A week prior to the election, supporters of Harris assemble for a rally in Washington

With just one week until Election Day, thousands of supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris rallied at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. — the same site where former President Donald Trump delivered his speech on January 6, 2021. Harris's rally was marked by her message contrasting her vision for the presidency with that of her opponent, Trump. The two are in a close race, with polls showing a tie in key states such as Wisconsin, Nevada, and Pennsylvania, while Harris leads slightly in Michigan and Trump is ahead by a small margin in North Carolina, Georgia, and Arizona.

Harris’s campaign selected the Ellipse, a historical location, for its significance. Over the weekend, Trump hosted a large rally at Madison Square Garden in New York to energize his base as well. Many of Harris's supporters cited reasons like women’s rights, workers’ rights, and a desire for new leadership in the White House. Meredith Shea, a George Washington University student from Portland, said she would be devastated if Harris lost, mentioning abortion rights as a key issue.

Other attendees highlighted the potential of Harris becoming the first Black female president. Robin Rogers, a Black Business promoter from North Carolina, spoke passionately about the historic nature of Harris’s candidacy and the importance of representation. Maia Coleman-King, a Howard University alumna, echoed this sentiment, stating she was proud to support a fellow Bison and felt Harris’s win would strengthen democracy.

The event, permitted by the National Parks Service, was anticipated to draw up to 52,000 people, with a large portion of attendees being younger, college-aged voters. Some supporters, like former Republican official Scott Evertz, expressed that Trump's behavior had alienated them. Evertz mentioned that he felt Trump no longer represented core Republican values, citing concerns about his rhetoric and policies.

Recent accusations from Harris that Trump poses a threat to democracy resonated with attendees, like George Washington University freshman Brady Eagan, who felt that young voters need to take an active role in shaping the country’s future.

However, some attendees, like union worker Travis Parsons, voiced the need for continuity with some Biden administration policies, particularly on labor. Harris, expected to reinforce pro-union policies, will continue her final campaign push through swing states, including North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, before wrapping up with Latino-focused events in Arizona and Nevada. Trump, meanwhile, started his week with a rally in Georgia and plans campaign stops across several battleground states.