“We’re not going back! We’re not going back!” Those four words have, somewhat accidentally, become the slogan of Kamala Harris’ campaign. The chant emerged in the Harris Campaign’s first official event following Biden’s decision to drop out of the race. Harris has centralized this theme of progress within her campaign messaging. It sets up a natural contrast between Harris, a first-time nominee for president and Trump, the former president who is running as the Republican candidate in his third straight election. 

Centering a campaign around the broad idea of progress is not particularly novel. However, Harris’ ability to juxtapose her candidacy with the very recent Trump administration is powerful, and it draws comparisons to the election of 1800.

The election of 1800 positioned Federalists against Democratic-Republicans. Like Harris and Trump, these parties presented very different visions for the future of the country. According to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, a key difference between the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans was their opinions surrounding the British style of government. Federalists wanted to improve upon the British form of government while Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans wanted clearer, more dramatic change. 

As the election of 1800 heated up, personal attacks against candidates were frequent. One critic, writing under a pseudonym, said that electing Jefferson meant “murder, robbery, rape, adultery, and incest, will be openly taught and practiced.” (Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello). It would take endorsements from former enemies and a tumultuous final election in the House of Representatives, but Jefferson would ultimately win the election. 

As Harris navigates the final two months of her campaign, it might be helpful to remember Jefferson’s. The stakes and circumstances were different, but the tone was similar. Jefferson argued for a fresh president to take office in order to further the process of establishing American democracy. And despite Jefferson’s opponent’s claims, the country did not implode at his winning the election. In fact, the transition of power was relatively peaceful. If there is a lesson for Harris to take away from 1800, perhaps it is to quiet the noise and frenzy that surrounds you as a candidate and focus on the progress that your campaign is promising. It seemed to work for Jefferson.

Sources:

“We Are Not Going Back” Wasn’t Written to Be a Campaign Catchphrase. Kamala Harris Voters Had Other Ideas, Chris Smith, September 6, 2024

“A Nation Divided: The Election of 1800” Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello