Isabella Carter
Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign for the 2024 presidential election has sparked enthusiasm among Florida Democrats, who are confident they can secure the state's 30 electoral votes. Harris's campaign has seen a surge of grassroots support in Florida, with various events and a bus tour planned to harness this momentum. While some believe Harris can win Florida, others argue that her focus should be on slowly regaining political relevance in the state. Harris's campaign in Florida aims to highlight her positive vision for the future and contrast it with Trump's Project 2025 agenda.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Campaign | July 2024, September 2024 |
| Campaign Type | Ground game, bus tour, battleground tour |
| Cities | Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, Quincy, Temple Terrace, Wilton Manors, Coral Springs, The Villages, Jacksonville, Savannah, Palm Beach, Henderson, Tucson |
| Number of Campaign Stops | 40 events, 50 stops |
| Number of Volunteers | 22,000, 6,000, 1,765 |
| Campaigners | Douglas Emhoff, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, State Sen. Tracie Davis, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Maxwell Alejandro Frost, Florida DNC Member Samuel Vilchez Santiago, Florida House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, Florida Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book |
| Support | Florida Democrats, Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, Florida House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, Florida Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book, Florida Democratic National Convention Delegates, Florida DNC Member Samuel Vilchez Santiago, State Senator Shevrin Jones, Florida Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida director for the Harris-Walz campaign Jasmine Burney Clark |
| Opponents | Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, J.D. Vance |
| Poll Results | Harris trails Trump by 8 points, 6 points, 5 points, 3 points, 2 points |
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What You'll Learn
Kamala Harris's campaign bus tour of Florida
Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign bus tour of Florida, dubbed the "Fighting for Reproductive Freedom" tour, is a multi-state bus tour that began in the first week of September 2024. The tour started in Florida, a state with a diverse blend of White, Hispanic, and Black voters, and a state that has been a MAGA bellwether for the past five years since Trump officially relocated his residency there in 2019. Harris's campaign in Florida aims to build community among newcomers and expand the Democrats' base.
The tour began in Palm Beach on Tuesday, featuring U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who helped kick off Harris's campaign focusing on reproductive freedom. The bus then travelled to Jacksonville on Wednesday, with state Sen. Tracie Davis and many others speaking on behalf of the Harris campaign. The tour included at least 50 stops in multiple states in the lead-up to the November election.
Harris's campaign in Florida is geared towards rallying volunteers and building momentum. The campaign intends to introduce Harris as a presidential candidate to independent voters and encourage those who have fallen off active voter rolls to start voting again. The campaign has seen a burst of energy in Florida following Biden's decision to withdraw from the race and endorse Harris, with nearly 6,000 new volunteers signing up in the state.
The campaign in Florida also focuses on contrasting Harris's stance on abortion with that of Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis. Harris has criticized Florida's six-week abortion ban, enacted after the Supreme Court ruling, and similar restrictions in other states. The proposed constitutional amendment in Florida, which Gov. DeSantis and other top Republicans have opposed, states that abortion would be legal until fetal viability or if a healthcare provider determines it necessary for the woman's health. Harris's campaign aims to highlight the threat that Trump's extreme Project 2025 agenda poses to Florida.
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Florida Democrats' support for Kamala Harris
Florida Democrats have shown their support for Kamala Harris, with many endorsing her bid to become president of the United States. Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried expressed her support for Harris, stating that "Florida Democrats are fired up and ready to elect Kamala Harris this November". Fried also emphasised the importance of unity among Democrats, saying, "the Democratic Party must be more united than ever to defeat Donald Trump."
State Senator Shevrin Jones urged Democrats to unite behind Harris, stating that "Kamala Harris can win and she will win." Jones also cautioned against infighting, arguing that creating chaos would play into the Republicans' hands. Florida DNC Member Samuel Vilchez Santiago announced the unanimous endorsement of Harris by the Florida Democratic National Committee Members, highlighting her embodiment of Democratic values and her inclusive vision for America.
Other prominent Florida Democrats who have endorsed Harris include Florida House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, Florida Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Senator-elect Carlos Guillermo Smith, and Donna Deegan, the first woman to serve as mayor of Jacksonville. Driskell emphasised Harris's experience and her ability to energise the electorate, while Book praised her leadership and understanding of the challenges facing the nation.
In preparation for the election, the Harris campaign launched a ground game in Florida, aiming to rally volunteers and expand the Democrats' base in the state. The campaign organised a series of events, including meet-and-greets, phone banks, training sessions, and a mile-long golf cart caravan. The campaign also launched a multi-state "Fighting for Reproductive Freedom" bus tour, with stops in several Florida cities, to highlight the contrast between Harris's stance on abortion rights and that of her opponent, Donald Trump.
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Kamala Harris's stance on Florida's abortion ban
In May 2024, Florida's ban on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy came into effect. This ban was preceded by a 15-week ban, enforced in 2022 and upheld by the Florida Supreme Court in April 2024. The six-week ban was cleared by the Florida Supreme Court, which has a majority of members appointed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.
Kamala Harris has been vocal in her criticism of Florida's abortion ban. During a visit to Jacksonville, Florida, in May 2024, Harris blamed former President Donald Trump for the state's abortion restrictions, arguing that his appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court resulted in the end of the federal constitutional right to abortion. She also stated that 4 million women in Florida "woke up with fewer reproductive freedoms" due to the ban. Harris's comments were part of her and President Joe Biden's re-election strategy, which focused on abortion rights, an issue expected to galvanize voters in their favor.
Harris's stance on Florida's abortion ban aligns with her broader support for reproductive freedoms. She has criticized similar restrictions in other states and made a notable visit to an abortion clinic in March 2024. During her time as Vice President, Harris has advocated for the government to stay out of decisions between a woman and her doctor, stating that the government should "never come between her and her doctor."
In September 2024, the Harris campaign launched a multi-state "Fighting for Reproductive Freedom" bus tour, starting in Florida. The tour aimed to highlight abortion rights and contrast her position with that of Trump, showcasing their differing stances on the issue. The tour stop in Palm Beach featured U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, who supported the proposed constitutional amendment to protect abortion rights in Florida. This amendment, known as Amendment 4, would guarantee abortion access until fetal viability, around 22 to 24 weeks, and prevent state lawmakers from imposing restrictions until later in a pregnancy.
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Kamala Harris's campaign events in Florida
Florida Democrats have expressed their enthusiasm and support for Harris, with endorsements from state leaders and a surge in volunteer sign-ups. The campaign has organized various events and initiatives to engage with voters and build momentum.
One notable strategy is the "100 days of action weekend," which kicked off on Friday with meet-and-greets and roundtable discussions in multiple cities, including Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, and Quincy. The campaign also deployed a large number of volunteers to phone banks to introduce Harris to independent voters and encourage inactive voters to participate again.
Another key event is the "Fighting for Reproductive Freedom" bus tour, which started in Palm Beach, where Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota spoke in support of Harris. The tour then continued to Jacksonville, where state Senator Tracie Davis and others advocated for Harris's campaign. This tour highlights the contrast between Harris's stance on abortion rights and the recent six-week abortion ban in Florida, which Harris has criticized.
The Harris campaign has also scheduled over 40 events in Florida to harness the energy and momentum from the Democratic National Convention. These events aim to showcase Harris's positive vision for the future and contrast it with the perceived threats posed by Trump's Project 2025 agenda.
While some believe Harris is unlikely to win Florida, her candidacy has energized the state's Democrats, and the campaign is working to turn that enthusiasm into votes. Harris's husband, Douglas Emhoff, also plans to make a campaign stop in Central Florida, although the specific location has not been disclosed.
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Florida's importance to the Harris-Walz campaign
Florida has been a key state for the Harris-Biden campaign, with its 29 to 30 electoral votes up for grabs. Florida has been a Republican stronghold in recent years, with Donald Trump winning the state in 2016 and 2020, and Governor Ron DeSantis winning re-election by a large margin in 2022. However, there are signs that the state may be in play for Democrats in 2024, especially due to the issue of abortion rights.
Kamala Harris has made multiple trips to Florida, including a bus tour in September 2024, to rally support for her campaign. The Harris campaign has focused on introducing Harris to voters not affiliated with a political party and encouraging those who have fallen off the active voter rolls to start voting again. The campaign has also targeted Hispanic voters, who make up a significant portion of the electorate in Florida.
Florida Democrats have endorsed Harris's campaign, with the Florida Democratic Party Chair, Nikki Fried, expressing her support and stating that Harris can win the state. The campaign has also focused on building community among newcomers and expanding the Democrats' base in the state.
The issue of abortion rights has been a key focus of the Harris-Biden campaign in Florida. The state's six-week abortion ban, which went into effect in 2024, has been criticized by Harris and other Democrats. They believe that the ban, along with a ballot initiative to enshrine abortion rights in the state, could turn the tide in their favor. Harris has blamed Trump for the Supreme Court ruling that ended the federal constitutional right to abortion, and her campaign has contrasted her stance on abortion with that of Trump and other Republicans.
Overall, Florida is an important state for the Harris-Biden campaign due to its large number of electoral votes and its potential to be a swing state. The campaign has focused on rallying support, introducing Harris to independent voters, and emphasizing issues such as abortion rights that are relevant to Florida voters.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Kamala Harris has campaigned in Florida.
Kamala Harris and her team have campaigned in Florida at various times in 2024. In July, Harris' campaign launched a Florida ground game. In September, Harris' campaign bus toured the state.
The purpose of Harris' campaign in Florida is to harness grassroots enthusiasm and win the state's 30 electoral votes. Harris' campaign in Florida is also focused on reproductive rights, contrasting her stance on abortion with that of Trump.
Key people involved in Harris' Florida campaign include Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, Florida DNC Member Samuel Vilchez Santiago, Florida House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, and Florida Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book. Harris' husband, Douglas Emhoff, has also campaigned for her in Florida.
Florida has traditionally been a red state, and the GOP has a widening advantage in registered voters. While Harris' candidacy has energised Florida Democrats, some believe she will not be able to win the state. However, high engagement and a strong campaign could help Democrats regain political relevance in Florida.
