Are we using gender and race as criteria in voting now?

Rio Grande - Are we using gender and race as criteria in voting now? Democrats want independents to vote for Kamala Harris because she is a woman and black. If it is OK to vote FOR her for those reasons than it must also be acceptable to NOT vote for her for the same reasons. I don't think race and gender should be factors at all but democrats sure do. Their tactic is a double edged sword.