Vice-President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz stand together on a stage at a political rally during the run for president leading up to the Nov. 5 election. Photo provided by Harris Walz Campaign Website.

Excitement is building as Virginia State University prepares to be a stop for the Harris-Walz campaign’s HBCU Homecoming Tour on Oct. 12.

This visit comes after the cancellation of the highly anticipated debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.  Despite the disappointment, this tour stop will deliver a great opportunity for students to connect with the Harris-Walz campaign.

According to Tufts University, in the 2020 elections, approximately 50% of voting eligible young people ages 18-29 voted.  This tour is an excellent way for Harris to garner even more of the young black vote for this election.

The Black vote, especially the young Black vote is a crucial voting range to gain because it represents a significant and growing demographic that can sway results. Historically, their votes have been pivotal in elections, which demonstrates Black young adults have the power to influence the political landscape of this country.

In a post on X, Vice President Kamala Harris wrote “Our HBCUs are centers of academic excellence. As a proud HBCU graduate, I made sure we invested more than $7 billion in HBCUs across our nation.”

Since Harris’s alma mater is Howard University, she has been steadfast in her support of historically Black institutions.

HBCUs are the breeding grounds for activism for Black students. Students at universities with stops on the tour should be compelled to participate and get a deeper understanding of the Harris-Walz campaign in time for presidential elections.

The tour schedule begins with Winston Salem State and concludes with Morehouse and Spelman Colleges. It has yet to be confirmed that one or both of the candidates will be in attendance.