to end Supreme Court precedent Roe v Wade in 2022 was a prominent theme in this year’s presidential election.

On the one hand, former President Trump campaigned on how his decisions while in office helped pave the way for the repeal of federal protections of abortion care.

“For 54 years they tried to end Roe v Wade. And I did it,” he said in January.

In contrast, Harris has campaigned to restore access to reproductive health care. “When Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law,” she told a campaign rally earlier this year.

That debate helped inspire Melanie Mathewson’s vote in the general election.

“What drives me at the federal level is women’s rights,” she said. “I would love to have children one day, and I want to make sure that no matter where I live or where they choose to live, they have access to the health care they need for their bodies.”

She also gave a nod to the anti-transgender, anti-immigrant and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric that has become a frequent theme of the Trump campaign.

“Whether I have kids who are transgender or I have kids who are gay, I want them to feel comfortable and protected wherever they live in this country, not just in California,” Mathewson said .

“I’m also very concerned about my black and brown friends and my friends who have non-citizen immigrant parents who are just trying to find their way.”

Christian nationalism, she added, helped shape many of Trump’s policies.

“With the possibility of Christian nationalism becoming the way we run our country if Trump wins, I’m afraid there won’t be freedom of religion, freedom over our bodies,” she said.

Maddie Dunn, 23, and Matt Fitzgerald, 28, campaigners

The shuttered storefronts in downtown San Francisco were top of mind for Maddie Dunn and Matt Fitzgerald, who hoped Election Day would bring good news for small businesses.

They hoped ballot initiatives in San Francisco would result in lower taxes and permit fees for local businesses.

The city’s population dropped by nearly 65,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic, and businesses took a hit as a result.

“San Francisco had the slowest COVID recovery in North America,” Fitzgerald said. “We have a lot of problems here in our downtown, with empty office space, small businesses closing and things like that.”

Dunn explained that her father was a small business owner and the downturn worried her.

“This is a problem that you can really see day-to-day: How well is your corner store doing? Or your coffee shop? And in San Francisco, the answer is that businesses are recovering, but they’re still struggling because of declining foot traffic, really slow margins,” she said.

However, both she and Fitzgerald indicated they would throw their support behind Harris, who has promised to boost start-ups despite skepticism from the right.

“She understands how important small businesses are to our communities. And with her financial plan, when it comes down to it, she has the approval of experts,” Dunn said.

For his part, Fitzgerald warned that Trump represents a threat to American democracy, pointing to his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, when his supporters stormed the Capitol.

“I think the candidates couldn’t be more different,” he said. “I mean, you have a candidate, our former president, who literally tried to overthrow our democracy on January 6th, and you have a candidate who is pro-democracy, who is pro-women’s rights, and who is pro-LGBTQ— rights.”

This election, he added, will be “a big fork in the road”.

Jennifer Fieber, 51, member of the San Francisco Tenants Union

For decades, the San Francisco Bay Area has been in the grip of a housing crisis.

Housing prices are unaffordable for many residents. The cost of rent has increased. And a January 2024 report from the city government estimated that homelessness affects at least 8,323 residents — a likely undercount. More than 20,000 sought help for homelessness in the course of a year.

Jennifer Fieber, a member of the San Francisco Tenants Union, pointed to the crisis as the main motivation for her vote. She indicated she would support progressive candidate Aaron Peskin in his mayoral race.

“Renters are 64 percent of the city,” Fieber said. “I think if you stabilize their housing, it has a profound effect on the working class and people’s ability to live in the city. So we need candidates who will protect tenants.”

She explained that high housing prices forced essential workers such as nurses and teachers out of the city.

When asked which candidates had presented platforms to address the issue, Fieber replied, “In fact, I think they’ve ignored it to their detriment.”

That includes at the national level, she added. “I support the Democrats, but they don’t really have a housing policy.”

Joshua Kelly, 45, stay-at-home dad

For homemaker and stay-at-home dad Joshua Kelly, the roadway along San Francisco’s Pacific coast was motivation to get out the vote.

The four-lane road, known as the Great Highway, was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic to allow for outdoor recreation. Residents like Kelly hope it stays closed, especially as the highway faces the ravages of climate change.

“Our plan (is) to turn a coastal highway that drops into the ocean into a park and promenade for the entire city,” Kelly said.

He argued that the stake is greater than just the fate of a road.

“What kind of city do we want to be? Do we want to be a city that recognizes and embraces climate change and plans for it?” asked Kelly. “Or do we want to be a city that prioritizes polluting, climate-changing car travel and the convenience of it over everything else?”

He credited outgoing President Joe Biden with taking some steps to address the climate crisis.

“Joe Biden was able, through the Inflation Reduction Act, to create one of the biggest pieces of climate legislation. And we see a lot of renewable energy coming out of that,” Kelly explained.

But he warned that continued activism would be necessary to keep the issue at the forefront of national politics, regardless of the outcome on Tuesday.

“I think we’re part of a coalition that will put pressure on Kamala Harris to do that if she’s elected as well. And if Trump gets in, he’s going to push fossil fuels. He’s going to end subsidies for renewables energy. He will send us backwards.”

Kelly also feared the violence Trump could unleash if he refuses to accept defeat at Harris’ hands.

“I’m concerned about the potential for violence,” Kelly said. “If the election is kind of contested, there’s a good chance the House and Supreme Court would conspire to give the election to Trump, despite him losing the Electoral College vote.”