It is weird how we talk about polling. We treat it like weather—something that just happens to us—but when you look at Kamala Harris’ approval rating as VP, it’s more like a high-stakes psychological thriller.
For nearly three years, the numbers were, frankly, brutal.
By June 2024, a Politico-Morning Consult poll had her underwater with a 52% unfavorable rating. People were calling her a liability. Pundits were whispering about whether she’d even stay on the ticket. Then, July happened. Joe Biden stepped aside, and suddenly, the "unpopular" Vice President saw a surge that defied almost every historical precedent for a sitting VP.
The Summer Pivot That Changed Everything
Most VPs are invisible. They attend funerals and cut ribbons. Harris, however, was tethered to some of the administration's "thoriest" issues, like the southern border. Her numbers reflected that.
But look at the shift after July 21, 2024. According to Gallup, her favorability jumped 13 percentage points in just two months. She went from a 34% favorable rating in June to 47% in August. That’s not just a "bounce." That is a total rebranding in the eyes of the American public.
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Why?
Part of it was the "Happy Warrior" energy. While Biden’s campaign was somber—focused on the existential threat to democracy—Harris started leaning into a "New Way Forward" message. It worked. By October 2024, her job approval as VP hit 45%, which was significantly higher than Biden’s 39% at the same time.
Breaking Down the Demographics
If you want to understand why these numbers move, you’ve got to look at the "Double Negatives." These are the voters who disliked both Biden and Trump. When Harris took the top of the ticket, the number of people in this category plummeted.
- Democrats: Unsurprisingly, she has nearly unanimous support here. We're talking 94% approval.
- Independents: This is where the real battle happened. Her approval with independents sat around 41% in late 2024. Not a landslide, but enough to keep her competitive.
- Republicans: Consistently in the single digits. About 8% approve. Basically, if you wear a red hat, your mind was made up long ago.
Why 2026 Looks Different
Now that we’re in 2026, the retrospective on these numbers is fascinating. People often forget that Harris’ net favorability was slightly lower than Mike Pence’s at the same point in their respective tenures.
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Historically, VPs like Al Gore or Dick Cheney started with much higher "honeymoon" phases. Harris never really got that. She started in a polarized era where "neutral" doesn't exist. You’re either a hero or a villain the moment you take the oath.
Honestly, the most surprising detail is how her "character" ratings outpaced her "leadership" ratings. In the final stretch of the 2024 cycle, Gallup noted she was rated better than Trump on likability, even while trailing on "leadership strength." It tells you that people liked her, even if they were skeptical of the administration's results.
The Impact of Specific Policy Portfolios
You can't talk about her approval without mentioning the "Border Czar" label. Republicans used it as a mallet. Whether it was fair or not, her dip in June 2021—following that famous Lester Holt interview where she bristled at questions about visiting the border—marked a turning point. She never fully recovered from that specific "unfavorable" peak until she became the nominee.
Real-World Takeaways for the Future
If you’re tracking these numbers for a reason—maybe you’re a political junkie or just trying to guess where the 2028 cycle might go—keep these three things in mind:
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- Approval isn't Destiny: Harris’ approval was "underwater" (more people disliked her than liked her) for most of 2024, yet she still maintained a "dead heat" in the polls against Trump.
- The Gender Gap is Real: She consistently polls 10-15 points higher with women than with men. In 2026, this remains the defining fault line in American politics.
- The "Vibe" Shift: Numbers move faster on social media than they do in traditional phone polls. The 13-point jump in 2024 showed that a candidate's "image" can be rehabilitated almost overnight with the right messaging.
To get a clearer picture of the current landscape, your best bet is to check the FiveThirtyEight or RealClearPolitics polling averages twice a month. Don't look at single polls; they're noisy. Look at the trend line. If the "unfavorable" gap starts closing by more than 2% in a thirty-day window, something significant is happening on the ground.
Next Steps:
To stay informed on how these numbers translate into actual policy influence, you should track the Generic Congressional Ballot alongside these VP ratings. Often, a VP's approval is a "lagging indicator" of how the public feels about the economy. If you see the "Right Direction/Wrong Track" numbers shift, expect Harris' approval to follow suit about three weeks later.