HOUSTON — Beyoncé will appear alongside Vice President Kamala Harris for the first time on the campaign trail at a Houston rally on Friday, a source has confirmed to CNN.
Harris’ presidential campaign has taken on Beyonce’s 2016 track “Freedom” as its anthem, and the singer’s planned appearance brings a high level of star power to what has become a key theme of the Democratic nominee’s bid: freedom.
CNN reports that the vice president’s team has been working behind the scenes to negotiate a joint appearance before Election Day.
Beyoncé‘s appearance was expected to draw even more attention to the event — and to Harris’ closing message.
Harris’ Houston trip is set to feature women who have been affected by Texas’ restrictive abortion laws, which took effect after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. She has campaigned in other states with restrictive abortion laws, including Georgia, among the seven most closely contested states.
Harris has centered her campaign around the idea that Trump is a threat to American freedoms, from reproductive and LGBTQ rights to the freedom to be safe from gun violence.
Beyonce gave Harris permission early in her campaign to use “Freedom,” a soulful track from her 2016 landmark album “Lemonade,” in her debut ad. Harris has used its thumping chorus as a walk-out song at rallies ever since.
Beyoncé’s alignment with Harris isn’t the first time that the Grammy winner has aligned with a Democratic politician. Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, danced as Beyoncé performed at a presidential inaugural ball in 2009.
In 2013, she sang the national anthem at Obama’s second inauguration. Three years later, she and her husband Jay-Z performed at a pre-election concert for Democratic Hillary Clinton in Cleveland.
An event posting online by the Democratic Party of Harris County says the event will be from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Details about where the event will be are set to be announced later.
Willie Nelson and businesswoman Tina Knowles, mother of Beyoncé Knowles, were confirmed for the rally, according to the event page.
Harris made two stops in Houston in July, days after President Joe Biden said he would no longer seek reelection. The visit marks a rare stop in the Lone Star State at this stage of the presidential campaign as Texas is not considered a swing state.
In the latest University of Houston survey of likely voters, former President Donald Trump leads by 5 points in Texas with 51 percent support and Harris with 46 percent.
The state is seen as one opportunity for Democrats to capture a U.S. Senate seat as the race between Ted Cruz and Colin Allred has captured national attention.
In that race, Cruz leads over Allred, 50 percent to 46 percent.
A spokesperson for Allred’s campaign confirmed he will be at Harris’ rally on Friday. The campaign sent the following statement to KHOU 11.
“What women in Texas are facing every day under Ted Cruz’s abortion ban is unacceptable. By supporting an abortion ban that makes no exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother, Ted Cruz has put women at risk. Texas women deserve to have their voices heard. I am glad these brave Texas women will have a platform to tell their stories. And, after I’m elected on November 5th, I’ll be a Senator who will restore their rights and put Texas first.”
A spokesperson for the Ted Cruz campaign sent KHOU 11 the following statement:
“Colin Allred is Kamala Harris. They have spent the last four years working hand-in-hand against Texans and the American people with their radical policies, whether those be pushing to allow boys in girls’ sports, allowing dangerous illegal aliens to come into our country, or trying to destroy the oil and gas industry in Texas. Colin and Kamala share an agenda, and now they’ll share a stage for all Texans to see.”
Early voting is underway in Texas. Learn more about voting in this election with KHOU 11’s Voter Guide here.