By Grace Chong, CFO/COO
As Election Day approaches, a pivotal issue is emerging that could reshape key battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Georgia: Black and Hispanic men are turning against Kamala Harris. Once known as the ‘Queen of Mass Incarceration’ for her policies in California, Harris now faces backlash for her refusal to enforce President Trump’s First Step Act (FSA). This failure is causing a groundswell of anger in these communities, and it’s turning into the October surprise that could swing the election.
Steve Bannon, who has been vocal about this issue, put it bluntly: "October surprise—Black and Hispanic men detest the ‘Queen of Mass Incarcerations,’ Kamala Harris, and will NOT vote for her because she refuses to mass deport illegal alien criminals while having her BOP deliberately fail to enforce President Trump’s First Step Act, thus further destroying Black and Hispanic families… The election will turn on this in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia.”
The First Step Act, signed by Trump in 2018, was designed to give thousands of nonviolent offenders—primarily Black and Hispanic men—a second chance. It aimed to reduce sentences, offer early release, and help with re-entry into society. It was a lifeline for families torn apart by unfair imprisonment. Yet, under Harris’s watch, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has deliberately failed to enforce it, leaving thousands of men behind bars who should have been released.
Steve Bannon has been clear about the injustice, stating, "This is NOT ABOUT ME—this is about tens of thousands of prisoners that have been screwed over because Harris does not want to enforce a law that President Trump created.” Bannon’s words underscore the fact that this isn’t just a political issue; it’s a human one, affecting entire communities.
Harris’s refusal to act has been devastating for these families. Men who should be home rebuilding their lives are stuck in prison, victims of a broken system. Black and Hispanic communities are feeling the destruction. "This is the main reason Black and Hispanic men are not voting for her—they see the destruction of families in their communities,” Bannon has pointed out.
Making matters worse, Harris’s neglect extends beyond the First Step Act. While keeping these men imprisoned, she also refuses to mass deport illegal alien criminals. This failure leaves their communities further exposed to rising crime, compounding the devastation. Harris’s inaction is a double-edged sword—keeping Black and Hispanic men in prison while allowing crime to ravage their neighborhoods.
In critical states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Georgia, where every vote counts, this issue could be the deciding factor. Black and Hispanic men, who might have been Harris supporters, are now rejecting her. They’re voting for their families, their communities, and their futures, sending a clear message: they will not support a candidate who refuses to enforce the laws meant to help them.
Harris’s negligence of the First Step Act and her failure to address the criminal element within illegal immigration could be the October surprise that flips this election. For Black and Hispanic men, this isn’t about party politics—it’s about survival, justice, and making sure their voices are heard. They’ve seen the destruction of their communities under Harris’s watch, and they’re ready to vote for real change.
The election will turn on this.
