Beyoncé Joins Harris at Massive Electric Rally in Texas

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With Beyoncé warming up, Kamala Harris packed a Houston stadium Friday night with an end-of-campaign push in a state where the odds of victory for her are slim and not the point. The Vice President’s goal from deep in Texas was for the rest of the country to hear his message: If Donald Trump is given a second term in the White House, Texas’ abortion ban could become the national standard.

“Freedom should not be given. This should not be granted. It’s our right, and we’re willing to fight for it because we understand the risks,” Harris told a crowd filled with the kind of enthusiasm typically reserved for mega-events like the World Series or Beyoncé tour. “Texas, you are at ground zero in the fight for reproductive freedom.”

The Harris campaign said the attendance of 30,000 people was the largest rally ever. The biggest attraction of the night was, of course, Beyonce Knowles-Carter, the unique artist from Houston. Although she didn’t perform, Beyoncé and former Destiny’s Child co-star Kelly Rowland introduced the Vice President. And legendary Willie Nelson, often referred to simply as the “Texas voter,” also gave a two-song performance earlier in the evening. Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, also defended Harris’ presidency.

But it was Queen Bey who understood the task best. One of the most popular musicians on the planet, her political opinions are less widely used than those of other stars like Taylor Swift, who supports Harris. While Beyoncé has a clear history of supporting Democratic candidates, her brand is one that extends beyond traditional corners, and her words are firmly planted in that sweet spot.

“We are on the threshold of incredible change, on the threshold of history,” Beyoncé said while introducing Harris at Shell Energy Stadium. “I’m not here as a celebrity. I’m not here as a politician. I’m here as a mother. A mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all our children live in. A world where we have the freedom to control our bodies. A world where we are not divided.”

In addition to generating the kind of excitement that draws national attention, the event was also intended to boost Democrat Colin Allred, who spoke earlier at the rally and is running to unseat Ted Cruz in a surprisingly competitive Senate race.

With Democrats facing a particularly precarious Senate map, the Harris/Beyoncé event was part of a broader Democratic effort to boost down-ballot races as a last-minute insurance policy in case Harris wins her bid for the White House. If Republicans win back the Senate by a clear two-seat margin, they could effectively veto Harris’ agenda. (The same can be said of the House, where Republicans are trying to hold on to a narrow but wayward majority.) Frankly, the rationale behind a visit to GOP-friendly Texas this close to Election Day was more than one thing, and Harris is betting big on it. The fallout from the state’s near-total abortion ban could spur action from others within the state as well as from swing states he needs to win.

“Women died because of Trump’s abortion ban,” Harris said. “In just four years as President, Donald Trump has managed to erase half a century of hard-fought progress for women. Now he wants to go even further. … If Trump wins again, he will ban abortion nationwide.”

Trump says he’s proud to appoint three justices who helped overturn the Supreme Court Roe v. wade and ended half a century of federal abortion protections. The former President defended his preference States set the standards themselves This is a reality that in itself creates an inconsistent environment and a pall of highly unequal policies and practices for those seeking abortions.

While Harris suggested this was about much more than just what was happening in Texas, she had viewers watching in other states in mind.

“Reproductive freedom is on the ballot in this presidential election and in 10 states across the country, including Arizona, Florida and Nevada,” she said. “Freedom will be gained through the work of everyone here.”

To contain a potential Harris term, Republicans need to gain just two seats in the Senate to have a majority. If Trump wins, if the Republican Party manages to win just one seat, the tie-breaking vote in the 50-50 Senate will be Vice President J.D. Vance, which is almost a certainty since Senator Joe Manchin has decided not to run again in West Virginia; Democrats quickly abandoned this contest.

So Harris’ concern about the future of a Congress controlled by Trump and the GOP is not unfounded. Trump has already signaled that his return to power will not be marred by the amateurism of his first term. His allies in Washington prepared a detailed agenda; Harris and her allies successfully weaponized this agenda, resulting in some of Project 2025’s authors being denied any access to Trump.

But the main focus of the evening’s message was abortion rights. One in three American women lives in a state where abortion is not an option. In Texas, for example, health care providers face prison time if they perform abortions, and there are cash incentives (in effect, bonuses) for Texans who report those performing the procedure or help someone get an abortion. That’s why nearly three dozen doctors in white coats took the stage before Harris and why so many Texans spoke of their own personal crises trying to provide abortions for non-viable pregnancies.

Read more: Abortion Case in Texas Is Worse Than You Think

This was an evening that brought a lot of enthusiasm to a campaign trying to lift the race from coin toss status. The line stretched block after block. Some arrived before dawn to make sure they had primo seats when the doors opened in the afternoon. There were plenty of newcomers to the election, which had an atmosphere more akin to a music festival than a political rally — which is exactly what Democrats need if they’re going to have a chance in the Senate race — or perhaps the longest-running longshot in the state’s 40th. electoral votes.

As a political matter, Harris billed the event as a rally about reproductive rights, which are frankly lacking in Texas. However, the spectators were far away from those inside the stadium.

At least the message, with a political PSA sprinkled throughout the concert, seemed to accomplish its surface-level mission. That’s why, as TIME’s Charlotte Alter recently did reportedDemocrats suddenly became hopeful that the outcome of the election might depend on abortion rights.

“I’m not really interested in politics, but I wanted to come see it with my own eyes,” says Lakeita Crawford, a 32-year-old self-employed Houston resident. “I think people wanted to support Kamala, but she needed to come and connect with us. I’m not a fan of Donald Trump, but I want to be here to listen to Harris.”

Across the football field, 24-year-old Jasman Worthy stood in front of a barricade at his first political event. “Girl power,” she said enthusiastically. “We must support Kamala. “He took Houston and we have to take it back.”

In this regard, the communal nature of the night suggests that Harris may have tapped into a stream of politics that few can credibly tap into. Movements rarely come together on such a short timeline, but they also often lack established brand loyalty like Beyoncé. In this respect, his campaign does little to reduce the entrenched violence that comes with this symbol.

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