Believe it or not, the 2024 presidential election — which kicked off in November 2022 when former President Donald Trump announced his third White House bid — is almost 100 days away.
To mark the centennial milestone this weekend, the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris — the newest person to enter the presidential race — is launching a blitz of campaign events across the country, kicking off with an event in the crucial battleground state of Pennsylvania featuring Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Shapiro, a potential running mate pick for Harris, is widely viewed as a rising star in the Democratic Party who could help the vice president carry a must-win state for both candidates.
Trump won Pennsylvania, along with two other reliably Democratic “blue wall” states, Michigan and Wisconsin, as part of his successful White House campaign in 2016, but Joe Biden flipped all three states back in 2020. The three states are all rated in the “toss up” category by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
Pennsylvania is also the site of a key U.S. Senate race in November which could determine control of the chamber next year. Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat, is seeking a fourth term against Dave McCormick, a businessman and former member of George W. Bush’s administration who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination in 2022 to television personality Mehmet Oz.
Shapiro will rally with Harris campaign volunteers in Carlisle, Pa., outside of Harrisburg, the state capital. The Harris campaign touted that more than 8,000 Pennsylvanians have signed up to volunteer, which they say signals newfound enthusiasm. The campaign has seen tens of thousands of volunteers across the country sign up in the days since Harris launched her White House bid, in addition to racking up endorsements and record financial donations.
In addition to Shapiro, Harris advocates across the country, including the vice president herself, will take part in events to mobilize voters and rally volunteers.
Harris’ husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, will be in the battleground state of Wisconsin, giving remarks in Wausau before holding a canvassing event for downballot Democrats in Stevens Point.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Rep. Betty McCollum and other local leaders will be holding a canvassing event in the state ahead of Trump’s planned rally, which is set to take place Saturday evening in St. Cloud.
Former Rep. Gabby Giffords, a gun safety advocate and the wife of potential Harris running mate Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, will stump for the vice president in Michigan, in addition to several other events across the state this weekend.
Other Democratic power players, like Sen. Jacky Rosen, Maggie Hassan and Gary Peters and Reps. Maxwell Frost, Pramila Jayapal and Debbie Dingell, are also set to host events in several battleground states, including North Carolina, Florida, Nevada and Arizona.
All told, the campaign says it will hold 2,300 events across the country with more than 170,000 volunteers.
“One hundred days before Election Day, Team Harris is leveraging the historic grassroots enthusiasm we’ve seen for our campaign and putting it to work,” Harris battleground states director Dan Kanninen said in a statement. “For over a year, our team has been building the battleground infrastructure needed to reach and persuade the voters who will decide this election — and now, we’re kicking it into overdrive.”
Harris herself is set to attend a fundraiser in Massachusetts headlined by musicians Yo-Yo Ma and James Taylor and deliver a virtual address at the Voters of Tomorrow Summit on Saturday, which is taking place in Atlanta.
On Friday, Harris is set to make a pre-taped appearance on the season finale of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars,” where she encourages viewers to make sure they’re registered to vote.
“Each day we are seeing our rights and freedoms under attack, including the right of everyone to be who they are, love who they love, openly and with pride,” Harris says in the appearance, joined by comedian Leslie Jones, judge Michelle Visage, choreographer Jamal Sims, actor Cheyenne Jackson and former NSYNC member Lance Bass.
“So as we fight back against these attacks, let’s all remember no one is alone,” Harris says. We are all in this together, and your vote is your power. So please make sure your voice is heard this November, and register to vote.”
“And remember: You better vote!” Jones adds, a nod to RuPaul’s iconic “You Better Work” slogan.
She heads into the weekend buoyed by a number of prominent endorsements, including the backing of former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, as well as the support of a coalition of youth voter groups.