Vice President Kamala Harris is set to deliver a speech on reproductive freedom in Texas this Friday, as confirmed by a senior Harris campaign official. Harris is strategically focusing on abortion rights in the final stretch of the election, positioning it as a key issue in her campaign against her Republican opponent. She attributes the rise of abortion bans in various states to former President Donald Trump and aims to shed light on the individuals affected by these restrictions.
The choice of Texas as the rally location is significant, given its status as a hub for abortion bans. The upcoming event in Houston, featuring music icon Beyoncé, will highlight the story of Amanda and Josh Zurawski. The couple spearheaded a lawsuit against Texas' abortion bans after Amanda faced life-threatening pregnancy complications but was unable to access abortion services in the conservative state. Shanette Williams, the mother of Amber Nicole Thurman, who tragically passed away due to medical care delays caused by Georgia's restrictive abortion law, will also be present at the rally.
Prior to her current role, Harris was a prominent advocate for abortion rights within the Biden campaign. The campaign recently launched an ad titled 'He Did It,' squarely blaming Trump for the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade and subsequent abortion restrictions in multiple states. This marks the first time the campaign has purchased advertising time in Texas to coincide with Harris' visit.
Throughout her campaign, Harris has characterized the wave of extreme abortion measures across the nation as a 'health care crisis,' attributing Trump as the primary instigator of this situation. Texas enforces one of the strictest abortion laws in the U.S., prohibiting the procedure after six weeks with exceptions only in cases where the mother's life is at risk. The state's trigger law, enacted in 2021, came into effect following the Supreme Court's federal abortion rights reversal in June 2022.
During her visit to Houston, Harris will team up with Democratic Senate nominee Rep. Colin Allred, who is vying to unseat incumbent GOP Sen. Ted Cruz, for a voter mobilization initiative. Additionally, Harris will engage in a podcast interview with popular host Brené Brown as part of her media outreach efforts to connect with voters across various platforms.
