Vice President Kamala Harris held a rally in Houston at the Shell Energy Stadium on Oct. 25 featuring multiple Democratic leaders and supporters such as U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, Beyonce and country legend Willie Nelson. The “Reproductive Freedom” theme referenced the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in July 2022.
“Vote like our lives depend on it – because they do,” Harris said. “We know freedom is not to be given, it is not to be bestowed, it is our right, and we are prepared to fight for it.”
Harris called the Texas abortion laws “devastating” after changes made following that decision. Texas law prohibits all abortions, including incest and rape victims; unless the mother faces a “life-threatening condition” and is at risk of death, the procedure is not performed.
“The government should not be telling her what to do with her body,” Harris said. “We see the horrific reality that women and families face every single day. The stories are vivid, they are difficult to hear, they are difficult to tell.”
The speaker Yesenia Gomez was diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy in 2021, only nine months before the Dobbs v. Jackson case. Her egg fertilized outside of the uterus, which could lead to lethal internal bleeding.
“Access to a safe and quick abortion was what saved my life and preserved my fertility, and, now, those very same protections are gone,” Gomez said. “Pregnancies, just like mine, were denied emergency abortion care, and that is unacceptable. We need to fight for the rights of women everywhere to make decisions under their bodies.”
Texas Children Hospital Dr. Richard Ivey called the pro-life trend a ”health care crisis.” Women who do not meet the Texas abortions requirements are forced to leave state to find a legal physician.
“This is unacceptable and this is cruel,” Ivey said. “Tens of thousands of Texas women traveled out of state for abortion care last year, leaving their jobs, leaving their homes and leaving their families just to get medical care. These laws are designed to handcuff me – literally.”
Texas doctors caught performing illegal abortions can face up to 99 years in prison, fines, and the loss of medical license. Former President Donald Trump says that he is proud of the Supreme Court’s Justices decision, three of whom he nominated.
“When I am reelected, I will continue to fight against the demented late-term abortionists in the Democratic Party who believe in unlimited abortion on demand and even executing babies after birth,” Trump said. “The states will determine by vote or legislation, or perhaps both and whatever they decide, must be the law of the land. At the end of the day, this is all about the will of the people.”
Senior and first-time voter Hannah Cheney gave birth to her baby girl in April at 17. According to Pew Research Center, from 1945-2024, currently, 63% say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 36% say it should be illegal in all or most cases. Cheney is of the 36%.
“I don’t consider it a healthcare crisis, in the state of Texas, we still have the law where if the mother’s life is at risk, you can abort,” Cheney said. “I do think that (abortions laws) is taking our rights away 1,000%, but I also don’t think it’s right; it is the killing of a life and we shall not murder. It’s not the baby’s fault.”
Senate Race + Teacher Pay
Allred, the Dallas representative looking to unseat U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, spoke on educator pay raises briefly at the rally.
“I was raised by a single mother for public school teachers, and we don’t pay our teachers enough,” Allred said. “I will never forget the folks who gave me a chance. I know you’re hoping that your elected officials are working as hard as you are,”
Conroe ISD teachers pay remained the same this year. AP Chemistry teacher Carlos Morales said the teacher pay is a non-partisan subject, but questions where funding could come from.
“There was no money being pushed in,” Morales said. “So kind of, we’re at a standstill like, ‘what’s going to happen?’”
Call to Gen Z
Harris appealed to Gen Z voters in a Pennsylvania campaign event last week, referring to them as “young leaders.” Harris addressed Gen Z and first-time voters directly in her speech directly three times.
“Do we have anyone here from Gen Z? Because I’m counting on you,” Harris said. “The thing I like about you is, you’re impatient for change. I see your power.”
With Gen Z reaching voting age, senior Conroe ISD students are casting their first presidential vote. Senior Jalila Burd cast her first vote this year under the guidance of her family.
“Being pro choice, that’s one of the biggest things for me, especially because my family’s mostly women,” Burd said. “We’re about to be the new adults and all so we’re really, depending on who gets put in office. This is really going to determine a lot for us going into adulthood.”
Houston native and singer Beyonce Knowles appeared along with former Destiny’s Child groupmate Kelly Rowland. Beyonce called on voters to support Harris, speaking for the first time at a political rally.
“I’m not here as a celebrity, I’m not here as a politician,” Knowles said. “I am here as a mother. A mother who cares about the world our children live in. A world where we have the freedom to control our bodies, a world where we’re not divided, our past, our present, our future, merge to meet us here. We all have a role to play to make this a reality, we’re all part of something much bigger; we must vote.”
Seniors eligible to vote are in demand. Candidates rely on Gen Z for noticeable impact on their votes; According to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, 50% of young people, ages 18-29, voted in the 2020 presidential election, one of the highest rates of youth participation since the voting age was lowered to 18 and NBC live exit polls suggest that 65% of those between the ages of 18 and 24 voted for Biden. The last chance for voting is Friday, Nov. 5.
“Elections do matter,” Harris said. “Remember Texans, your voice is your vote, and your vote is your power. Today I ask you, are you ready to make your voices heard?”
