Kamala Harris’s loss shows the cost of ignoring unfiltered public voices. It is a warning for democracies like the UK, Germany, and Canada..! Leaders who listen, adapt, and address grassroots concerns can rebuild trust and lead in this new era of digital democracy.
Co-founder MPACTIFY | Empowering impact organizations through founder and employee led advocacy by leveraging modern communication
Why Kamala Harris lost the election (not mentioned by experts) ? Was it sexism? Not this time. Data from CNN’s 2024 Exit Polls shows gender wasn’t a major factor. ? Was it racism? Pew Research confirms race wasn’t decisive either. ? Too little time to campaign? She had 4 years as Vice President to prepare. Here’s the real, overlooked reason Harris lost: she didn’t listen to the public. For the first time in history, voters have an unfiltered megaphone: social media! - 70% of Americans now rely on social media for political news and discourse (Pew Research). - During this election, posts on X (Twitter) that influenced public opinion spiked by 40% over past elections (MIT Technology Review). Yet Harris’s team failed to connect with these voices. Instead of ignoring public frustrations—even when harsh—Harris could’ve used social media as real-time data to shape policies that actually reflected what people care about. Sprout Social found economic policy and public safety topped voter concerns, but her campaign’s messaging completely missed these grassroots issues. The result? Her policies didn’t resonate. For today’s leaders, this is a wake-up call. Social channels are where the real, unfiltered public sentiment lives. Labeling, canceling, and censorship only backfire. Embrace these platforms to engage and genuinely connect with the public —it is bold, it is forward-thinking, and it is true democracy! What do you think leaders today can learn from this? ——— Stay tuned for Reason #2, where I’ll dig into another overlooked factor behind Harris’s loss. Politics shifts with communication. I help leaders and institutions build bridges with the public. DM “BRIDGE” to have an initial consultation. ????Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images