With less than 40 days until the pivotal election day, the Harris-Walz campaign is ramping up its efforts to connect with voters. It is launching an ambitious HBCU Homecoming Tour across essential battleground states. This tour underscores the campaign’s dedication to engaging directly with Black communities during the highly significant homecoming season at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Homecoming celebrations at HBCUs are vibrant, drawing alums and students together to celebrate their shared heritage and achievements. The Harris-Walz campaign aims to harness this festive spirit, deploying trusted surrogates including local Black elected officials, national leaders, renowned HBCU alumni, and prominent figures from the hip-hop and cultural spheres to critical states such as North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Kicking off the tour this Saturday, the campaign will host a tailgate event at Winston-Salem State University to celebrate the school’s 132nd Founders Day and the upcoming football game against Bowie State University.
The Homecoming Tour
The tentative schedule includes stops at several HBCUs throughout September and October, featuring:
- Winston-Salem State University: September 28th weekend
- Lincoln University: October 12th weekend
- Virginia State University: October 12th weekend
- Howard University: October 19th weekend
- North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University: October 19th weekend
- Clark Atlanta University: October 19th weekend
- Morehouse and Spelman College: October 26th weekend
The Harris-Walz campaign has emphasized its commitment to earning every vote. In conjunction with National Voter Registration Day, National HBCU Week, and National Black Voter Day, the campaign organized numerous canvassing events both on-site and virtually across 60 HBCU campuses in states including Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
During a panel discussion on National Voter Registration Day, Vice President Kamala Harris engaged with Black voters about her vision for an Opportunity Economy and its potential benefits for the community. Simultaneously, Governor Tim Walz addressed students at the Atlanta University Consortium, highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by efforts to suppress voting rights, echoing historical movements for civil rights.
A proud alumna of Howard University, Vice President Harris recognizes the transformative role HBCUs have played in American democracy over the past two centuries. Under the Biden-Harris administration, record investments of $17 billion have been directed towards HBCUs, underscoring their importance in higher education.
Earlier this semester, Vice President Harris penned a heartfelt letter to HBCU students, emphasizing the gravity of the upcoming election and the power of their votes. In a show of support, over 50 HBCU football legends—including 10 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees—endorsed her candidacy and that of Governor Walz, stating, “Given her integrity, values, and demonstrated commitment to justice and equality of opportunity, we are confident that as President she will serve the best interests of all Americans.”
