Kamala Harris, with the help of Beyoncé, leans into her abortion rights message in Texas
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
- Harris is drawing an even sharper contrast between herself and Trump on abortion.
- Harris wants to restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land if she wins in November.
- Abortion rights is an issue that Democrats hope can boost Harris in a race that remains tight.
At the Shell Energy Stadium in Houston on Friday, bright screens flashed "Freedom," "Vote," and "Reproductive Freedom" as supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris powered a festive rally featuring appearances by the pop superstar Beyoncé and Texas Senate Democratic nominee Colin Allred.
Harris has been arguably the Biden administration's most forceful voice on reproductive rights, which took on even greater prominence after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.
On Friday, Harris told attendees former President Donald Trump was culpable for the plight of millions of women who now live in states with near-total abortion bans. Trump was even showcased on the screens as he bragged about doing a "great thing" in paving the way for Roe's demise.
"From his own mouth. A great thing," Harris said of Trump.
With a little over a week remaining before Election Day and in an election that remains deadlocked — with both Harris and Trump fighting to the finish in battleground states across the country — the vice president is highlighting her abortion message in hopes it'll sway voters across the country.
And in an election that could be decided by the tiniest of margins, a few hundred votes could make all the difference.
In what is a pattern seen in survey after survey, Harris has built sizable leads with female voters. Meanwhile, Trump has retained a sizable edge with male voters.
Harris' abortion messaging could push additional women — notably undecided independents or female voters who simply aren't tuned into politics — to her corner.
By bringing out Beyoncé, as well as former Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland, Harris helped give her message dramatic reach.
“I’m not here as a celebrity. I’m not here as a politician. I’m here as a mother.” — Beyoncé at Vice President Harris’ Houston rally on reproductive rights. pic.twitter.com/m0AtXaYZI3
— John Dorman (@jon425) October 26, 2024
The undecided voters who ultimately back Harris for her position on abortion rights will want to see actual progress on the issue should she win the presidency.
Harris could face a Republican-controlled Senate, which would stymie any real chance of restoring Roe, especially since she supports Democratic lawmakers setting aside the filibuster to pass such a measure through a simple majority vote.
It's why Harris' support of Allred, who is running in a close race against Sen. Ted Cruz, is so important for her campaign.
With a near-certain loss in West Virginia, Democrats are working in overdrive to retain their Senate majority, and Texas represents their best pickup opportunity this year.
Harris wants to turn the needle in her direction. And abortion rights — which fueled Democratic victories in the 2022 midterm elections — continue to animate voters as they head to the ballot box.