Black women Democratic leaders look to traditionally red areas …

Posted August 23, 2024

CHICAGO — As Democrats look to get Vice President Kamala Harris elected president now that their convention is over, they’re casting a wide net with their campaign.

The theme has been to fight for every vote in every state regardless of how long the odds of victory. That message has been shared in meeting after meeting, including one exclusive gathering of Black women Democratic leaders on Thursday at the Democratic National Convention.

Alicia Andrews, chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, encouraged this sort of approach. In her state, Domald Trump got nearly two-thirds of the vote in the general election.

“When you donate in places like Oklahoma, you make the GOP spend money in those places,” Andrews said.

The exterior of the United Center in Chicago, where the Democratic National Convention took place this past week. Photo credit: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, The Associated Press

In neighboring Kansas, where Jeanna Repass chairs the Democratic Party, Trump won by nearly 15 points. Democrats working to get out the vote must “get comfortable being uncomfortable” in the streets of cities and states where Democrats don’t traditionally succeed, Repass told the meeting of Black women leaders.

Democrats in down-ballot races and state offices are focusing on policy and inclusiveness as weapons to support Vice President Harris.

The Harris-Walz campaign supporting Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate is focused on a 50-state approach that includes red states.

“The engagement has been historic,” Jasmine Harris, national Black media director for the Harris campaign, told Black News & Views.

“From the beginning of the campaign, VP Harris has said she is going to earn every vote,” Harris said.

With just more than two months left until the election, the Harris/Walz campaign is using the enthusiasm of the electorate and a robust policy agenda to target all winnable voters, even in deep red states, she explained.

“Tens of thousands are joining in support of this campaign; they don’t want Donald Trump anywhere near the White House,” Harris said. “They know Donald Trump won’t fight for them or engage with them on issues like the economy, student loan forgiveness, the environment.”

In 2006, then Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean spearheaded a similar 50-state strategy. The end result was Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress. Like the Harris campaign, Dean’s plan focused on core issues like protecting Social Security and expanding access to health care.