Hours before last week’s presidential debate, new data from the U.S. Census confirmed what many of us had suspected: California’s poverty rate remained the highest of any state, increasing in 2023 to 18.9% from 16.4% in 2022.

In an election cycle that has seen issues surrounding economic mobility too often sidelined, it was deeply refreshing to see Vice President Harris articulate a clear vision and plan during the debate that would help the 7.3 million Californians who can’t afford to meet basic needs.

Michael Tubbs

Opinion

As the founder of a statewide anti-poverty organization in California that has spent the last two years visiting communities in Fresno, Kings, and Tulare Counties experiencing poverty and economic stagnation, I have spoken to countless Californians to learn what the state must do to help them and their families.

And, it is clear to me that pocketbook issues — from one’s ability to buy a home, to childcare costs, to the accessibility and security of the middle class — will be central to the voters who will decide this election. As we saw last week, the contrast between the candidates could not be clearer, and there is only one candidate running for president with credible plans to reduce poverty and help families move into the middle class.

Take Vice President Harris’ proposal for entrepreneurs, which she cited repeatedly on the debate stage. She has called for 25 million new small business applications in her first term, a simplification of the tax code and $50,000 tax deduction for small businesses, and an elimination of onerous red tape that too often hampers the ambitions of would-be and current business owners.

These are meaningful steps to make the American Dream more attainable. They are also directly responsive to the concerns I have heard from entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs across California who recognize the role of small business ownership in both propelling individuals into the middle class and strengthening the economy of entire communities.

Trump’s Plan Clearly Favors the Rich

President Trump’s plan, on the other hand, is light on details but centers on continuing a policy from his administration that saw a reduction in the top marginal tax rate for business income — a move that was significantly more beneficial to the largest corporations and quite limited in its impact on small businesses, despite his gross exaggerations to the contrary.

Then consider Harris’ plan to put money in the pockets of families. She would expand the Child Tax Credit — a guaranteed income for families with children — and families with newborns would receive $6,000. Other families with children receive $3,600 — an amount that under the Biden Administration led to an historic reduction of child poverty by nearly half in a single year before Congressional Republicans killed the policy in 2022.

She’s also a consistent supporter of subsidized care to make it affordable as it is in our peer countries, and paying care workers — and all workers — a good wage so they don’t live in poverty themselves.

Related Story: Trump and Harris Clash in High-Stakes Presidential Debate: Get the Full Details

President Trump’s plan, in contrast, would be harmful to the pocketbooks of all but the wealthiest American families. He has regularly campaigned on increasing tariffs on all foreign goods — a proposal that economists widely agree would raise prices and effectively be an additional tax on American consumers. And when asked what he would do to combat the rising cost of child care specifically, he offered yet another barely comprehensible answer that suggested raising tariffs would address the problem.

Harris Offers Ways to Boost Home Ownership, Make Rents Affordable

Finally, among Vice President Harris’ first proposals as the presumptive Democratic nominee was one directed at making home ownership more attainable and rents more affordable.

She introduced a plan that was comprehensive in its approach: build 3 million more units to address the housing shortage and drive down costs; $25,000 in assistance to first-time homebuyers; tax relief for developers working on building for first-time homebuyers and renters; and an elimination of red tape that has constrained housing production. This is serious, grounded policy that is responsive to the housing supply and cost crisis we see throughout California and around the country.

Donald Trump’s plan to make housing more affordable is as disastrous as it is unserious — mass deportations of all undocumented immigrants, and theoretically freeing up existing housing supply. Of course, this would be an affront to our values and disastrous to our communities and the housing industry itself, both of which rely on the contributions of immigrants.

We know from touring our state that the foremost concerns of people in poverty are not so different from the concerns of the middle class. Their concerns about the cost of living, housing, and social mobility are real and reflected in similar communities in states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

And as we saw on the debate stage, there is only one candidate with serious plans directly responsive to their needs.

About the Author

Michael Tubbs is a candidate for California lieutenant governor and served as mayor of Stockton, Calif. from 2017-2021.