As HBCU homecoming season comes to a close, the Harris-Walz campaign has reported a significant surge in organic support from current students and alums across Historically Black Colleges and Universities nationwide.
The campaign’s HBCU Homecoming Tour has strategically engaged voters by directly participating in the rich cultural celebrations that define this time of year for many HBCUs. Governor Tim Walz and Vice President Kamala Harris have made substantial efforts to connect with voters where they are, attending events in key states, including North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Cultural Figures Amplifying the Message
Throughout this homecoming season, the Harris-Walz campaign deployed trusted surrogates such as local Black elected officials, HBCU alums, and influential hip-hop and culture figures to amplify their message. The tour highlights a commitment to earning the trust and votes of Black Americans. Governor Walz addressed AUC students in Atlanta about the ongoing efforts by MAGA Republicans to undermine voting rights. It’s a struggle dating back to the Atlanta Student Movement over three generations ago.
Notably, last month, over 50 HBCU football legends, including Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees, rallied behind the campaign, expressing confidence in Harris’s integrity and commitment to justice in their endorsement letter.
In a statement, senior advisor Kamau Marshall conveyed the campaign’s focus. “Our campaign is focused on meeting voters where they are by delivering Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s message for a new way forward,” Marshall said. He highlighted Vice President Harris’s concrete plans for real change aimed at galvanizing Black voter turnout.
The tour officially kicked off on September 28th at Winston-Salem State University’s Founders Day and included a tailgate event during the WSSU vs. Bowie State University game. Subsequent stops featured classic rivalries and homecomings at renowned institutions such as Tuskegee University, Howard University, and Florida A&M University.
The HBCU engagement initiative is led by a team of dedicated staffers, including Divine Nine Lead and HBCU Campaign Chair Dr. Glenda Glover, Senior Advisor Trey Baker, Senior Advisor Kamau Marshall, Black Engagement Director Christale Spain, Deputy Black Engagement Director Jonathan Hildner, VP Harris Coalition Director Chris Scott, National Deputy Director of Youth Engagement Kaya Jones and HBCU Youth Coordinator Tye Compton. The campaign has also attracted high-profile surrogates like former President Bill Clinton, Spike Lee, and Keke Palmer, who have appeared at homecoming events.
Vice President Harris’s Commitment to HBCUs
Vice President Harris, a proud graduate of Howard University, has consistently emphasized the critical role HBCUs play in advancing education and reshaping American democracy. Under the Biden-Harris administration, a record $17 billion in federal investments has been committed to HBCUs. Earlier this semester, Harris penned a letter to HBCU students, stressing the importance of their votes in the upcoming election.
As the November vote draws nearer, the campaign remains poised to turn this grassroots momentum into a decisive advantage.
