With election day quickly approaching, Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris made one last campaign stop in East Lansing in her fight to win the battleground state of Michigan. The campaign rally was held at Jenison Field House on MSU’s campus, filling the 6,000-seat arena to near capacity.
Before doors opened at 2:30 p.m., attendees waited in a line stretching across Dem Field, backed up to the Spartan Statue.
As attendees filled the field house, four guest speakers addressed the audience before Vice President Harris took the stage.
Kaylin Casper, a second-year MSU student studying sociology and humanities and MSU’s 14th Udall Scholar, began the guest speeches by inspiring voters to realize “change is possible,” and to hold onto our values to stand against bigotry and hate.
Following Casper, U.S. Congress Representative candidate Curtis Hertel urged students to vote as “your future depends on it,” followed by calls for action from Lt. Gov. of Michigan, Garlin Gilchrist II, and Rep. Elissa Slotkin. Both officials emphasized getting Democrats into Congress, the Supreme Court and other political positions.
At 6:04 p.m., Harris walked onstage, greeted by a full minute of cheers from attendees. Harris began her speech by calling attention to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, stating that as president, “[she] will do everything in [her] power to end the war in Gaza.”
Harris advocated for a diplomatic solution that would both “bring the hostages home,” and guarantee Palestinian people the right to freedom and self-determination.
Then, Harris highlighted a primary theme of the Harris-Walz campaign: fighting for freedom.
“We like hard work,” Harris told attendees. “Hard work is good work, hard work is joyful work. Make no mistake, we will win.”
Harris likened her history as a prosecutor to winning legal fights, targeting banks, domestic abusers and cartels in her battle-focused speech.
Further, Harris detailed her economic plan for her presidential term. She said that she intends to bring down the price of living, banning price gouging for groceries and making childcare affordable. Harris also said that she would cut taxes for workers, middle-class families and small businesses, lower healthcare costs for senior citizens and protect the Affordable Care Act.
A primary focus of the Harris-Walz campaign is reproductive rights, which she advocated for during her address. Harris said that during her presidency, Congress “will pass a bill,” to give women the freedom to make choices about their bodies, and she will sign that bill into law, given she wins the election.
Reproductive rights and women’s rights were extremely important topics for many attendees as well.
Sara Digigilo from Canton said that “bodily autonomy, women’s rights, I mean just human rights in general,” are top issues to her.
Digigilo also expressed her excitement for a female candidate. She sat with her daughter, close to the front of the stage.
“[My daughter] wanted to come to the rally,” Digigilo said. “She was very excited, she went to the one in Waterford and I want her to see what a strong, powerful woman looks like. I am more than happy to bring her to something like this if this is what she wants because I want my daughters to grow up and know how to stand up for themselves.”
Continuing her speech, Harris launched into a pledge to Michigan residents.
“Michigan, I am here to ask for your vote,” Harris said. “Here is my pledge to you: I pledge to seek common ground and common sense solutions. I am not looking to score political points, I am looking to make progress. I pledge to listen to those who will be impacted by the decisions I make, I pledge to listen to experts, I pledge to listen to people who disagree with me because I don’t believe people who disagree with me are the enemy. In fact, I’ll give them a seat at the table because that’s what strong leaders do. I pledge to always put country above party and self, and to be a president to all Americans.”
After her pledge, Harris touched on patriotism within America and advocated for fighting for American ideals.
“I have always believed in our nation’s promise because I lived it,” Harris said. “We are here for many reasons including because we love our country. When you love something, you fight for it.”
Harris closed out her speech by calling on attendees to reach out to friends and to build communities, specifically calling on citizens to “be intentional about building coalitions.”
“There is power in knowing that we are together,” Harris said. “Your vote is your voice and your voice is your power. Today, Michigan, I ask you: are you ready to make your voices heard?”
Guests at the rally shared their top issues this election and reasons why they support the Harris-Walz campaign.
Rachel Carter, a sophomore studying environmental science at Jackson College, was interested in seeing a candidate who cares about the environment in her first time voting.
“[With] all of the pressing issues with sustainability, it’s a really big deal, and seeing someone that cares so deeply about it is really important,” Carter said.
“Well, the other candidates, you know, don’t care about the environment,” Carter later said about her support for Harris over other choices. “They don’t care about – they specifically target the environment.”
Silas Konja, an MSU sophomore who studies environmental engineering, spoke about using their vote as a precaution against other candidates.
“Like, a trans person, Trump’s very scary to me,” Konja said. “And so like, I want to vote for someone where – I want to ensure that I can live in this country, you know, as a trans person.”
Similar concerns over LGBTQ+ rights were expressed by Erinn Brancheau from Howell.
“It’s huge that women’s rights need to keep moving forward versus going back [and] issues with the LGBTQ community keep their rights protected and safe, as a lot of my friends are a part of the queer community,” Brancheau said. “I myself am a queer person, so it’s huge to make sure that my friends are protected, my people are protected and just…peace and love at this point.”
“Vote like your life depends on it,” Brancheau said. “Vote like your friends’ lives depend on it. Your daughter’s lives, your son’s lives even, vote for the right to be able to disagree with each other.”
When Harris walked off the stage, attendees began to file out of the field house. Many left the event eager for the election.
“That was truly amazing,” Brooke Racine, a sophomore studying journalism at MSU, said. “Like, I feel just… I feel just even more [excited], it’s why I already voted and I voted for Harris.”
Racine expressed that she was glad to hear her concerns with Gaza addressed.
“I really wanted to hear about how she felt about Gaza and that whole situation. But I know she hasn’t been very vocal about that or has been kind of playing like more of a safe side on it,” Racine said. “So I’m really happy that she kind of spoke up on that in her last campaign stop.”
Georgia Penny, a sophomore majoring in political science pre-law at MSU, shared a similar view.
“I feel a really big sense of relief,” Penny said. “I feel a lot better about our chances politically going forward to make some real change and have more unity.”
Outside of excitement, ambivalence amongst voters was also a key idea.
MSU sophomore Winnie Mutch said that she doesn’t feel like non-voters should feel ashamed.
“If you’re not voting because of Palestine, don’t feel ashamed,” Mutch said. “I think that is 100% a good issue to care about, especially during these times, they are insane. If you’re not voting because of the Palestine issue, you are 100% valid and nobody should make you feel bad for not voting.”
Even with certain reservations, many attendees felt Harris still best represents their values.
“Palestine versus Israel is probably the biggest concern and what people are most hesitant about right now,” Marie Gardener, a freshman studying psychology at MSU, said. “But I do believe that she’s trying her best and that there will be some change going forward if she becomes president.”
One of the biggest themes of the evening, between college students and of Harris’ words, was helping the younger generation have a future.
“Abortion is one of my top issues with this election and just in general, it’s really important to me that we maintain the woman’s right to choose about their own body. That’s really important to me,” Bailey Roberts, a sophomore studying psychology at MSU, had said when asked about her biggest concerns with the upcoming election.
“And also, the tax cuts for children and new house owners is also very appealing for me,” Roberts continued. “I mean, I’m young right now, but in the next few years I might be having to buy a house. It’s really important to me that my political candidate stands for my future.”
Outside the field house, protesters ranging from anti-abortion and demanding a ceasefire stood out in the rain after the rally ended.
