Anyone who chooses a career in politics must decide whether they can cope with the public scrutiny that comes with it. Kamala Harris has already made this decision when she ran first for President of the United States in 2021 and then successfully for Vice President.

Back then, she was already seen as a complex role model. She faced criticism from some parts of society. Others saw her as an inspiration: a woman of color holding one of the highest political offices in the world. But few role models are perfect. During her career as a prosecutor, she has made decisions that people question, and now that she’s running for president, both her past and current abilities are under even greater scrutiny. Does that matter, or should the whole world just be grateful that she’s there to challenge Donald Trump?

Kamala Harris and the critical examination

The criticism she faces mainly relates to her past.

• The Vice President – There are voices accusing her of being ineffective as Vice President. Her approval ratings have fallen. There have been some political errors and ill-considered comments, such as on Guatemala, where she did not visit the border. There has also been criticism of her personnel management.

• Biden V2 – Republicans are clearly eager to gain some leverage against her, claiming either that she will simply do “more of the same” or that her presidency will be a more radical version of Joe Biden’s presidency.

Other criticisms fall into the category of personal attacks against them by those who want to exploit any deviation from the “norm”, such as:

• Childless cat mother – JD Vance was heavily criticized by many women and received support from many Republicans for saying she is not a woman because she is not a mother. This shocking comment from Trump’s vice presidential candidate is not too surprising considering the speaker. They forget that she is a stepmother and gets a lot of praise from the mother and stepdaughter of her stepchildren. She calls herself Momala.

• Mixed race – Donald Trump seems confused that people can be of mixed race. Her mother was Indian, her father Jamaican. It seems odd that JD Vance can’t help him with this when his own children are mixed race and his wife is also of Indian descent.

• DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) President – she is also criticized for the very things that make her different, and her critics argue that she will only get votes because she is a token candidate for the House. This weak argument is being used more and more by Republicans as Harris becomes more and more dangerous to their own political ambitions.

I see posts on social media where people say things like:I don’t know what it is about her, I just don’t like her.’ As a woman of color, I know this all too well. The intangible criticism from people who can’t quite say what they really think – namely, that they have a problem with women of color and think only people like them should lead the country. Harris is seen as too different, and that’s too much for a lot of people.

Kamala Harris as a role model

Her announcement that she would run for president against Donald Trump sparked cheers and jubilation among many people around the world. She represents different traditions, which is a life experience for more and more people. She could be not only the first woman to become president, but also the first woman of color. When she won the vice presidency, she said: “I hope every little girl watching tonight realizes that this is a country full of opportunity.”

She’s smart, witty and knows how to debate. She’s knowledgeable and has a professional background that helps her understand the issues facing the country. No wonder Trump is stepping up his personal attacks against her. She’s winning support from young people, from women and from those who have never voted. She wears sleek California suits and high heels. Compare that to an aging Donald Trump attacking her for saying she’s black.

Since Kamala announced her candidacy, record amounts of donations have been raised. A group of black women reached a million dollar goal in three hours and were highly motivated to get people to register to vote. Kamala Harris could be the candidate that gets lots of young voters, black voters, Asian voters and liberals to register, vote and do whatever they can to get her in office.

There has been a broad reaction in this country too. Harris’ comments on abortion, women’s rights and gun violence show us that she represents something very different and could change world politics.

The risks Kamala Harris will face

Her late entry into the race makes this a challenge. She will have to reach many states to convince people to vote for her. Republicans and their “Make America Great Again” message are popular with many voters across the US.

A recent Donald Trump rally was the scene of a shooting. We can only imagine how much Kamala Harris has had to beef up her security. Wherever she goes, she will face risks. One of those risks is the misogyny that seems to be rampant in politics. During her 2016 presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton experienced a flood of misogyny, especially online. Subsequent research found that online misogyny against female politicians has become a “widespread and worrying phenomenon.”

And for me, there is something of a personal connection. My grandmother was called Kamala. And I also have a complicated name that people have a hard time pronouncing. In 2016, Kamala Harris made a video to show people how to pronounce her name: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYkZkpLQUS0.

And this is where many people will see a connection with her: in her pressure to act as someone who is different from many voters. As someone who is seen as a representative of minorities and those who have not yet come so close to power.

Kamala Harris will be under scrutiny throughout the election campaign and beyond. She gives many people around the world hope for a different future.