Kamala Harris urges college students to ‘fight for our future’ at final Michigan rally

Thousands of Michigan State University students rallied behind Kamala Harris’ vision for the future during her last scheduled campaign stop in Michigan ahead of Election Day.

EAST LANSING—Michigan’s college students—and their future—were the top priority for Vice President Kamala Harris during a massive rally at Michigan State University on Sunday night, where she offered her final, closing argument to Michiganders ahead of Election Day.

“It’s one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime and we have momentum on our side,” Harris told thousands of Michiganders who were packed inside Jenison Field House for her last scheduled campaign stop in Michigan. “We have the momentum because our campaign is tapping into the ambitions, the aspirations, and the dreams of the American people—because we are optimistic and excited about what we can do together.”

Harris spent most of her speech pledging to find “common ground and common-sense solutions” for problems facing Michigan’s college students, recent graduates, and their families—which includes plans to lower the cost of rent, groceries, healthcare, and more.

“If you give me the chance to fight on your behalf as the president, there is nothing in the world that will stand in my way,” Harris said. “I will get up everyday to fight to make your life better, to bring down the cost of living, to ban corporate price gouging on groceries, to make housing and childcare more affordable. My plan will cut taxes for workers, for middle-class families, and small businesses, [and] lower healthcare costs—including the cost of healthcare for our seniors.”

Nearly 3 million Michiganders have already voted this year either by mail or during the state’s early, in-person voting period. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday—and absentee ballots must be received by local clerks’ offices by the time polls close to be counted.

Harris enthusiastically declared that she was going to win this year’s election and vowed to bring a “fresh start” to American politics from the moment she takes office in January.

“I’m not looking to score political points. I’m looking to make progress,” Harris said. “I pledge to listen to experts and I pledge to listen to people who disagree with me—because I don’t believe people who disagree with me are the enemy. In fact, I’ll give them a seat at the table.”

Among the other policies and plans that Harris mentioned on Sunday night:

• Expanding a tax deduction for costs that are incurred while starting a business
• Investing in affordable housing and expanding tax credits for first-time homebuyers and holding corporate landlords accountable for unfair rent increases
• Signing federal legislation to restore nationwide abortion rights that were lost when the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade
• Passing the first-ever federal price gouging ban on groceries
• Lowering prescription drug costs for Michiganders 
• Capping child care costs and expanding the federal Child Tax Credit

Harris also focused her remarks on drawing a sharp contrast between her campaign’s “fight for freedom” and ex-President Donald Trump’s perpetual focus on creating “fear and division” in American politics—though she didn’t actually mention Trump by name once during her remarks.

“We have an opportunity in this election to finally turn the page,” Harris said. “We are done with that. America is ready for a fresh start—ready for a new way forward, where we see our fellow Americans not as the enemy, but as a neighbor. We are ready for a president who knows that the true measure of a leader is not based on who you beat down; It’s based on who you lift up.”

The crowd inside Jenison Field House could be heard cheering from the street—including chanting “We will win” and “We won’t go back.” Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist also led students in chanting a new, temporary name for MSU, which he said stands for “Michigan Stand Up.”

“This university will make sure that Kamala Harris becomes the next president,” Gilchrist said.

Other speakers—including Democratic US Senate candidate Elissa Slotkin and US House candidate Curtis Hertel Jr.—focused on their plans to enact more sensible gun safety reforms, as well as pass legislation that will help protect access to reproductive health care at the federal level. 

“Young people in the state of Michigan have the ability to completely change the outcome of elections,” Slotkin said. “Your votes matter the most, so please drag your friends to the polls.”

Harris is set to close out her presidential campaign with a series of events in Pennsylvania on Monday. Her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is scheduled to speak at a rally in Detroit.

READ MORE: Michigan voters share why they’re supporting Kamala Harris at Flint rally

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