Suppose Kamala Harris decided to run as an independent candidate instead of as a Democrat. How would this impact the 2024 presidential race?
If Kamala Harris ran as an independent, it would likely split the Democratic vote, benefit the Republican candidate, force Democrats to nominate a new candidate, and potentially lead to a three-way race with no clear Electoral College majority, significantly altering the dynamics of the 2024 presidential election.
{"reasoning_type": "counterfactual"}
In the current situation, Kamala Harris is running as the Democratic presidential nominee with Tim Walz as her running mate, aiming to defeat Donald Trump and keep the White House under Democratic control. If Harris decided to run as an independent candidate instead, it would dramatically alter the dynamics of the 2024 presidential race. This move would likely split the Democratic vote, potentially benefiting Donald Trump or another Republican candidate. The Democratic Party would need to quickly nominate a new candidate, causing confusion and potentially weakening their position. Harris's campaign would face significant challenges in terms of funding, party infrastructure, and ballot access as an independent. The race would likely become a three-way contest, increasing the chances of no candidate securing a majority in the Electoral College. This scenario could lead to increased political instability and potentially throw the election to the House of Representatives.