With just 11 days to go until Election Day, Vice President Kamala Harris will rally with supporters in an unlikely state on Friday: Texas.
While a Democrat hasn’t won the Lone Star State since Jimmy Carter in 1976, Harris’ campaign has its sights set not on the 40 electoral votes the state holds, but on its laws concerning reproductive freedom.
Texas has some of the most restrictive abortion laws following the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022. The issue has been a defining one for Harris’ campaign, and at her event later Friday, she is expected to hammer her opponent, former President Donald Trump for his past comments saying he was proud to have helped overturn Roe by appointing three of the six justices to the Supreme Court who overturned the landmark ruling.
"Sadly, the elected leaders of Texas, a lot of them, have made Texas ground zero in this fundamental fight for the freedom of women to make decisions about their own body," Harris said on Friday afternoon ahead of her event. "So tonight, we will be discussing the impact of that, not only to the women of Texas and their families, but to people around the country because of Trump abortion bans."
Harris will be joined by individuals who have been impacted by abortion restrictions across the country, including Shanette Williams, whose daughter Amber Nicole Thurman died after she was unable to access legal abortions and timely medical care in her home state of Georgia. Other guests will include Amanda and Josh Zurawski, the Texas couple who led the lawsuit against Texas’ abortion bans and have been vocal supporters of Harris since sharing their story at the Democratic National Convention earlier this year.
"I do believe it is important to acknowledge that this is not just some theoretical concept, real harm has occurred in our country, a real suffering has occurred, people have died," Harris said. "And it is important to highlight this issue because this is among the most critical issues that the American people will address when they vote for who will be the president of the United States."
With such a tight race, the Harris campaign has continued to double down on the issue of reproductive rights.
"In America, freedom is not to be given," Harris is set to say, according to prepared remarks sent by her campaign. "It is not to be bestowed. It is ours. By right. And that includes the fundamental freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have the government telling her what to do."
Ahead of her speech in Houston, the campaign will launch a new ad entitled "He Did It," that will highlight Trump’s past comments on Roe. Earlier this week, the campaign launched an ad featuring Ondrea, a Texas woman who was denied an abortion and nearly died from sepsis and may not be able to get pregnant again.
"In just four years as President, Donald Trump was able to erase half a century of hard-fought progress for women," Harris is set to say. "And now, he wants to go even further. Let us be clear: If Donald Trump wins again, he will ban abortion nationwide." (While Trump has offered shifting positions on abortion, he has said he would not back a nationwide abortion ban, though he has boasted of his role in nominating three of the six justices who overturned Roe v. Wade.)
"And though we are in Texas tonight, for anyone watching from another state, if you think you are protected from Trump abortion bans because you live in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, New York, California, or any state where voters or legislators have protected reproductive freedom, please know: No one is protected," Harris is set to proclaim. "Because a Donald Trump national ban will outlaw abortion in every single state."
Texas Democratic Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, who is running against incumbent Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, in a highly competitive race, will also speak at Friday’s rally. Harris’ appearance could give Allred a boost, which experts say could benefit Harris in the long run if she is elected president.
“If she's president, she wants to have the Senate and the House on her side – she will not be able to govern as president if she doesn't have one or both [the] House and the Senate under control of Democrats,” said Michael Genovese, a professor at Loyola Marymount University. “This is an investment in the future, plus all campaigns are national, no matter where you go, that's reported and there's ample coverage. And so going to a state like Texas, she knows she won't win that state, but what she's doing is she's trying to basically help other Democrats.”
Harris said that Allred winning in November is crucial in her fight to restore Roe and expand abortion rights.
"When Texans vote for Colin Allred for the United States Senate, we will be in a position where we actually will be closer to be able to put back in place the protections of Roe v. Wade," Harris told reporters on Friday afternoon. "As I have said, and it is my pledge: When Congress passes a bill putting back in place reproductive freedom, I will sign it into law."
"What happens in this election will determine the future of reproductive freedom for generations to come," Harris is set to say in her speech Friday night. "I trust women. And with Colin Allred in the United States Senate, when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom, as President of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law."
"We are fighting for an America where, no matter who you are, or where you live, you can make that decision based on what is right for you and your family," she will add.
When pushed for a backup plan if Democrats do not retain control of the Senate, Harris pledged that she will "keep fighting."
"America has a history of understanding, we do not give up the fight for freedom," she said. "We do not give up the fight when it comes to some of the most basic freedoms any individual in our country has a right to expect, including the right of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have her government tell her what to do."
Campaign data shows reproductive rights are the most salient issue for voters who remain undecided, according to a senior campaign official granted anonymity to discuss the planning of the Friday event. That official said undecided voters align with the Vice President firmly when they are told about Harris’ plan to codify Roe v. Wade and given information about Project 2025, the far-right policy agenda that Trump has sought to disavow, even though members of his administration and allies contributed to it.
Harris is also set to be joined by pop music icon Beyoncé, according to sources familiar.
During her swing through Texas, Harris will also sit for an interview with podcaster Brené Brown to continue the conversation around reproductive freedom.