Kamala Harris could make history as president, but what does that really mean for policy and power? 'Not reality, but promise,' expert says

The world is at a pivotal moment in U.S. history, as Vice President Kamala Harris stands on the brink of potentially becoming the first woman and person of colour to assume the role of U.S. president.

Harris, 56, the Democratic nominee, will host an election night event on Tuesday at Howard University, the place she once described as her “formative years.”

“Howard taught me that while you will often find that you're the only one in the room who looks like you, or who has had the experiences you’ve had, you must remember: you are never alone,” she wrote in an Instagram post three years ago.

Outside of Barack Obama’s election, which marked a historic shift in U.S. history, there hasn’t been another prominent cultural figure to redefine the nation’s vision of leadership at this scale.

“Well, I’m clearly a woman,” Harris added. “The point that most people really care about is can you do the job and do you have a plan to actually focus on them.”

But what does a Harris presidency represent? And could Americans be ready to take that leap once again? Here’s what experts on U.S. politics and sociology have to say.

‘A glimpse at the Obama years’: What a POC presidency last felt like

It was in 2008 when Barack Obama first took office, and although it may feel like a long time ago, he was celebrated globally for what he represented: diversity, inclusion, and the power of representation—qualities that America had never seen before in that position.

“On the international stage he represented the United States in its most positive democratic light and he was enormously popular around the world,” said Leonard Moore, a former professor at McGill University with expertise in U.S. social and political history.

Moore says he expects much of the same sentiment toward a Harris presidency, adding that she too would be increasingly popular in continents like Africa, Asia and Europe.

“She would represent the best of America to the world in terms of the United States being a nation of pluralistic promise… not reality, but promise.”

He also added that Harris will likely continue Biden’s efforts in strengthening pivotal alliances like NATO, a commitment Obama prioritized throughout his term.

But their similarities and relationship over the years delve much deeper than some may remember.

In 2009, days before Obama's inauguration, the first comparisons between Obama and Harris emerged when esteemed American journalist Gwen Ifill appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman and referred to Harris as the 'female Barack Obama' with a 'bright future.'

Since then, the two have consistently endorsed each other from 2010 to 2024. As Moore observed, “If there's one thing people can expect, it's a degree of continuity from Obama to Biden and now to Harris, ”highlighting the enduring connection they share in supporting one another.

What could a possible Harris presidency mean for society's view of power?

As the first woman of colour in the highest office, her leadership could challenge traditional notions of authority and redefine the landscape of political influence.

“The fact that the United States would have a woman leading the nation would be a huge cultural message,” Moore said.

From a current global standpoint, there are only 29 women serving as heads of state/government across the world, according to World Population Review. Meanwhile, since 1960, the highest position of executive power has been held by a

woman in just 62 countries.

Barry Eidlin, an Associate Professor of Sociology at McGill University, says there’s still a long road ahead. Simply having representation at the highest level, he argues, won’t be enough to tackle the deeper issues shaping public perceptions of the presidency.

“Putting Black faces in high places is not necessarily moving the needle in terms of actually addressing the critical problem of structural, racial inequality in America,” he said in an interview with Yahoo News Canada.

He explains that if Harris were to win, it would be a “defensive victory for democracy” as opposed to a shift back towards Trump's authoritative leadership.

What would Harris’ immediate challenges be?

A potential Harris presidency would come with a unique set of challenges, pushing her to navigate heightened scrutiny as the first female person of colour in the presidential office.

Despite the lust to inspire countless Americans, experts warn that Harris’ toughest challenge could be winning over voters who didn’t choose her—especially those deeply loyal to Trump.

Her first priority, experts suggest, would likely be to confront inevitable claims of voter fraud from the Trump camp, and the former president himself.

“The only legitimate election outcome (from the Trump camp) is one where Trump wins,” Eidlin said, reflecting on the 2020 election aftermath.

Eidlin also points to a "perception gap" among Americans — the skepticism about whether her administration would follow through on its promises. Closing that gap and building public trust could become one of Harris' earliest critical tests.

As for her perception among world leaders, Eidlin doesn’t anticipate significant obstacles. “Given her position as the most powerful leader in the world, I think it will mitigate a lot of those issues,” he said.

“She’s an experienced political figure, the U.S. might be very late to the game in terms of having women in high positions of power but on the global stage it’s not that weird anymore.”

Eidlin notes that gender dynamics may pose some challenges in dealing with certain Middle Eastern countries, but overall, he expects minimal friction on the international stage.