Obama rallies Las Vegas voters in support of Kamala Harris as early voting gets underway

Obama called on voters to make their voices heard and to elect a president who would work to solve problems and make their lives better, not seek to divide them. 

On the first day of early voting in Nevada, former President Barack Obama reminded a crowd of 3,000 Las Vegas voters the importance of going out to vote — and urged them to vote for Kamala Harris for president. 

Obama joined local Democratic lawmakers at the Saturday night event held in Cheyenne High School’s gymnasium to encourage attendees to not only vote, but to also mobilize their circle to vote for Harris and Gov. Tim Walz, and other Democrats up and down the ballot. 

Obama warned the crowd that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump often pits voters against each other and scapegoats some Americans for the problems of others — like when he’s unfairly blamed undocumented immigrants for the rising cost of living, the economy, and higher housing prices.

“We do not need a president who will make problems worse just to make his politics better. We need a president who actually cares about making your life better, and that’s what Kamala Harris will do,” Obama said. “The truth is when you vote, it matters. It could make your life better or it could make it worse. Whoever is president, they’re not going to end poverty overnight, they’re not going to end racism. Things aren’t going to suddenly be perfect, but it makes a difference. To the people who say it doesn’t matter, it does matter.” 

The former president added that if undocumented immigrants were the root of the problem, like Trump claims, he should have fixed it during his first term. Obama also noted that the bipartisan immigration reform bill killed by Senate Republicans earlier this year at Trump’s behest shows that Trump “wanted to keep the issue to campaign on.” 

Obama acknowledged the very real issues facing many Americans, but encouraged them to consider which candidate really had their best interests at heart. 

“[After the pandemic] people started feeling like no matter how hard they ran, they were treading water … I get why people are looking to shake things up, it’s understandable,” Obama said. “I understand it. What I cannot understand is why anybody would think that Donald Trump will shake things up in a way that is good for you. Because there is absolutely no evidence that this man thinks about anybody but himself.”

Ahead of Obama’s speech, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) reminded attendees that early voting in Nevada runs until Nov. 1 and Election Day is Nov. 5, and that every vote counts. 

“I want to remind you all about the power of our vote and the power of our voice. Voting doesn’t change everything, but not voting changes absolutely nothing,” Horsford said. “We need everyone — every neighbor, every friend, every family member — to get out to vote and vote early… Nevada has always been a battleground. And that means each and every one of us can make a difference.” 

Some voters attending the rally had already taken advantage of the first day of early voting, including Tenitta Franklin, a former Republican who previously voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020, but voted for Harris this time around. 

Franklin said she voted for Harris because Trump did not live up to his promises. As a small business owner, Franklin said she’d previously hoped Trump would help her and the economy, but she no longer thinks his plans would benefit her.

“I’m a business person, so I felt that he can help me in the economy, but now my views have changed,” Franklin said, adding that Trump’s economic plan to increase tariffs could cost the typical American family thousands a year. 

“I made this decision because I can’t afford groceries and I can’t afford an extra $4,000 [a year],” she said. “Trump — he’s doing things that I just don’t agree with so that’s why it made my decision to vote for Kamala.”

Franklin said she cast her ballot on the first day of early voting because she wanted to make sure she wouldn’t miss out or forget.

“I want everybody to know we need to stay united,” Franklin said. “We need to stick together and we need to think about everybody.”