Harris and Trump on family issues – from IVF to schools

While polls show that top voters are concerned about the economy and democracy itself, family issues provide a robust catchall for how voters feel about the state of America — and provide presidential candidates with a way to share their vision of the nation. Safety, education, financial security, gender roles and even immigration all fit into a family framework.

The candidates’ family portraits, on full display, are snapshots of modern America.

Former President Donald Trump, a wealthy businessman, has five children from three marriages, two of which were to immigrants. His running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, who grew up on the edge of poverty, has three children from his biracial marriage.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the daughter of immigrants, helped raise two stepchildren in her multiracial marriage. Her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and his wife relied on fertility treatments to have two children, one of whom had a learning disability.

These portraits have a clear undertone, says sociologist Richard Petts. “The conservative approach is: ‘The government is not going to help, otherwise it is not our job. Small government, low spending, no government policy. … We need to get back to the glory days.” And the more liberal side is: ‘We have to spend tax money and provide social support to people who need it.’

The family is central to the American presidential campaign: safety, education, financial security, gender roles and even immigration all fit into a family framework.

While voters say their biggest concern is the economy, family life provides a robust catchall for how voters feel about the state of the country — and gives the campaigns a way to share their visions of America.

Almost any issue can be presented as a family issue, says Christopher Devine, a political science professor at the University of Dayton. “Whether it is related varies, and perhaps a candidate’s success in doing so may be related to his or her ability to talk about their relationships within their own family.”

The candidates’ family portraits, which they display in full, are snapshots of modern America.

Former President Donald Trump, a wealthy businessman, has five children from three marriages. His wife and one of his ex-wives are immigrants. His running mate, J.D. Vance, who went from the poverty line in small-town Ohio to the U.S. Senate with a combination of grit and his grandmother’s determination, has three children from his biracial marriage.

Vice President Kamala Harris is the daughter of immigrants — a scholar and a scientist — and has helped raise two stepchildren in her multiracial marriage. Her running mate, Tim Walz, and his wife of 30 years relied on fertility treatments to have their two children, one of whom has a learning disability.