The Truths We Hold: An American Journey

Chapter 3 focuses on Harris’s experiences during the 2008 financial crisis and its aftermath, particularly her efforts as California Attorney General to hold banks accountable and provide relief to homeowners.

The chapter begins with Harris reflecting on her childhood and her mother’s desire to become a homeowner, emblematic of the American dream. She then describes her visit to Fresno, California in 2010, where she witnessed the devastating effects of the foreclosure crisis firsthand. She provides context for the crisis, explaining how low interest rates and aggressive lending practices led to a housing bubble and subsequent crash, and details the human toll of the crisis, including abandoned homes, displaced families, and even abandoned pets.

The narrative then shifts to Harris’s campaign for California Attorney General in 2010. It was a close election, not decided until weeks after election day, and Harris describes the emotional roller coaster of the extended vote count and her narrow victory. During this tense period, her opponent prematurely declared victory while votes were still being counted, adding to the uncertainty and drama of the extended electoral process.

Upon taking office in January 2011, Harris immediately focused on the foreclosure crisis, joining a multi-state investigation into bank practices.