Former Vice President Kamala Harris returned to speak to Las Vegas Democrats Thursday evening in her first public appearance here since her 2024 presidential campaign ended in defeat.
A crowd at the Nevada State Democratic Party event stood and cheered loudly when Harris was introduced by party Chair Daniele Monroe-Moreno.
Politico reported that Harris also was scheduled to participate in a private fundraiser for Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, an event lambasted by Republicans. The Democratic Ford is running against Gov. Joe Lombardo, a Republican, to be the state’s next governor. Harris threw her support behind Ford in Thursday’s event, which was billed as a fireside chat.
“This election, upcoming in Nevada, is going to be so important. Aaron Ford winning for governor,” Harris said.
‘Revival of the American Dream’
The former presidential candidate leaned in on her vision for the U.S. future, which she described as a “revival of the American dream.”
“And what does that look like?” she said. “Where if you work a 40-hour week, you can afford your rent and food on the table, and maybe a vacation from time to time. Not scraping to get by trying to get through the end of the month.”
She touched on the upcoming midterm elections and voting rights, chastising a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that has prompted Republican-majority states to begin the process of redrawing U.S. House districts. She also said the Democratic Party could’ve done “much better” paying attention to local and statewide elections in the past.
Trump’s tariffs and the war in Iran were harming Nevadans at the gas pump, she said, adding that gas prices had surpassed $5 a gallon in Las Vegas.
Harris criticized the Trump administration’s foreign policy, which she said has tarnished U.S. relationships with foreign allies. The war in Iran should not have started, she said.
The Trump administration, according to Harris, “is the most corrupt, callous and incompetent presence …” The rest of those remarks were drowned out by cheers.
Harris didn’t discuss her political future
Harris campaigned multiple times in the Las Vegas Valley during her White House bid, speaking at venues including the Thomas & Mack Center arena and the Craig Ranch Regional Park amphitheater in North Las Vegas. Trump ended up winning Nevada’s Electoral College votes, completing a sweep of the seven battleground states.
In recent months, the Nevada State Democratic Party has welcomed prominent national Democrats who have been floated as potential 2028 White House candidates, like California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Arizona U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who have spoken at more intimate venues.
No high profile Democrat has confirmed a run for president. Harris told the Rev. Al Sharpton at a New York City conference that she “might” throw her hat in the future race, NBC News reported. “I’m thinking about it.”
Thursday’s event was held at the MEET Las Vegas event center in the heart of downtown, and the state Democratic Party estimated the crowd to be just short of 400 attendees. The conversation was moderated by Nevada Assemblymember Sandra Jauregui, who is running to be the state’s next lieutenant governor.
Harris didn’t discuss her political future but said she’s been on a listening tour across the country.
Earlier Thursday, Lombardo’s re-election campaign and the Republican Governors Association criticized Harris’ endorsement of Ford.
“While Aaron Ford and Kamala Harris lecture voters about identity politics and progressive activism, Governor Joe Lombardo is focused on what actually matters: lowering costs, strengthening schools, growing jobs, and keeping communities safe,” said campaign spokesperson Halee Dobbins in a statement. “Nevadans don’t want more woke slogans from out-of-touch politicians. They want results — and that’s exactly what Governor Lombardo is delivering.”
In turn, the Ford campaign criticized Lombardo, citing rising costs since he took office. Campaign spokesperson Prerna Jagadeesh tied Lombardo to Trump’s economic policies, saying that as attorney general Ford had fought the Biden and Trump administrations in court.
“Under Joe Lombardo, unemployment and homelessness are sky-high,” she said in a statement. “Nevadans are having to sell their plasma to pay rent while health care, grocery and gas costs are exploding.”
Added the statement: “Lombardo is a rubber stamp for Trump’s cost-raising agenda. As Governor, unlike Lombardo, Ford will stand up for Nevada families regardless of who occupies the White House.”
Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at rtorres@reviewjournal.com.
