Facing the need to secure battleground Pennsylvania, Vice President Kamala Harris is distancing herself from any previous statements opposing fracking. However, Republican Donald Trump continues to leverage her former stance to appeal to voters in a state where the natural gas industry is a significant source of jobs.
In his first Pennsylvania appearance since Harris became the Democratic nominee, Trump warned that Harris would ban fracking—a position she held during her 2019 presidential primary campaign—potentially harming the economy of the nation’s second-largest natural gas state. At a Harrisburg rally, Trump asserted, “She’s against fracking, she’s against oil drilling, she wants everybody to have one electric car and share it with the neighbors. Harris has stated repeatedly that she supports, quote, banning fracking. I’ll ban fracking, I’ll ban it on my first day.”
Harris’ campaign responded, stating she would not ban fracking and accused Trump of trying to distract from his own plans to benefit oil and gas executives at the expense of the middle class.
Despite Harris’ reassurances, Trump criticized her previous support for the Green New Deal, a progressive initiative aimed at transitioning the country to renewable energy. He labeled it a “$100 trillion green new scam designed to abolish the oil, coal, and natural gas industry entirely.”
As Harris considers Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as a potential running mate, Trump has vowed not to concede the crucial swing state, emphasizing his administration’s support for drilling and dismissing Harris’ change in stance. “Remember, a politician always goes back to what their original thought was,” Trump cautioned.
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a pivotal issue in Pennsylvania, making the U.S. a global oil and gas leader over the past decade. Republicans frequently attack Democrats on fracking to exploit divisions within the party, between its environmentalist wing and labor unions involved in building gas infrastructure.
Republicans used similar tactics in the past two election cycles against Joe Biden in 2020 and Senator John Fetterman in 2022. Claims that Biden intended to ban fracking were unfounded, as his administration’s energy production data showed record highs in natural gas and crude oil production, including in Pennsylvania.
Harris supports Biden’s goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, which does not include a fracking ban. Meanwhile, Trump continues to court the gas industry and dismisses scientific warnings about the urgency of reducing fossil fuel emissions to prevent severe climate damage.
Oil and gas companies are wary of Harris’ potential policies, particularly concerning stricter regulations and delays in liquefied natural gas projects. “It’s safe to say that we and a lot of other folks are eager to hear from the vice president,” said Dustin Meyer, a senior vice president at the American Petroleum Institute.
Trump’s attacks on Harris over fracking echo his efforts to sway union workers away from Democrats, reminiscent of his 2016 campaign against Hillary Clinton. Clinton faced backlash for her comments on coal miners, a tactic Republicans have used to suggest Democrats oppose fossil fuel jobs.
Democrats like Fetterman, Shapiro, and Senator Bob Casey have successfully campaigned in Pennsylvania by advocating for stronger fracking regulations rather than a ban. The United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters, whose members work in the energy sector, endorsed Harris after Biden dropped his candidacy.
Mark McManus, the union’s general president, acknowledged Harris’ previous position but praised her current stance, aligning with Biden’s energy approach. This “all of the above energy approach” has gained the union’s support.
In a state where small margins can decide elections, fracking remains a contentious issue. However, experts like Christopher Borick, director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, believe that while opinions on fracking are divided, it is not likely to be the decisive factor for most Pennsylvania voters. The strategy for statewide candidates has been to advocate for stringent regulation and transparency rather than an outright ban, a stance that Harris appears to be adopting.
