Kamala Harris‘ presidential campaign continues to gain momentum with an unprecedented virtual mobilization event aimed at white women voters. Following a successful call that rallied Black women voters, the latest event drew in about 200,000 participants, setting a new record for the largest Zoom meeting ever.
White women are a crucial demographic for the Democrats in the upcoming election. Harris, who would make history as the first female, Black, and South Asian president, has seen a swift rise in support since Joe Biden announced his decision to step aside from re-election.
“It’s our turn to show up. So that’s what we’re doing. Hold this date and time,” read the virtual flyer encouraging white women – a group that predominantly votes Republican – to support Harris.
The event, “White Women: Answer the Call,” was inspired by a similar one for Black women earlier in the week. Held on Thursday night, the call saw nearly 200,000 white women join, raising over $8.5 million.
This follows a Zoom call hosted by Win With Black Women, a coalition of Black women leaders, which had 44,000 participants and raised over $1.5 million for Harris. Many who couldn’t join the call streamed it via platforms like Twitch, Clubhouse, and YouTube.
Since its founding in 2020 by strategist Jotaka Eaddy, Win With Black Women has been pivotal in hosting such calls. Another event, Win With Black Men, saw over 17,000 donors contribute more than $1.3 million to Harris’s campaign.
Prominent gun control activist Shannon Watts organized Thursday’s event. It featured speakers like actor Connie Britton, former US soccer star Megan Rapinoe, US House Representative Lizzie Fletcher, and musician Pink.
Historically, white women have leaned Republican, with 52% voting for Donald Trump in 2016 and again in 2020. This voting pattern contrasts with the strong support Democratic candidates receive from Black, Latinx, and Asian women.
Watts urged white women to change this trend. “Fellow white women: we can and have to fix this, and that starts with mobilizing like Black women,” she wrote on Instagram, linking to a detailed Substack post. She highlighted the complex factors influencing white women’s voting behaviors, including privilege, systemic racism, sexism, religious affiliations, and patriarchy.
Watts believes that by mobilizing now, white women can significantly impact the election and support Harris’s bid for the presidency in just 100 days.
