Kamala Harris Gets U.S. Court Count Wrong While Previewing Her 2028 Agenda
Kamala Harris used a speech in Nashville to preview a sweeping agenda for a possible 2028 presidential campaign. She also made a basic mistake about the federal court system while explaining one of her proposals.
Harris spoke at the National Urban League Conference on Friday. Her remarks focused on voting rights, the 2026 midterm elections, and the possibility of another White House bid.
When asked whether she was considering a new campaign, Harris said she had not made a decision. But she quickly made clear that she views the 2026 elections as a major step toward 2028.
“2028 will not matter if we don’t win 2026,” Harris said.
Harris then previewed several major changes that could become part of her platform. Her proposals included eliminating the Electoral College, expanding the Supreme Court to 13 justices, granting statehood to Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and ending the Senate filibuster.
Eliminating the Electoral College would require a constitutional amendment. Expanding the Supreme Court would also mark a dramatic change to the nation’s judicial system.
“We need to revisit the point of expanding the court to 13 justices, like we have 13 district courts. We need to revisit, if they so want, statehood for Puerto Rico and DC,” Harris said.
That statement contained a glaring factual error. The United States does not have 13 district courts. The country has 89 district courts across the 50 states, along with additional district courts in U.S. territories. There are 13 federal appellate circuit courts.
For a former vice president and attorney speaking about restructuring the federal judiciary, confusing district courts with appellate circuits is a significant blunder. It raises questions about the level of detail behind a plan that would reshape the Supreme Court and alter the Constitution.
Harris also criticized Tennessee’s congressional redistricting decision, accusing lawmakers of using racism as a political tool.
“They backdoored racism through politics in that decision,” Harris said.
She also claimed that hundreds of thousands of people died after the Trump Administration shut down USAID. Harris did not provide evidence for that claim during the remarks described.
“It’s so unbelievable that they got rid of USAID! As many as 600,000 to 700,000 people have died because of withdrawing American aid for humanitarian purposes!” Harris said.
Harris has not officially announced another presidential campaign. Still, her speech offered an early look at a platform built around court expansion, election changes, statehood proposals, and a major overhaul of Senate rules.