LGBTQ celebrities and lawmakers come out in support of Harris
More than 1,100 LGBTQ celebrities, lawmakers and leaders signed a letter released today by national LGBTQ rights groups endorsing Harris’ presidential run.
The letter includes signatures from actors Matt Bomer, George Takei, Billy Eichner and Sophia Bush and her partner, Ashlyn Harris, a former U.S. women’s national team soccer player. Out elected officials, including Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Reps. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., Mark Takano, D-Calif., and Becca Balint, D-Vt., also signed, alongside notable figures such as Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015, and Judy Shepard, the mother of Matthew Shepard, who was murdered in Wyoming in 1998.
Harris has a two-decade track record of supporting gay rights, which is part of the reason LGBTQ advocacy groups, lawmakers and celebrities have been vocal in backing her. Some LGBTQ people, however, have taken issue with her records on trans rights and criminal justice issues.
Arizona Democratic Party endorses Mark Kelly for Harris' VP
Hours after stopping short of endorsing Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona for vice president, the state's Democratic Party threw its support behind Kelly, the former astronaut.
"The path to the White House runs through Arizona, and we are confident that with Kamala Harris and Mark Kelly at the top of the ticket, Democrats will win in November," Chairwoman Yolanda Bejarano wrote in a formal endorsement of Kelly.
Less than three hours earlier at a news conference, Bejarano declined to endorse Kelly, citing the ongoing vetting process of potential running mates.
On Capitol Hill today, Kelly sidestepped questions about any vetting. "This is not about me," he said.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: Trump is 'likely to be the next president'
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent candidate for president, said he thinks Trump is "highly likely to be the next president.
“First of all, and I’m very happy, I couldn’t be more happy, that President Trump is now, publicly at least, committed to bitcoin. I think it’s really important," he said today. "You know, he’s a former president. He is highly likely to be the next president, and it will be wonderful to have a president office who understands the importance of bitcoin.”
Trump and Kennedy have had a unique relationship and appear to share some common ground on policy, as evidenced by a recent video showing a phone call between the two.
Trump, who was previously opposed to cryptocurrency, is scheduled to speak at this week’s annual Bitcoin Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
Trump says Harris, whose husband is Jewish, is against Jews
Trump said at today's rally that Harris is "totally against the Jewish people."
"It amazes me how Jewish people will vote for the Democrats when they're being treated so disrespectfully and badly. It amazes me," Trump said.
Trump rails against EVs, despite Elon Musk support
Trump has continued to rail against electric vehicles, even as Tesla CEO Elon Musk reportedly said he was committing $45 million per month to a pro-Trump Super PAC, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Musk later denied the reporting, saying he'll donate “at a much lower level.” He has already endorsed Trump.
"Good luck with your electric car that goes for about 45 minutes before you have to get it" charged, Trump said at his North Carolina rally today.
Most electric vehicles can travel from 150 to 400 miles on fully charged batteries, which is within the range of 90% of all U.S. household daily trips, according to the Energy Department.
In Oval Office address, Biden to frame his 2024 decision as a ‘defense of democracy’
Biden plans to frame the decision to end his re-election campaign as a “defense of democracy” in an Oval Office address tonight, according to advance excerpts released by the White House.
“The defense of democracy is more important than any title,” Biden plans to say. “I draw strength, and find joy, in working FOR the American people. But this sacred task of perfecting our union is not about me. It’s about you. Your families. Your futures. It’s about ‘We the People.’”
Trump continually mispronounces 'Kamala' during campaign rally
Trump has mispronounced Harris' first name numerous times during his rally today.
"Kamala" is pronounced with emphasis on the first syllable, while Trump emphasizes the second.
Harris released an ad several years ago featuring kids explaining how to say her name correctly.
Trump's rally is taking place at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has repeatedly called Harris insulting names, including referring to her as a "lunatic."
Former Georgia GOP lieutenant governor backs Harris
Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, a Republican who made waves when he announced his support for Biden in May, is officially backing Harris' presidential campaign.
"I’m committed to beating Donald Trump," Duncan wrote on X. "The only vehicle left for me to do that with is the Democratic Party. If that requires me to vote for, speak for, or endorse @KamalaHarris then count me in!"
In a podcast interview today, he even offered to speak at the Democratic National Convention if that's what it takes to beat Trump.
“If Donald Trump wins the hearts and minds of the majority of the 10% in the middle and Kamala Harris doesn’t, then he’s going to be the next president — and then we’ve got real issues on our hands as Republicans," he said.
Duncan was the lieutenant governor under Republican Gov. Brian Kemp during the 2020 election cycle, when then-President Trump tried to interfere in Georgia’s election results, which resulted in a criminal case against him and several of his allies. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Duncan decided not to seek re-election in 2022 following his criticism of Trump.
State party chair stops short of saying Mark Kelly should be Harris' running mate
Arizona Democratic Party chair Yolanda Bejarano was full of praise for Sen. Mark Kelly today amid reporting that he's in contention to be Harris' running mate, but she stopped short of backing him for the job.
"Sen. Kelly is an amazing leader," Bejarano said at a news conference. "We're going to wait and see what the vice president decides."
Asked why she wasn't endorsing Kelly, Bejarano said, "We're going to trust the vice president's judgment, and I know that they're still going through the vetting process, but it's an exciting time."
A successful Harris-Kelly ticket would lead to a vacancy for Kelly’s Senate seat. Gov. Katie Hobbs would most likely appoint a fellow Democrat to temporarily fill the seat in that scenario.
Kelly today blasted out an email criticizing Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio.
"I ran against a guy like JD in Arizona in 2022," reads the email, comparing Vance to failed Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters. "MAGA-right, venture capitalist, backed by a shady tech billionaire out of the Silicon Valley."
"We all know guys like this. Guys that think they know better than everyone about everything. They think they know better than women and their doctors about abortion. They think they know better than seniors about Social Security and Medicare," the email goes on before it asks for a split donation supporting his Senate campaign and Harris' presidential campaign.
White House press secretary dismisses notion Biden should resign
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at today's news briefing that the idea that Biden should resign because he is not running for re-election is "ridiculous."
"Tune in to what he has to say tonight, and he will lay that out for you all and the American people onto, as to why he made that decision," she said.
Asked whether White House officials have been concealing details about Biden's health, she said, "It is not a cover-up."
Jean-Pierre also said the White House does not see Biden as "a lame-duck president at all," even though he has decided not to seek another term.
Today's was Jean-Pierre’s first briefing since Biden dropped out of the race.