Vice President Kamala Harris took questions from Latino voters at a town hall in Nevada on Thursday, where he was pressed to provide specific details about his proposals on immigration, the economy and more.
Harris faced about a dozen questions during the nearly hour-long event hosted by Univision, where she sought to win over this important demographic with just 26 days until Election Day. The Democratic nominee highlighted his record as vice president and his tough jabs at his Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, but was light on the specifics of his plans for the country.
Here are the highlights:
Voters in key states put Trump ahead of Harris on high-profile issue: polls
Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris passes Latina voter Yvette Castillo, who recently lost her mother, during a Univision town hall on Thursday, October 10, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Harris pushes back on Trump attack on hurricane response
In the first question of the night, a voter in Tampa asked Harris about rumors that the Biden-Harris administration hasn't done enough to respond. Hurricanes Helen and Milton. Former President Trump, the Republican nominee, fueled the rumors, claiming at a recent rally that President Biden's response to the storm was the “worst hurricane response since Katrina,” invoking the heavily criticized federal response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Harris defended the Biden administration, accusing critics of “playing political games” and claiming the inadequate response was “just wrong.” He said he is working with people in Georgia, North Carolina, Florida and other southeastern states to get Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) resources to the people who need them.
“Another thing I have done, based on my years as attorney general in California, is tell these corporations and these businesses that prices go up during crises and emergencies,” Harris said. “I've seen this before, we're looking at them and seeing if they can get temporary shelter in a hotel at a time of desperation for these individuals and families, for the price of gasoline, even for airline tickets. I will see if they raise prices to make sure there are serious consequences. And that’s what I’ll do from now on.”
Trump accuses hurricane response of 'worst since Katrina' while Biden argues Trump's 'onslaught of lies' must 'stop'
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris answers questions from Latino voters at the Univision Town Hall on Thursday, October 10, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images) (Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
On immigration, Harris did not say how she differs from Biden
Voters pressed Harris to be specific about her migration planning and how her policies will differ from President Biden's.
In his response, Harris pointed to his recent visit to the Arizona border and his law enforcement career as a prosecutor and California attorney general to show that he takes border security seriously.
“I will put my record up against anyone in terms of the work I've always done, and it's always been to make sure we have a secure border,” he said.
Harris also criticized Trump for leading Republican opposition to the bipartisan border security agreement approved by the National Border Patrol Council in February. He says the bill would send 1,500 additional Border Patrol agents to the border and provide law enforcement resources to combat fentanyl trafficking.
Republicans say the border law provides many benefits to illegal immigrants, such as work permits and taxpayer-funded lawyers, and would fund sanctuary city jurisdictions that do not cooperate with immigration enforcement.
Harris said there is a “false choice” between a secure border and humane immigration policies. But he did not explain how his policies would differ from those of Biden, who also supported the border bill.
Democratic strategists taunt Harris over 'sugar high': 'If you're not nervous, you're not paying attention'
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign to preserve the Gila River Indian Community in Chandler, Arizona, on Thursday, October 10. (AP/Ross D.Franklin)
Emotional moment when asked about women's health care
An emotional moment occurred when Ivette Castillo, a Las Vegas woman, told Harris that she recently lost her mother before her immigration status was legalized.
“He never got the kind of care and services he needed or deserved,” Castillo said, holding back tears. He asked how Harris would help illegal immigrants who “have to live and die in the shadows.”
Another voter, Francisco Medina of San Diego, California, told the vice president that despite his insurance coverage through the Department of Defense, he had to cross the border into Mexico for treatment. He asked how he would improve the medical system.
“I believe strongly and deeply that health care is a right and should be a right and not a privilege for those who can afford it or have easy access to it,” Harris said.
He pointed to the Affordable Care Act and the Biden administration's efforts to strengthen prescription drug prices as a starting point for what he will do as president.
“One of the things we did was cap the cost of prescription drugs for seniors at $2,000,” he said. “My goal as President of the United States is to make it available to everyone, not just the elderly.”
Voters leaning towards Trump followed Biden and faced Harris
At one point during the town hall, a self-described independent voter said he was inclined to vote for Trump because Harris did not win the Democratic nomination through the normal primary process.
“I'm a little confused,” said Mario Siegbaum of Santa Monica, California. “Being a candidate without going through the normal process — whether it’s a primary election or a political convention — is what really caught my attention.” of how “completely helpless” Biden was.
Harris thanked him for being “sincere.” He called Biden's decision to withdraw from the election amid growing pressure from the Democratic Party “one of the bravest things a president could do” and said he “put the country above his personal interests.”
“He made that decision, he… endorsed my candidacy within that time frame and encouraged me to run,” Harris said. “He and I have been partners as vice president for the past four years. And I am honored to have won the Democratic nomination.”
He said there was a “huge contrast” in the election and insisted Trump would be “a dictator from day one,” calling the situation “unprecedented” with “support for democracy” at the polls.
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Harris Can't Say Three Good Things About Trump
In the final moments of the town hall, a voter asked if Harris could name three attributes of her Republican opponent. He couldn't.
“I think Donald Trump loves his family and I think that’s very important,” she said. “But to be honest with you, I don't really know him. I only met him once on the debate stage. I’ve never met him before.”
Harris failed to find two more virtues. Instead, he criticized Trump for taking an “us versus them” approach and using divisive language.
“I don’t think this is healthy for our nation, and I don’t appreciate it.”
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