Rep. Maxine Waters rallies Black voters for Kamala Harris
"This fire is burning, the wind behind us and Kamala is being lifted up," said Democratic organizer Lorna Johnson.
Rep. Maxine Waters was once one of the loudest voices arguing for President Joe Biden to stay in the race, but on Friday morning she was full steam ahead on the Harris train as she rallied a crowd of Black politicians, ministers and community leaders to her “Californians for Kamala” press conference.
The event was part party, part prayer, part urgent call for Black voters to turn out in November.
The 85-year-old congresswoman affectively known to many as “Auntie Maxine” walked on stage to Beyonce’s “Freedom” and the beats of the Los Angeles Parmelettes Drumline before addressing a crowd of several hundred.
“I know that you turned out no matter what your schedules are, because you know that something transformative is about to take place in America,” she said. “We want everybody to have an opportunity to be right at the start of what is going to be one of the best, most fabulous and well-participated in campaigns that America has ever seen.”
During July, Waters pushed hard for Biden to remain in the race remarking “hell, I’m older than Biden” during a panel event in New Orleans. She told Politico she was angry when she heard he was dropping out, but that frustration has quickly transitioned to passion for Vice Kamala Harris’s campaign.
On Friday, Waters assembled a group of A-list Black leaders to speak in support of Harris, including state Sen. Steve Bradford, former state Sen. Roderick Wright, Compton Mayor Emma Sharif and President of the L.A. County Federation of Labor Yvonne Wheeler.
Officials from Watts, Compton, Hawthorne, Carson and Bell Gardens also spoke as did former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former state Controller Betty Yee — both of whom are running for governor in 2026.
“I think it was amazing to see that she could pull this many people so quickly,” said Watts community organizer Rhonita Thornton. “People are riled up, the Democrats’ energy is energized. When Auntie Maxine asks you to come, you show up.”
The event focused on the power of Black voters and the stakes for minorities in America in the November election.
“If you read the platform of Donald Trump, some of y’all might have to learn to pick cotton again,” said former state Senator Rodrick Wright as the crowd loudly booed. “We’re talking about the future of your existence in this country.”
Bell Gardens Mayor Gabriela Gomez echoed that sentiment, raising concerns about how Latinos would be impacted by a Trump presidency.
“I’m here representing the South East Los Angeles region and the reason I am here for them is because we are predominantly Latino and Project 2025 is no joke,” said Bell Gardens Mayor Gabriela Gomez, referring to a list right-wing policy proposals for Trump’s potential 2024 presidency that include mass deportations of illegal immigrants.
President Biden relied on the Black and Latino vote to win in 2020, but his popularity among both populations has slipped significantly since then. Recent data suggests that Harris has slightly more support among both groups.
CNN polls showed Biden’s lead over Trump among Black voters as 70% to 23%, while Kamala’s lead is 78% to 15%. When it comes to the Latino vote, Harris is polling at 47% to Trump’s 45%, while Biden polled at 41% to Trump’s 50%.
Several speakers at the press conference referred to a growing sense of momentum in the Democratic Party.
“We are on a roll right now, this fire is burning, the wind behind us, and Kamala is being lifted up,” said Democratic organizer Lorna Johnson. “I believe she’s the right person at the right time, and the fire is back like when Obama was around, so let’s get it together.”
Harris raised a record-breaking $81 million within the first 24 hours of Biden’s announcement that he was withdrawing.
On Sunday evening, more than 44,000 callers joined a Zoom call organized by Win With Black Women that raised $1.5 million for the Harris campaign. A follow-up “White Women: Answer The Call!” Zoom on Thursday attracted more than 160,000 participants and raised more than $8.5 million.
But despite the surge in dollars, Harris faces a tough road ahead. A recent New Emerson College Polling/The Hill swing state poll found Harris trailing Trump in four swing states and tied in the swing state of Wisconsin.