Harris-Walz Campaign kicks off HBCU Homecoming Tour to reach Black voters

In an effort to reach more young Black voters ahead of election day, Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz have kicked off their Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Homecoming Tour. They're targeting institutions in the key battleground states.

With less than 40 days to go until the vote is in for the next President of the United States, Harris and Trump have been fighting fiercely to win over the undecided voters in the swing states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Nevada.

Both candidates have recognized the key to winning the election is also in appealing to Gen-Z and millennials.

In fact, there has been a recent spike in voter registration among young people. Voters under the age of 35 accounted for 81% of new registrations on National Voter Registration day, according to Vote.gov.

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Battleground Ep. 37 | College campus to battleground blitz: 48 Days

With just 48 days until voters cast their ballots, we explore the fierce competition for undecided voters. We dive into who these coveted voters are, what issues matter most to them, and how the Kamala Harris and Donald Trump campaigns are fighting to win them over. Plus, a controversial digital ID battle in North Carolina, and the latest polling data that could reshape the electoral map. Don't miss this essential breakdown of the razor-thin margins that could determine America's future.

Homecoming is a unique time of year on an HBCU campus. It's not just a celebration of history and culture, but a time to honor the leaps and bounds Black Americans have made for a fair shot at higher education.

The current student body is always visited by hundreds, sometimes thousands of alumni – including famous ones. The proud graduates with children often bring the next generation of HBCU leaders to enjoy the football games and family-friendly campus events.

Harris and Walz' tour began at Winston-Salem State University on Sept. 28. The campaign hosted a tailgate in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene for the WSSU vs. Bowie State University game in North Carolina.

Of all the stops, Howard University's is expected to be extra special. Not only is VP Harris a proud Bison, but she's also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., a historically Black sorority which was founded on the D.C. campus in 1908. Alumni will be celebrating the school's historic 100th homecoming alongside the Democratic candidate for president.

The pair will round out the tour with three stops in Georgia for Clark Atlanta and SpelHouse.

Here are the HBCUs and corresponding dates on their schedule:

  • Sept. 28 – Winston-Salem State University
  • Oct. 12 – Lincoln University
  • Oct. 12 – Virginia State University
  • Oct. 19 –  Howard University
  • Oct. 19 – North Carolina A&T State University
  • Oct. 19 – Clark Atlanta University
  • Oct. 26 – Morehouse College
  • Oct. 26 – Spelman College
  • More campus visits may be pending

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump was slated to make an appearance at the Georgia-Alabama game in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.