Kamala Harris Political Betting Odds

If you’ve turned on any sort of news station at all in the last week or two, you’ll have seen that major players in the Trump Administration, including POTUS himself, are under fire for potentially having colluded with foreign entities during the 2016 election and for a possible attempt to cover it up.

Accusations of Watergate 2.0 have sparked talks of introducing articles of impeachment, but they have also sparked talks of a potential frontrunner in the 2020 election. Senator Kamala Harris, the junior Democratic senator from California, is a member of the Senate investigatory panel; one who has been asking all of the hard – and in the minds of voters across the nation – right questions that need to be answered.

It is her assertive performances in these congressional hearings that have earned her a place amongst her colleagues with presidential betting odds. She is now officially a potential candidate that political bettors can wager on. What are Kamala Harris’s odds to win the 2020 presidential election? Well, they’re actually not terrible. At +6600, she’s hovering around the middle of the pack, which is impressive seeing as she’s the newest name to be added to this list.

These slightly longer odds might stem from the fact that 2017 is the first time the Senator has held public office. Prior to being elected a senator, though, Ms. Harris served as the state Attorney General for California, from 2011 to 2016. Her brand of fearless determination has not deterred her from making waves on the Hill, despite her newness.

Ms. Harris first made headlines when she became just one of 11 senators to not confirm General John Kelly as head of the Department of Homeland Security. Since then, she has voted against a total of 18 of President Trump’s nominations, earning her the title of “dogged opponent.” Harris herself has bragged about the “bloody knuckles” she’s received for rallying the troops against President Trump.

In just a few months in office, her truculent activity has continuously gained traction with progressives. “The dominant trend in Democratic Party politics is fresh, new and interesting,” said veteran Democratic fundraiser Wade Randlett. “That’s what people are looking for – not old, steady, and establishment. Kamala is the trifecta.”

Ms. Harris has fought the current administration over quite a number of things, like healthcare and environmental issues. “I’ve always had strong opinions, and a perspective – and waged the fights that needed to be had,” Kamala said in an interview with POLITICO.

This is evident not only in her fights on Capitol Hill but also through her approach for getting answers from Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and National Security Agency Director Admiral Mike Rogers, as well as Attorney General Jeff Sessions and even former FBI director James Comey. Her questions and technique, though, were labeled combative by some of her conservative counterparts on the panel, earning her a reprimand and a request that she “be more courteous.”

Rather than allow the slightly sexist comments deter her, Ms. Harris has actually taken the statements and turned them into a fundraising tool. Not only is she seemingly indomitable, she’s also got a creative streak, as well as a sense of humor.

“[Ms. Harris] is perceived as a part of this new generation of leadership,” said Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a fellow at the University of Southern California’s Sol Price School of Public Policy. “What she needs is visibility and name recognition beyond California – and that’s part of what I see going on right now. I see a freshman senator who is attempting to raise her national and statewide visibility.”

When asked by Kara Swisher if she (Ms. Harris) would run in 2020, Kamala replied “I’m not giving that any consideration. I’ve got to stay focused.” Ms. Swisher’s remark summed up what we all know to be true after years of decoding political speak: “That’s a yes.”

As time passes, be prepared to see political betting odds next to Senator Harris’s name for quite some time to come. Don’t be surprised to see those odds shorten as time passes, as well.