Omar Bennett
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, all eyes are on Vice President Kamala Harris and her campaign trail. With the Democratic National Convention over, the focus shifts to key states, including Virginia, which has seen a flurry of activity from both major parties. Early voting in Virginia begins on September 20, and Vice President Harris has already made multiple stops in the state, focusing on issues like abortion access and gun violence prevention. With a strong volunteer base and a contrast in candidates, the Harris campaign is working hard to win over voters in this battleground state.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Kamala Harris's visits to Virginia | Kamala Harris has made multiple stops in Virginia to speak about protecting abortion access. She joined Biden at a campaign rally in Manassas in January 2024 to advocate for abortion rights. On June 2, 2024, she travelled to Springfield, Virginia, to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to gun violence prevention. |
| Political analysts' predictions | Political analysts predict that Kamala Harris and the Democrats are clearly the favourites in Virginia. However, Virginia may potentially remain in play for the opposition, and it could become a battleground state. |
| Voter sentiment | Voters in Virginia are attuned to Kamala Harris's reproductive healthcare and prosecutorial track record. There is excitement among voters, especially younger voters, and she has received endorsements from voter empowerment groups. |
| Campaign efforts | Both the Harris-Walz and Trump-Vance campaigns have opened about thirty offices across Virginia, indicating that both parties consider the state to be in play. The Harris campaign in Virginia has signed up more than 9,400 volunteers, and they have knocked on over 30,000 doors. |
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What You'll Learn
- Kamala Harris makes abortion access a key part of her 2024 campaign in Virginia
- Analysts predict excitement and pathways for Harris in Virginia
- Harris and Trump open dozens of offices across Virginia
- Harris is an injection of energy for voters in Virginia
- Harris visits Springfield, Virginia, to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to gun violence prevention
Kamala Harris makes abortion access a key part of her 2024 campaign in Virginia
With the 2024 presidential race heating up, Vice President Kamala Harris has made abortion access a key part of her campaign in Virginia. This comes as no surprise, given that reproductive rights have taken centre stage in the political arena following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022.
In a state like Virginia, which has yet to pass any new laws restricting abortions, this issue is particularly salient. In fact, Virginia has seen a 30% increase in out-of-state individuals seeking abortions, according to the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood. This makes abortion access a pressing concern for many Virginians, and Harris has seized on this as an opportunity to galvanise support.
The vice president has made multiple stops in Virginia to champion abortion rights, including a campaign rally in Manassas in January 2024, where she appeared alongside former President Joe Biden. There, they criticised former President Donald Trump for endangering the health of pregnant people and dismantling healthcare protections. Harris has also embarked on a nationwide "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" tour, underscoring her commitment to this issue.
In addition to her efforts in Virginia, Harris has a strong track record of advocating for abortion rights nationwide. She has supported national abortion protections and has been vocal about the ongoing threats to reproductive rights. Her stance on this issue has the potential to energise younger voters and attract support from those passionate about reproductive justice.
As the Democratic nominee for president, Harris's position on abortion access could shape the landscape of reproductive rights not just in Virginia, but across the nation. With the election looming, her campaign continues to highlight this critical issue, recognising its importance to voters and the future of women's healthcare in America.
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Analysts predict excitement and pathways for Harris in Virginia
Analysts and strategists are predicting excitement and pathways for Kamala Harris in Virginia, with the state potentially becoming a battleground in the upcoming election. While it is not considered a first-tier swing state, analysts believe there are opportunities for Harris to stir up excitement in the Democratic base, particularly among younger voters.
One analyst from the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, Larry Sabato, predicts that "Kamala Harris and the Democrats are clearly the favorites in Virginia". Despite a poll by Roanoke College showing Harris leading Trump by just 3 points, Sabato believes that Virginia will not be a tight race. He argues that polls quickly become outdated and that Virginia has consistently voted for the Democratic candidate since 2008, except for 2016 and 2020.
Sam Shirazi, a lawyer who monitors political trends, agrees that Harris has the potential to excite Democratic bases in rural regions of Virginia. He also highlights her appeal to younger voters, a group that Biden had been losing. This is demonstrated by the endorsement of Harris by a coalition of 17 national youth voter empowerment groups, who believe that electing her is crucial to their success and the prosperity of young Americans.
In addition, the issue of abortion access may play a significant role in Virginia, with the state yet to pass any new laws limiting access. This has led to a 30% increase in out-of-state individuals seeking abortions in Virginia, according to the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood. Harris has made abortion access a key part of her campaign in the state, and her stance has been supported by organizations like Birth in Color Action Fund and reproductive rights advocates.
Overall, analysts predict that Harris has a favourable position in Virginia and that her campaign has the potential to excite Democratic voters, particularly young people and those in rural areas. However, it remains to be seen whether Virginia will become a key battleground state in the election, with the state potentially remaining in play for the opposition.
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Harris and Trump open dozens of offices across Virginia
With the race for the White House heating up, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have both set their sights on Virginia, a pivotal battleground state. Recognizing the importance of Virginia's 13 electoral votes, the Harris-Walz and Trump-Vance campaigns have opened dozens of offices across the state. As of August 2024, the Harris campaign boasted 18 offices, with a presence in Richmond, Culpeper, Fairfax, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg, among other cities. The Trump campaign, meanwhile, counted 12 operational offices in July, including locations in Chesterfield, Dickenson, Farmville, and Fredericksburg.
The opening of these offices signifies the campaigns' efforts to mobilize supporters and target key districts. For Harris, this includes stirring up excitement in Democratic bases, particularly in rural regions and among younger voters. Early voting in Virginia begins on September 20, and the state is expected to play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the election.
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding Harris' candidacy, Virginia may still be up for grabs. While Democrats are energized by the prospect of electing the nation's first female and first woman of color as president, Republicans remain confident that Trump can flip the state. They aim to turn out voters in large numbers in the 5th and 9th districts to counter the traditionally Democratic-leaning Northern Virginia.
The race in Virginia is expected to be closely watched, with national implications. Virginia's competitive statewide elections are often seen as a barometer of national voter sentiment, influencing how political parties strategize for upcoming congressional midterms. The state's diverse demographics and mix of urban, suburban, and rural areas make it a microcosm of the country, adding to the significance of the campaigns' efforts to establish a strong presence through their local offices.
As Election Day draws nearer, the campaigns of both Harris and Trump are working tirelessly to rally support and secure victory in Virginia, a state that could prove decisive in the fight for the White House. The opening of dozens of campaign offices underscores the importance of this battleground state and sets the stage for a hard-fought contest between the Democratic and Republican nominees.
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Harris is an injection of energy for voters in Virginia
Kamala Harris is an injection of energy for voters in Virginia, according to strategists and analysts. Sam Shirazi, a lawyer who monitors political trends, said Harris is "that injection of energy that those voters I was talking to were searching for". Shirazi added that, besides potential supporters in Virginia's rural regions, there is also an opportunity for Harris with younger voters that Biden had been losing. On Friday, a coalition of 17 national youth voter empowerment groups endorsed Harris, saying that electing her "is crucial to the success of our organizational missions and to the prosperity of young Americans".
The vice president has already made multiple stops in Virginia to speak about protecting abortion access. She joined Biden at a campaign rally in Manassas in January to advocate for abortion rights. The issue of abortion access plays an important role for Black female voters, with nearly 30% identifying abortion as their top election issue in a KFF study. Birth in Color Action Fund, a Virginia organisation that lobbies for cultural inclusivity in maternal health and reproductive justice, has announced its support for Harris.
Susan Swecker, chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia, said Harris-Walz campaign volunteers are working "every day" to knock on doors and highlight the contrast between the candidates. More than 9,400 volunteers have signed up in Virginia to support the Harris campaign, and volunteers have knocked on more than 30,000 doors since the vice president announced her candidacy. Analysts say that despite a new poll showing that Harris leads Trump by just 3 points in Virginia, the state is not a swing state. Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, said: "Kamala Harris and the Democrats are clearly the favourites in Virginia."
Sabato added that it would be foolish for either candidate to spend a lot of time or money in Virginia ahead of Election Day. However, both the Harris-Walz and Trump-Vance campaigns have opened about 30 offices across Virginia, a sign that Virginia may be a battleground.
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Harris visits Springfield, Virginia, to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to gun violence prevention
Kamala Harris, the current Vice President of the United States, has made gun violence prevention a key issue in her political career. She has been a leading messenger on gun policy since the early days of the Biden administration and has overseen the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Harris has a strong record on gun control, having helped lead the strongest gun safety administration in American history, with accomplishments that include breaking a 30-year logjam on federal gun safety legislation and taking executive actions to combat gun trafficking and ghost guns.
On a visit to Springfield, Virginia, Harris highlighted the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to gun violence prevention. This visit comes at a critical time in the race for the White House, with Harris now at the top of the Democratic ticket after President Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race. According to political analysts, Harris and the Democrats are the favourites in Virginia, despite a recent poll showing her leading former President Trump by just 3 points.
During her time as Vice President, Harris has taken a leading role in the Biden administration's work on gun violence prevention. She has helped roll out a plan to crack down on unlicensed gun dealers and increase the number of guns subject to background checks. In March, she announced the launch of a national centre to increase the effectiveness of Extreme Risk Protection Order laws, also known as red flag laws.
As a Senator, Harris co-sponsored legislation to close the boyfriend loophole and prohibit stalkers and dangerous individuals from purchasing or possessing firearms. She also championed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which included additional funding for the STOP School Violence Act and provided funding for states and communities to address gun violence.
Harris's work on gun violence prevention has earned her the support of prominent gun violence prevention groups, including March for Our Lives, a youth-led group founded by survivors of the 2018 Parkland school shooting. As California Attorney General, she also led the fight to pass a Red Flag law and, as San Francisco's top prosecutor, she prioritised domestic violence cases.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Kamala Harris has already made multiple stops in Virginia to speak about protecting abortion access.
Harris has made abortion access key to her 2024 campaign in Virginia.
Virginia is the southernmost state that has yet to pass any laws limiting access to abortions. This has led to a 30% increase in people coming from out of state to seek abortions in the state.
Analysts and strategists see excitement and pathways for Kamala Harris in Virginia. However, Virginia may potentially remain in play for her opposition.
Harris has joined Biden at a campaign rally in Manassas. On Gun Violence Awareness Day, she also travelled to Springfield, Virginia, to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to gun violence prevention.
