Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are turning their focus to Texas on Friday, with both presidential candidates hosting events in this heavily Republican-dominant state. The Vice President will join forces with Beyoncé for a rally aimed at shedding light on the severe medical consequences of Texas’ stringent abortion laws, while directly holding Trump accountable for these issues.
On the other hand, Trump will conduct a press conference in Austin, followed by a conversation with podcaster Joe Rogan later in the day.
Additionally, President Joe Biden is expected to visit a reservation in Arizona, marking a long-awaited trip to Indian Country. This visit is seen by Democrats as a potential boost to Harris’ efforts to engage Native American voters in a pivotal battleground state.
Biden’s upcoming stop at the Gila River Indian Community on the outskirts of Phoenix will be his first such visit as president—a promise he made to tribal leaders almost two years prior. During his time there, Biden plans to offer a formal apology to Native Americans, addressing the U.S. government’s historical abuse and neglect of Native children who were sent to federal boarding schools as part of a strategy to assimilate them into dominant society, as outlined by the White House.
Looking ahead, should Trump emerge victorious in the presidential race, Republicans are optimistic he will advance the party’s long-term goal of privatizing the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which have remained under government management since the 2008 financial crisis. However, Democratic leaders and several economists caution that such a move, particularly in the current climate of elevated mortgage rates, could make homeownership even less affordable.
Additionally, like Biden, Harris is placing significant emphasis on Trump as Election Day approaches. With her own abbreviated presidential campaign nearing its end, Harris aims to shift the conversation toward the former president’s perceived threat to democratic values, mirroring the strategy employed by Biden prior to the conclusion of his reelection campaign.
This approach serves as a means of uniting her supporters and potentially swaying undecided voters in these critical last moments leading up to the election. Harris’ ability to link broader discussions regarding American democracy with the daily concerns of citizens will be vital for her campaign. Her efforts will culminate on Tuesday, when she is set to deliver what her team has deemed her final pitch from the Ellipse, an area adjacent to the National Mall in Washington. Interestingly, this location also served as the backdrop for Trump when he urged his followers to march on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, amidst an attempt to overturn Biden’s electoral victory.