Fact-checking Kamala Harris’s claims in her first campaign interview

Kamala Harris’s campaign interview claims were fact-checked for accuracy, revealing context needed.

In her first campaign interview since entering the 2024 presidential race, Kamala Harris, alongside running mate Tim Walz, made several claims regarding fracking, child poverty, and clean-energy jobs. BBC Verify has analyzed these statements for accuracy.

Fracking position:

Harris stated that she would not ban fracking, saying, “I have not changed that position.” However, this needs context as her stance has evolved. In 2019, Harris publicly supported banning fracking. During the 2020 vice-presidential debate, she aligned with President Joe Biden’s position, stating, “Joe Biden will not end fracking.” In the recent interview, she reiterated her current stance, emphasizing her consistency since 2020.

Child poverty reduction:

Harris claimed that extending the child tax credit during the Biden administration reduced child poverty by over 50%. This is an exaggeration. The Supplemental Poverty Measure shows that child poverty fell by 46% between 2020 and 2021. However, the impact was temporary, as the rate rose again to 12.4% in 2022 after the tax credit boost ended.

Clean-energy job creation:

Harris also stated that over 300,000 clean-energy jobs have been created, referencing the Inflation Reduction Act. While a report by Climate Power supports this figure, estimating 334,565 new jobs, it’s important to note that not all these jobs have necessarily begun. E2, another group, estimates about 109,000 clean-energy jobs created or announced since the Act’s implementation.

The claims made by Harris highlight significant achievements but require careful consideration of the broader context and varying data sources.