Harris campaign brings Lady Gaga, Oprah, other big guns to Philadelphia for final rally

Monday night’s final campaign stop for Vice President Kamala Harris – a splashy, star-studded concert and rally in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art – was the culmination of a months-long focus on Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, capping a stunning sprint by a campaign that only kicked off in July. 

Harris’ daylong dash traversed the state from Scranton to Allentown to Reading and Pittsburgh (President Donald Trump also rallied in Reading and Pittsburgh). The vice president saved the best for last, with her rally featuring performances and remarks from the likes of Lady Gaga, Oprah Winfrey, Ricky Martin and more. 

The music portion of the evening began just before 7 p.m., with Philly-born R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan taking the stage roughly four hours before Harris came on stage to wrap up the final Get Out and Vote rally. Harris gave her remarks in Pittsburgh just after 9 p.m., making the cross-state trek immediately after to get to the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. 

Delivering a similar message to the Philadelphia crowd, Harris said it’s time for the country to “turn the page” and move on from “fear and division.” Harris, who took the stage just after 11:30 p.m., called the rally on the Rocky Steps a “tribute to those who start as the underdog and climb to victory.”

“We are optimistic and we are excited about what we can do together – and we know it is time for a new generation of leadership in America,” Harris said. “We are ready for a president who knows that the true measure of a leader is not based on who you beat down but based on who you lift up.”

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker spoke at 7:30 p.m., energizing a crowd estimated to be roughly 30,000 for the “cultural icons and giants” that would take the stage, adding that the importance of Pennsylvania voters can’t be understated. 

“We’re all gathered here tonight because a few blocks from here, 248 years ago to be exact, our democracy was born,” Parker said. “The path to the White House is paved through Pennsylvania – the Keystone State.”

State House Speaker Joanna McClinton and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, who is on the ballot against Republican challenger Dave McCormick, followed Parker before musical performances from The Roots, Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga – and remarks from Fat Joe and Oprah Winfrey – took the spotlight.

Gaga received a loud ovation from a crowd that anxiously waited hours for her brief performance that included a rendition of “God Bless America” before Doug Emhoff, Harris’ husband, came on to introduce Winfrey. 

Winfrey, who took the stage with 10 first-time voters from Philadelphia, thanked the young voters for exercising their right to vote. 

“I know some of you are feeling burnt out and maybe inconsequential. Nothing can be further from the truth,” Winfrey said. “That’s why I’m in Philadelphia tonight…We don’t get to sit this one out.”

Jessica Moreno, an immigrant who said she’s lived in West Philadelphia for four years, said the “momentum is strong” in 2024 compared to 2020 when everyone was stuck inside and voting by mail. She said as a Latina voter and a woman of color, “representation is important,” adding that the remarks made at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally last week were offensive to everyone.  

“We know how they feel about us,” Moreno told City & State. “I would be so baffled (if undecided Latino voters opt to support Trump) after that. It would be really disheartening.”

Both the Harris and Trump campaigns view Pennsylvania and its 19 electoral college votes as critical to reaching the 270 electoral votes necessary to win the White House – no Democrat has won the White House without Pennsylvania since 1948. According to the Associated Press, the presidential campaigns made a combined 80 visits to the state through Monday, which was by far the most visits to any state. 

The headliners pushed Pennsylvanians from all walks of life to get out and vote and let their voices be heard. 

Harris’ final message also stressed the importance of every single vote. 

“We’re not going back because ours is a fight for the future, and ours is a fight for freedom,” she said. “As president, I pledge to seek common ground and common sense solutions to the challenges you face…I don’t believe the people who disagree with me are the enemy. I’ll give them a seat at the table – that’s what leaders do.”