Vice President Kamala Harris visited Indianapolis today, less than 48 hours after she received a majority of Democratic delegates' support to replace President Joe Bidenon the November ballot.
Harris' stop in deep-red Indiana was scheduled weeks ago, prior to Biden’s stunning withdrawal Sunday and fell as she launched her presidential campaign. Harris held her first rally in Wisconsin on Tuesday.
She came to Indianapolis to give the keynote address at the historically Black Zeta Phi Beta sorority’s biennial convention at the Indiana Convention Center. It was not a campaign event.
Harris' appearance came on the same day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to address a joint session of Congress and that Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance appeared at a fundraiser in Fort Wayne.
IndyStar reporters were stationed throughout the city, providing updates from early Wednesday as convention attendees waited through security lines until Harris left Indianapolis International Airport mid-afternoon.
Kamala Harris headed back to Indianapolis International Airport
Convention attendee: VP Harris' speech was 'informative, inspirational and motivational'
“It was a wonderful speech. It was very informative, inspirational and motivational,” said Martha Johnson, a member from North Carolina.
She was among those welcoming Harris’ efforts to erase student loan debt and restore abortion rights across the country.
“All of those things are important to me,” she said. “I have a son who has student loans and another one who plans on going to college.”
But she wasn’t won over by the speech. She was already behind Harris.
“I was going to vote regardless,” she said.
2020 was the first time she’d contributed to a presidential campaign, giving money to the Biden-Harris campaign.
“2020 was the first time I made a donation. In 2024, there’s no telling what I’ll do.”
— Cheryl V. Jackson
Kamala Harris in Indianapolis: Brief remarks include gun control, abortion and Project 2025
Four words prompted the loudest cheers of the afternoon from the 6,000 women gathered in the Indiana Convention Center Wednesday to hear Vice President Kamala Harris.
"When I am president," Harris started to say.
Just three days ago, Harris wouldn't have said those words. Herkeynote address at a social justice town hallat Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.'s national convention had been planned for some time in her official capacity as vice president. But it inevitably took on new significance when President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Harris to replace him on the Democratic ticket.
Before referencing her candidacy, Harris talked about former President Donald Trump's role in overturning Roe v. Wade by nominating three conservative justices to the Supreme Court. Harris promised to sign legislation to protect reproductive rights if she defeats Trump, the Republican nominee.
"We are not playing around," she said.
Read more:Presidential candidate Kamala Harris calls out Project 2025, rallies Black women in Indy
— Kayla Dwyer
Watch Kamala Harris speak in Indianapolis
You can watch her remarks in full here, via the White House on YouTube:
Kamala Harris begins her remarks at the Indiana Convention Center
Harris took the stage to applause from the crowd. Zeta Phi Beta is the first of the Divine Nine organizations to host her as a presidential nominee.
"In this moment, I believe we face a choice between two different visions for our nation," Harris told the crowd. "One focused on the future, the other focused on the past. With your support, I am fighting for our nation's future."
— Cheryl V. Jackson and Kayla Dwyer
Watch live: Kamala Harris addresses the Zeta Phi Beta convention at the Indiana Convention Center
Harris is expected to begin speaking shortly. The event isn't open to the public, but the White House is live streaming the keynote address.
Watch live here:Vice President Kamala Harris in Indianapolis
Kamala Harris lands in Indianapolis for Zeta Phi Beta convention
Air Force Two landed in a warm, sunny Indianapolis at 11:55 a.m. Vice President Harris smiled as she walked down the plane's steps, and spoke with Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, who endorsed her candidacy for president Wednesday morning, for over a minute on the tarmac. Harris's motorcade departed for the convention center around 12:15 p.m.
— Nadia Scharf
Several Indiana Democrats in attendance for Kamala Harris' appearance
Zeta Phi Beta sorors aren’t the only people in attendance at the Indiana Convention Center.
While in line for the press security screening, I spotted former U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, state Rep. Cherrish Pryor, D-Indianapolis, and Valerie McCray, the Democratic candidate for Indiana’s open U.S. Senate seat. My colleague Brittany Carloni also spotted state Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis.
— Kayla Dwyer
Joe Hogsett endorses Kamala Harris for president
In a post shared on his political X account (formerly Twitter), Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett endorsed Kamala Harris for president Wednesday morning.
Hogsett posted: "Kamala Harris is an experienced leader, barrier breaker, and committed public servant. I fully support and endorse her candidacy for President of the United States, and look forward to welcoming her to Indianapolis."
Hogsett was not among the more than 300 mayors who signed a letter from the Democratic Mayors Association endorsing Harris earlier this week.
Indiana mayors who signed the letter included Thomas Broderick Jr., of Anderson; Kerry Thomson, of Bloomington; Stephanie Terry, of Evansville; Eddie Melton, of Gary; Deborah Whitfield of Lawrence, Angie Nelson Deuitch, of Michigan City; and James Mueller, of South Bend; as well as Karen Freeman-Wilson, the former mayor of Gary.
— Holly Hays
Convention attendee on Harris' appearance: 'If she becomes the president, we'd be part of history'
Tony Hicks, of Detroit, is in Indianapolis with his daughter, a Zeta, and his wife, who is a member of the organization’s auxiliary group. He and his wife often travel with their daughter to various conventions.
Seeing the vice president at the start of her 2024 presidential bid was a plus, he said.
“If she becomes the president, we'd be part of history; knowing that we saw her before she reached that level,” he said.
— Cheryl V. Jackson
State Sen. Andrea Hunley on Kamala Harris' candidacy: 'We believe in hope'
Indiana State Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis, is one of 10 Senate Democrats at the Indiana Statehouse, where state Republicans have held a supermajority for years.
Hunley said that's part of why Harris’ visit to Indianapolis Wednesday matters. Harris is speaking to the historically Black sorority, and although Harris is in Indianapolis for an official visit and not a campaign event, the VP arrives in the Hoosier state just days after becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.
“Yes, we're here in Indiana. But remember Indiana in 2008 went for Obama,” Hunley said. “We believe in hope. We absolutely believe in the power of strong leadership. And I believe that we can do it again.”
Hunley, who was elected to the state senate in 2022, said she was at Harris’s Indianapolis stop in 2023 when Harris spoke to the Delta Sigma Theta convention.
“It’s just really amazing that this is it, she's kicking off her campaign with us in the community, with a roomful of Black women,” Hunley said. “It is so exciting.”
— Brittany Carloni
Harris, Biden plan to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu this week, White House says
Harris' visit to Indianapolis means she won't be presiding over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's appearance before a joint session of Congress Wednesday, although the White House told USA TODAY she plans to meet with him separately later this week. Biden is expected to meet with him Thursday, after his five-day isolation period following apositive COVID testlast week.
Harris has not broken with Biden's support of Israel, but called for animmediate cease-fire in Gazain March, calling the conflict a "humanitarian catastrophe."
More from USA TODAY:Here's what Kamala Harris has said on Israel, Gaza conflict
Who will be Kamala Harris' VP pick?
While her Wednesday appearance in Indianapolis is not an official campaign stop, many are speculating about who Harris could pick as her running mate in this November's election.
There's a slate of stars from the Democratic party she could pick from, including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Democratic National Committee advisor Cedric Richmond, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary (and former South Bend mayor) Pete Buttigieg.
Kamala Harris VP pick:Pete Buttigieg has a shot at being Kamala Harris' VP. Here's what to know about him
Convention attendee: Harris' appearance at Zeta Phi Beta convention is 'a dream come true'
LaBeatrix Wright of Birmingham, Alabama, walked down Capitol Avenue in Indianapolis Wednesday morning toward the Indiana Convention Center.She chose blue sneakers over heels for the walk to the second day of the Zeta Phi Beta biennial convention. It will be Wright’s first time seeing Harris speak in person and she said she was not passing up the opportunity.The Zetas' convention has been “great” so far, Wright said. “The cherry on top to have VP Kamala Harris here is just a dream come true,” Wright said.Wright said she hopes Harris provides a message of unity in her remarks today. Wright said she has been a “huge supporter” of President Biden but is excited about Harris’s presidential campaign.“To have her as a Black woman as an Asian woman, part of the Jamaican community, I just think she brings all of us together,” Wright said. “I'm excited about the possibilities.”
— Brittany Carloni
Line formed at 5 a.m. to see VP Harris speak at Zeta Phi Beta convention in Indianapolis
At 8:40 a.m., hundreds of members of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority were going through security at the Indiana Convention Center. The line to enter the event formed at 5 a.m. Wednesday. Convention workers were offering to bring chairs for some of those waiting or to let them take seats and maintain their position in line.
Vivian Daniels, of Alabama, told IndyStar she joined the hourlong security line at 5. By 9 a.m., she was waiting for the vendor area to open — a strap on her shoe broke just after she got through security, and she was hoping to pick up a new pair before the day got started.
What are the 'Divine Nine'?Leaders announce push for voter registration as Harris takes over
She was eager to see Harris speak: “I’m very excited about seeing the vice president. Hopefully she will be the president of the United States.”
And she didn’t doubt Harris would still show up to the convention after President Joe Biden left the race: “She needs our vote.”
Some women told IndyStar they understood the need for the security check, but expected shorter wait times.
Christy Ball, of Colorado Springs, said expected maybe a 90-minute process when she got in line at 6:20, but it took three hours.
“The sorors kept each other in good spirits though,” she said.
— Cheryl V. Jackson
Indianapolis road closures, traffic delays today
Residents should expect intermittent delays in traffic from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. between theIndianapolis International Airporton the city's southwest side and theIndiana Convention Centerdowntown, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
The U.S. Secret Service will be the lead agency handling the vice president's security detail in Indianapolis and will receive support from local law enforcement agencies. A special agent for the U.S. Secret Service Indianapolis field office told IndyStar the agency would not be releasing Harris' motorcade route for security reasons.
Read more about how the visit could impact motorists here.
— Noe Padilla
What is Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.?
Zeta Phi Beta was founded in 1920 on the campus of Howard University, with the ideals of scholarship, service, sisterhood and finer womanhood.
Read more about the Zetas:Kamala Harris scheduled to address Zeta Phi Beta in Indy. What to know about the sorority
It's among the predominantly African-American sororities and fraternities that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council, commonly called the Divine Nine. The sorority has initiated more than 130,000 college-educated women in about 900 chapters in North America, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East.
Zeta Phi Beta was the first of the Divine Nine to be constitutionally bound to one of its cohorts, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., collaborating on community service projects and other shared activities from the local to national levels.
— Cheryl V. Jackson
What are the Divine Nine?
The National Pan-Hellenic Council represents nine historically Black sororities and fraternities:
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
- Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
- Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc
- Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
- Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
- Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
- Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
Most of the Divine Nine were founded at Howard University, but two were founded in Indiana: Kappa Alpha Psi was founded in 1911 at Indiana University, and Sigma Gamma Rho was founded in 1922 at Butler University.
Harris is a member of Divine Nine sororityAlpha Kappa Alpha, and gave the keynote address at its convention with more than 20,000 attendees in Dallas earlier this month. The vice president also spoke at theDelta Sigma Theta Sororityconvention in Indianapolis in July 2023.
— Cheryl V. Jackson and USA TODAY
Why is Kamala Harris in Indianapolis?
Vice President Kamala Harris is visiting Indianapolis Wednesday to give keynote remarks at the biennial convention of Zeta Phi Beta. It's one of the largest historically Black sororities in the country.
Harris’s appearance at the convention was scheduled weeks prior to President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 campaign.
Where will Kamala Harris speak in Indianapolis?
Harris is expected to speak at the Indiana Convention Center, where the Zeta Phi Beta convention is being held this week.
Can I attend Kamala Harris’ event in Indianapolis?
No. The vice president’s appearance is not open to the public beyond guests attending the Zeta Phi Beta convention.
How many times has Kamala Harris visited Indianapolis?
Wednesday will mark at least the fourth time Harris has visited Indianapolis since 2019.
In 2023, Harris attended the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s national convention in Indianapolis. Harris also visited Indianapolis in 2022 as state lawmakers convened a special session on abortion rights weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Kamala in Indianapolis:Presidential candidate Kamala Harris has been to Indianapolis at least 3 times: What she said
Will Indiana DNC delegates vote for Kamala Harris?
The 88 Hoosier delegates who are planning to attend the Democratic National Convention next month unanimously endorsed Harris for president on Monday. That is not a binding vote, however.
Hoosier DNC delegates:Kamala Harris secures majority of DNC delegates' support with votes in Indiana, other states
What are Indiana Republicans saying about Kamala Harris?
Republican members of Indiana’s congressional delegation have swiped at Harris’ connection to the Biden administration’s policies and record, including on the economy and the southern border.
Indiana U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, who is running for U.S. Senate, on Monday called Harris’ candidacy a “coup by party elites,” in a post on X.
“Not a single person has ever voted for Kamala Harris for President,” Banks wrote.
Will Indiana vote for Kamala Harris?
Indiana's recent voting record suggests the state is unlikely to vote for Harris. The last Democratic presidential candidate to win in Indiana was former President Barack Obama in 2008. In 2012, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney won Indiana over Obama.
Indiana then voted handily for former President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020, winning the state with 57% of the vote in both elections. Polling earlier this year indicated Trump remained more popular than Biden in the Hoosier state.
Chad Kinsella, an associate professor of political science at Ball State University, said a Harris candidacy and Indianapolis visit could stop the recent “freefall” of support for Biden. But Kinsella said Harris might not poll any better than Biden in Indiana.
“At the end of the day, I don’t think that it’s going to change the fortunes of Indiana Democrats,” Kinsella said.
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IndyStar reporters Kayla Dwyer, Nadia Scharf and Cheryl V. Jackson contributed.
Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni atbrittany.carloni@indystar.comor 317-779-4468. Follow her on Twitter/X@CarloniBrittany.
