Celebrity-led event emphasizes the importance of white male support for Harris in upcoming election
NEW YORK – On July 29, 2024, a star-studded live video call raised $4 million (S$5 million) for Vice President Kamala Harris, attracting over 190,000 viewers. The event, titled “White Dudes for Harris,” featured a range of celebrity figures, including Star Wars actor Mark Hamill and singer Josh Groban, and focused on why white men should support Harris in her race against Republican candidate Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election.
A Call for Action from White Men
The event sought to highlight the importance of white male support for Harris, particularly given that Trump won the votes of over 60% of white men in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. Ross Morales Rocketto, founder of “Run for Something,” organized the event, noting that if white men showed up to vote and became allies, the nation would benefit as a whole.
Mitch Landrieu, co-chair of Harris’ campaign, spoke during the call, urging white men to be great partners and protectors, saying, “If we would stand up and be counted… all of us are going to be better for it.”
Key Messages and Speakers
The video call also featured other influential figures, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, actor Jeff Bridges, and Governors Roy Cooper (North Carolina) and J.B. Pritzker (Illinois). Actor Bradley Whitford added humor, commenting on the diversity of white men participating, calling it “a rainbow of beige.”
Speakers emphasized the importance of white men supporting the rights of others, particularly women’s reproductive rights, a key focus of Harris’ campaign.
Matching Donations and High Engagement
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and filmmaker J.J. Abrams pledged to match donations up to $50,000 during the event, which resulted in over 60,000 individual contributions, according to Rocketto. The event was one of many such calls aimed at raising funds and mobilizing support for Harris, especially after President Joe Biden endorsed her on July 21 following his withdrawal from the race.
