Vice President Kamala Harris is headed to Indianapolis today, less than 48 hours after she received a majority of Democratic delegates’ support to replace President Joe Biden on the November ballot.
Harris’ stop in deep-red Indiana was scheduled weeks ago, prior to Biden’s stunning withdrawal Sunday, but now falls as she launches her presidential campaign. Harris held her first rally in Wisconsin on Tuesday. Â
She is visiting Indianapolis to give the keynote address at the historically Black Zeta Phi Beta sorority’s biennial convention at the Indiana Convention Center. It is not a campaign event.
Harris’ appearance here comes on the same day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address a joint session of Congress and that Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance will make an appearance at a fundraiser in Fort Wayne. Â
Follow along with IndyStar as we share updates about the details of Harris’ visit and reaction to it. Â
Kamala Harris in Indianapolis:Expect road closures, traffic delays during vice president’s visit
Why is Kamala Harris in Indianapolis?Â
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. Â
Where will Kamala Harris speak in Indianapolis?Â
Harris is expected to speak at the Indiana Convention Center, where the Zeta Phi Beta convention is being held this week. Â
Can I attend Kamala Harris’ event in Indianapolis?Â
No. The vice president’s appearance is not open to the public beyond guests attending the Zeta Phi Beta convention. Â
How many times has Kamala Harris visited Indianapolis?Â
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. Â
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?Â
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?Â
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. Â
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. Â
“Not a single person has ever voted for Kamala Harris for President,” Banks wrote.Â
Will Indiana vote for Kamala Harris? Â
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. Â
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. Â
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. Â
“At the end of the day, I don’t think that it’s going to change the fortunes of Indiana Democrats,” Kinsella said. Â
IndyStar reporters Kayla Dwyer, Nadia Scharf and Cheryl V. Jackson contributed to this story.
Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni atbrittany.carloni@indystar.com or 317-779-4468. Follow her on Twitter/X@CarloniBrittany.Â
