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Oakland Today
By the People, for the People
Kamala Harris Pushes to Lower Voting Age to 16 at Oakland Event
Former VP urges voters to elect Democrats in midterm elections to protect voting rights.
Published on Mar. 4, 2026
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Former Vice President Kamala Harris advocated for lowering the voting age to 16 during a book tour stop in Oakland, California. Harris warned that voting rights could be imperiled under the Trump administration and urged voters to elect Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections to protect access to the ballot. She also discussed her recent 'shadow tour' across the country to connect with Americans struggling with issues like rising costs and infrastructure challenges.
Why it matters
Harris' push to lower the voting age to 16 is part of a broader effort by Democrats to engage younger voters and expand access to the political process. This comes as the Supreme Court is poised to potentially gut key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, and as Republicans in Congress have pushed legislation to restrict voting. The midterm elections will be a crucial test for the future of voting rights in the U.S.
The details
During the event at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, Harris discussed her book '107 Days' and was interviewed by Rep. Lateefah Simon, D-Oakland. Harris highlighted how the spirit of Bay Area activism informed her upbringing and said she hopes that spirit will continue among young leaders. She made a pitch to lower the voting age to 16, arguing that it would empower youth to have a say in their future. Harris also described a 'shadow tour' she's taken across the country to meet Americans struggling with issues like rising costs and infrastructure challenges.
- The event took place on March 3, 2026.
- Harris' book '107 Days' was published in September 2025.
The players
Kamala Harris
Former Vice President of the United States who is advocating for lowering the voting age to 16 and urging voters to elect Democrats in the midterm elections.
Lateefah Simon
U.S. Representative for California's 13th congressional district who hosted the event with Kamala Harris.
Donald Trump
Former President of the United States whose administration Harris fears could imperil voting rights.
What they’re saying
“These midterms coming up are pretty much the only way we're going to stop the madness.”
— Kamala Harris, Former Vice President (San Francisco Chronicle)
“Because when we ask them to understand and think about what they want for their future, they will know they have some power to decide.”
— Kamala Harris, Former Vice President (San Francisco Chronicle)
“I had the impression things would be difficult, but even with that, I don't think we understood that we'd have a president who took away a trillion dollars in Medicare and Medicaid.”
— Lateefah Simon, U.S. Representative (San Francisco Chronicle)
What’s next
Harris plans to continue her book tour and advocacy for voting rights in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections.
The takeaway
Kamala Harris' push to lower the voting age to 16 and her warnings about threats to voting rights underscore the high stakes of the upcoming midterm elections for the future of American democracy.
