Vice President Kamala Harris is set to address the American Federation of Teachers, the first labor union to endorse her candidacy, as part of her ongoing presidential campaign. Following President Joe Biden's exit from the race, Harris has emerged as the likely Democratic nominee and is now focused on spreading her message and rallying voters.
Harris plans to travel extensively to engage with voters and refine her strategy for the upcoming election against Republican Donald Trump. Trump, who survived a recent assassination attempt, has a strong base of loyal supporters who are eager to see him back in the Oval Office.
During a rally in North Carolina, Trump criticized Harris, labeling her as a 'real liberal' and claiming she misled voters about Biden's health and fitness for the presidency. In response, Harris is working to draw a contrast with Trump and highlight her own platform.
The vice president's upcoming address at the AFT's convention in Houston follows recent appearances in Milwaukee and Indianapolis, where she emphasized the importance of organizing, mobilizing, and voting to effect change.
The AFT, with 1.8 million members, has endorsed Harris due to her pro-union stance and concerns about potential restrictions on organized labor under a Trump administration. The AFL-CIO, representing 60 labor unions, has also backed Harris, while the United Auto Workers are yet to make a decision on endorsement.
At the AFT conference, union leaders expressed strong opposition to Trump, with one calling him a 'scab' and emphasizing the negative impact of a Trump presidency on the working class. Despite Trump's efforts to appeal to blue-collar voters, he failed to secure a majority of union households in the 2020 election.
Following her address to the AFT, Harris will return to Washington for a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, continuing her busy schedule as she seeks to secure the Democratic nomination and challenge Trump in the upcoming election.
