Doug Emhoff Set to Campaign in San Antonio with Texas Democrats

San Antonio, Texas, – Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff is scheduled to campaign in San Antonio on Monday, just one month before early voting commences for the Nov. 5 election. His visit is marked as the first public presence in the state since the Democratic presidential nominee, his wife Kamala Harris, confirmed her candidacy.

Freedom to Vote Rally

The Texas event, co-organized by the state’s Democrats, is branded as the “Freedom to Vote” rally. The Second Gentleman will be sharing the stage with prominent San Antonio-area Democrats to promote the upcoming elections and empower voters.

This visit precedes an action of concern that involved Latino election activists’ homes in San Antonio being swept by the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. They were alleged for possible vote harvesting. A community advocacy group, the League of United Latin American Citizens, denounced these actions as a form of voter oppression and asked for a federal investigation.

“Vote like your grandma was ripped out of bed”

A rally earlier this month held by LULAC at the City Hall saw attendees carrying signage with phrases such as, “Vote like your grandma was ripped out of bed”. This was in reference to Lidia Martinez, an 87-year-old activist and election volunteer who found herself in the crosshairs of the probe. Paxton’s office clarified that it was acting on a tip regarding alleged election fraud during the 2022 midterm elections. Yet, no charges have been filed thus far.

Rally Stars

Monday’s rally, which is being orchestrated by the Texas Democratic Party and U.S. Rep. Colin Allred’s campaign for U.S. Senate, will feature speakers including San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, and Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar amongst others.

The final location and timing of the event are yet to be announced and it is hoped that this rally and Emhoff’s presence will aid in bolstering the Democrats position in the traditionally Republican leaning state of Texas. Though Texas is not expected to sway towards being a decisive point in the upcoming presidential election, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris herself made a number of visits to the state since her ascendance to the nomination.

A Historic Election

If Harris is successful in her bid for the presidency, this would make her the first female president and Emhoff the inaugural first gentleman. This historic potential adds another level of interest in the upcoming election. Harnessing this energy, Democrats from around the state are employing every measure, including the Freedom to Vote rally, to entice voters as the election nears.