Kamala Harris and Donald Trump made special stops in Texas on Friday to talk about important issues as we get closer to the election. Texas is known for having strict rules about abortion, and it was the first state to make it almost impossible for women to get one.
While Texas usually votes for Republicans, Harris hopes to share her message about the rights of women to make choices about their own bodies. Superstar Beyoncé, who was born in Houston, helped kick off the event by introducing Harris with her song “Freedom,” which has become a theme for Harris’s campaign. Harris warned the crowd about the dangers former President Trump could pose to abortion rights if he wins again. She said, “What’s happening in Texas and across the country is a health care crisis, and Donald Trump is responsible for it.”
Texas passed a law in 2021 that bans abortions after six weeks, allowing people to sue anyone who helps someone get an abortion. This law was supported by judges appointed by Trump, who later helped overturn the Roe v. Wade decision that gave women the right to choose. During the rally, there were personal stories from women affected by these strict laws, making it a serious event.
Country music legend Willie Nelson also performed and asked the crowd, “Are we ready to say Madam President?” before singing some of his famous songs. Meanwhile, Trump was in Austin recording a podcast with Joe Rogan. He later joked about Harris being at a party while serious issues were happening around the world.
In his podcast, Trump talked about ideas for changing taxes, suggesting he might want to get rid of income taxes and replace them with tariffs. Polls show that Trump has lost some support among women since Harris became a candidate, although they are still close in many states.
Harris has been a strong advocate for women’s rights, sharing stories about how the abortion bans affect real people. In one ad, a woman talked about how she almost died after being denied an emergency abortion. An important study showed that after Texas enforced its abortion ban, more babies were dying than in other parts of the country, and maternal deaths also increased.
As the election gets closer, both candidates are working hard to share their messages and connect with voters in Texas.
