Vice President Kamala Harris is set to address the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) convention in Houston on Thursday as she continues her presidential campaign after President Joe Biden’s exit from the race.
Why it matters: Harris seeks to solidify her position as the likely Democratic nominee and rally support from key voter demographics, particularly labor unions, in her bid to take on Republican rival Donald Trump in the November election.
The details:
- The AFT, with 1.8 million members, has already endorsed Harris and her pro-union agenda, concerned about the potential impact of a Trump presidency on organized labor and education funding.
- Harris’ speech follows a Wednesday address to a sorority gathering in Indianapolis, where she emphasized the importance of organizing, mobilizing, and voting to make history.
- The AFL-CIO, representing 60 labor unions including the AFT, has also endorsed Harris, while the United Auto Workers’ endorsement decision is pending.
Trump has directly attacked Harris, calling her a “real liberal” who is “much worse” than Biden and accusing her of misleading voters about Biden’s health and ability to run for the presidency.
What they’re saying:
- “We are fully committed to this fight: united, mobilized and ready to vote in this year’s election,” said Randi Weingarten, AFT president, ahead of Harris’ appearance.
- “It’s very clear a Donald Trump White House would be a disaster for the working class,” said Shawn Fain, United Auto Workers president, criticizing Trump strongly at the AFT conference.
The other side: Trump has accused Harris of lying about Biden’s mental fitness and claimed she is worse than the former president.
What’s next: After her speech, Harris will return to Washington to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She is expected to continue campaigning aggressively to spread her message and rally voters in the final stretch to the November election.
Full story
Vice President Kamala Harris landed in Houston on Wednesday. She will stay overnight ahead of an event at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Thursday.
I’m Kamala Harris, and I’m running for President of the United States. pic.twitter.com/6qAM32btjj
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 25, 2024
Once she landed at Ellington Field, she made a stop at the Houston Office of Emergency Management (OEM). She wanted to get an update on the Hurricane Beryl recovery efforts. Caleb Mack, 14, lives near the Houston OEM.
In just a few months, the American people will choose the course of America’s future. I made my choice.
And I would like to thank our great Vice President—@KamalaHarris.
She’s experienced, tough, capable.
She has been an incredible partner to me and leader for our country.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 25, 2024
Folks, calls to violence threaten our democracy’s foundation.
You can’t love your country only when you win.
Let’s solve our problems with ballots and elect @KamalaHarris as the next President of the United States of America.pic.twitter.com/wfREMvAyNo
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 23, 2024
It took him and his mom about a minute to get there and catch a glimpse of the vice president. “She gave us a lean and a wave,” Mack said. Harris landed just before 4 p.m. She met with Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis.
Ellis has known Harris for years. “I’ve known her for a very long time. She asked me about my family and how they were doing.
Harris visits Houston emergency management
She asked me about Judge [Lina] Hidalgo and I told her that she was on vacation,” Ellis said. “She said, ‘I’m glad you didn’t tell her to come back.
I’ll call her later.'”
Harris then traveled by motorcade to the area of North Shepherd across from St. Pius High School where the city’s OEM is located. Ellis described her demeanor after she deboarded Air Force Two as “very upbeat, very confident.”
While at the city’s OEM, Harris met with city and county emergency management officials.
They discussed the recovery efforts since Hurricane Beryl. After a little more than an hour, she left and gave the wave Mack said he’ll never forget. “I’m not really into politics, I just hope she wins.
That’s just my personal feeling,” said Mack. Harris is scheduled to give the keynote speech at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Thursday.
She will speak to members of the American Federation of Teachers at their annual convention.
- APNews.”Harris plans to continue to build presidential momentum in speech to teachers union”.
- WashingtonPost.”Election 2024 latest news: Harris to address teachers union as she eyes Democratic nomination”.
- KHOU.”Here’s what VP Kamala Harris did once she landed in Houston”.