The character Olivia Pope from the TV show Scandal may not be able to help Kamala Harris win the election, but Kerry Washington, the actress who portrayed the political fixer, hit the campaign trail on October 6 to rally voters for the Vice President in Arizona.
Washington, joined by fellow stars Glenn Close, Jessica Alba, and Michael Ealy, traveled through the battleground state to encourage voter turnout. I’m not here as Olivia Pope. I am here because I want each of you to remember how powerful you are, she stated during her speech at a campaign office in Maryvale. Each of you has the power to transform the trajectory of this country.
With less than a month until Election Day, mail-in ballots will soon be sent out in Arizona. The deadline to register to vote is October 7, and early voting begins on October 9. Arizona is crucial in the presidential race, as it is one of the few states that could sway either candidate’s chances. President Joe Biden won Arizona by the slimmest margin in 2020.
Recent polls show a tight race between Harris and former President Donald Trump in Arizona. To gain support, the Harris campaign is focusing on Latino and Black voters. Alba spoke passionately about her background, saying, “I grew up in a working-class family… and Kamala Harris promises an opportunity economy where we’re not just gonna get by anymore, we’re going to thrive.
Washington, Close, Ealy, and Alba visited Democratic campaign offices and participated in a block party aimed at Black voters during their campaign tour. They were joined by various Democratic leaders, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, and former U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, all working to support Harris.
During his remarks, Holder criticized Senate Republican nominee Kari Lake’s efforts to overturn the 2022 gubernatorial election, remarking, You got some crazy-ass people here in Arizona. Kari Lake still thinks that she won, what, four years ago.
Washington referenced her Scandal character several times, emphasizing the need for real-life political engagement. After Trump’s election in 2016, many turned to Olivia Pope as a solution, but Washington reminded the crowd that her character isn’t real and can’t effect change. Olivia Pope should not have been on everybody’s mind… We are the answer to the problems that we are facing, she said.
Ealy expressed optimism about Arizona’s voters and addressed the trend of young men of color leaning toward Trump. No person can come to me and tell me that Trump’s policies are going to benefit the Black community. Nobody can say that, he stated.
The first weekend of October kicked off a busy campaign week in Arizona. Actress Jennifer Garner also campaigned for Harris, and on October 8, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff will hold events in the state, coinciding with GOP rallies for Trump.
By the end of the campaign day, the actors donned camouflage-printed baseball caps with HARRIS WALZ emblazoned in orange. Close, who has a growing family, shared her motivation for supporting the campaign: I’m here because of people who don’t have a voice. We have so much healing to do in this country.
Harris supporters at the events emphasized the importance of keeping Trump out of the White House. Jesse Ortega, 33, said, We don’t need four more years of him again. Robin Ramsey, a California resident canvassing in Arizona, remarked that the stakes are exponentially higher this election cycle.
Ijana Harris, a lawyer in Tempe, attended the block party with her friend Takiyah Anderson to show their children the importance of civic engagement. They view this election as critical, with Ijana expressing her dismay over Trump’s nomination despite his controversies. “This election transcends politics, she said, highlighting the significance of values and community in the current political climate.
Anderson echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of being active in politics. It’s us doing our part, being diligent, and just continuing to fight the fight so that we can get back to what politics should be, she stated.