Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Detroit, Michigan, where she will participate in a radio town hall hosted by comedian, advocate, and nationally syndicated radio co-host Charlamagne tha God on Tuesday in an event billed as “We the People.” Charlamagne announced this morning on “The Breakfast Club,” where he solicited questions from listeners in advance of the event.
This event comes as Democrats express deep concern about the incremental gains Republicans are making with Black men and Harris’ challenges in recreating the multiracial coalition that contributed to President Joe Biden’s victory in 2020.
The popular host, also known as Lenard McKelvey, has millions of followers across digital platforms, and “The Breakfast Club” reportedly boasts an estimated 8 million listeners per month, more than half of whom are Black.
During the hour-long conversation slated for 5 p.m. ET, Harris will take questions from callers across battleground states. An estimated 139 radio stations in various markets across the country will broadcast the program, alongside multiple digital streams and the iHeartRadio app.
The campaign’s decision to engage with “The Breakfast Club” host, who has voiced support for Harris, is part of a broader strategy to reach voters through non-traditional platforms and influencers, targeting those who do not obtain their information from mainstream media outlets.
Making a surprise appearance at a Harris campaign office in Pittsburgh last Thursday, former President Barack Obama lamented what he described as a lack of energy among Black men, a phenomenon he noted seems to be particularly pronounced.
In the lead-up to the big event, the Harris-Walz campaign will host a number of virtual and in-person voter activation events targeting Black voters across key battleground states in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.
Last week in Flint, Michigan, NBA star Magic Johnson echoed a similar sentiment, emphasizing the need to mobilize Black voters.
“Our Black men, we gotta get them out to vote, that’s number one. Kamala’s opponent promised a lot of things last time to the Black community that he did not deliver on, and we have to make sure we help Black men understand that,” Johnson stated.
Tomorrow in Atlanta, entertainers Jermaine Dupri, Armani White, and Isaac Hayes III will host “Brothas and Brews” to connect with Black men.
Additionally, on Saturday, the campaign’s HBCU Homecoming Tour will host tailgates at Lincoln University in Philadelphia and at Fort Valley State University in Georgia.