There was no shortage of joy amongst the crowd as Vice President Kamala Harris’ husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, made a campaign stop in the Villages on Friday. From high school students to senior citizens, Alachua County community members eagerly waited to hear Emhoff’s speech, holding banners and chanting.
Before Emhoff spoke, leaders across the state spoke on behalf of the Harris campaign. Yvonne Hayes Hinson, D-Gainesville, expressed concerns to the crowd over Project 2025 and a potential second Trump term. Hayes Hinson emphasized that social security and Medicare, two issues important to the older residents of The Villages, would be threatened under Project 2025.
“We want an America where everyone is treated with respect and dignity, where everyone has the freedom to make their own choices without Donald Trump and these extreme modern politicians telling us what to do, when to do it, and where to do it,” she said.
Following what has become the campaign’s signature song, Beyonce’s “Freedom,” Emhoff greeted audience members with a smile. He recounted family stories involving his parents and Harris, and applauded his wife’s performance at the debate earlier in the week.
Emhoff emphasized his wife’s fiscal policy, contrasting her economic plan with former President Donald Trump’s. Harris intends to help everyone, Emhoff said, while Trump’s plan prioritizes the one percent. In response, the crowd exploded with chants of “when we fight we win” and “do something.”
One of the things Emhoff loves most about Harris is she doesn’t allow name calling by the right to affect her, he told the crowd. The Harris campaign is based on bringing hope back into American politics, he added.
“[Harris] created a vision for all of us, a future where we all belong, and set forth a path of forward looking administration and an optimistic way of leading with joy and laughter,” he said.
The Villages event was much anticipated, said David Arreola, a Democratic candidate for the Florida House of Representatives this election cycle.
In Florida you can’t just campaign in the urban areas, Arreola said, so candidates have to go to the suburban places as well. It was great to see the Second Gentleman stepping into that role, he said.
“I hope he [Emhoff] continues to compound upon the terrific debate victory that his wife had,” he said. “Really set the contrast between an economy that's going to work for everybody, and then the Trump approach, which is they have concepts of a plan, but they don't really have a plan.”
This election cycle, Arreola is looking forward to seeing more first-time voters get engaged. He hopes students switch their registration to the address that they are living at on election day and advocated for the UF community to remember that the Reitz Student Union is an early voting location.
Coming from an area that has been historically conservative, Villages resident Cindy Grossman said she’s seen more and more Republicans in the Villages choosing to back Harris’ campaign. She believes Florida is going to surprise people this election, she said.
Harris understands and resonates with the working person, Grossman said. The issue of abortion is also important to Grossman, who said she believed Florida’s current six-week ban is “draconian.”
“I am so genuinely excited about turning a page in our country and having a positive person who has a real understanding of what the needs of our country is coming into office,” she said. “She [Harris] is representing a new generation.”
The Second Gentleman’s appearance at The Villages is a testament to the Harris campaign, 20-year-old UF public relations junior Gianna Brier said. Brier attended the event because she wanted to show her support for the Democratic ticket.
Brier is feeling energetic and hopeful about the upcoming election season, she said. The social and cultural momentum from Harris has people getting involved who may have otherwise never been interested or even voted, she said.
“I genuinely think that with the strong policy stances, and the amount of hope that emerges from the Kamala Harris campaign, that we can flip the state,” Brier added.
Following the Second Gentleman’s speech, a golf cart parade lined up outside the venue. About 350 carts revved their engines, sporting glowing American flags and signs that had slogans like “Voting Prevents Unwanted Presidences” as Emhoff spoke through a bullhorn kicking off the procession.
The general election is Nov. 5, with Oct. 7 being the last day for voter registration in Florida.
Contact Morgan Vanderlaan at mvanderlaan@alligator.org. Follow her on X @morgvande.
Morgan Vanderlaan is a second year Political Science major and the Fall 2024 Politics Enterprise Reporter. When she's not on the clock she can be found writing, reciting, and watching theatre!
