What the Vice-President said at the end of the campaign

Thousands of people packed a downtown Reno event center Thursday to hear Vice President Kamala Harris speak at her first rally in northern Nevada since she was the No. 1 Democrat.

Harris took the stage at 5:30 p.m

Nevada is considered a swing state, and the race against former President Donald Trump is extremely close. Trump narrowly overtook Harris in Nevada for the first time since August, according to a New York Times polling average.

Here is the report from the rally.

Vice President Kamala Harris spoke for about 20 minutes before an enthusiastic crowd of about 6,000 supporters Thursday evening at the Reno Events Center.

“In this election, we have a chance to turn the page on a decade in which Donald Trump tried to incite fear in us, but we are fed up with it,” she said.

“It’s time for a new generation of leadership in America.”

Despite being interrupted mid-speech by a handful of hecklers, Harris maintained an upbeat atmosphere, delivering lines that drew cheers that drowned them out.

It was unclear what they were shouting. In response to the screams, some of the crowd chanted, “We love you, Kamala!”

Harris wove many policy proposals into her remarks.

“If you are caring for an elderly parent, my plan will cover the cost of home health care for seniors under Medicaid,” she said in one example.

The audience frequently stomped, creating a thumping rhythm throughout the arena.

Harris said former President Trump has created a list of enemies he wants to take revenge on on his first day in office.

“I have a to-do list,” she said.

“I always choose country over party. That’s what leaders do.”

For more information on Kamala Harris’ rally in Reno, visit RGJ.com.

Acting Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto delivered a brief speech to the audience at the Kamala Harris rally, which drew approximately 6,000 people at the Reno Events Center.

The venue’s capacity is listed as 7,000. Areas are blocked off for media and security, but the venue feels overcrowded, especially on the floor surrounding the stage.

This election “is about a future where every Nevada has the opportunity to succeed,” Cortez Masto said. “It’s about a future where women have control over their bodies again.”

The senator appealed to everyone to come out and vote.

“We are in the final stages,” she said. “Shall we knock on this door? Are we going to drive the people around us crazy until they vote?”

Yes, said the crowd, waving signs and chanting, “We’re not coming back!”

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve, who is a registered nonpartisan, warmed up the crowds at Kamala Harris’ rally on Thursday by encouraging both sides of the arena to cheer each other on.

She has served as mayor for the past 12 years through three presidential administrations.

“During the Trump administration, we weren’t even invited to the White House,” she said. “How can you collaborate with someone if you’re not even invited to the table? What does this tell you?

“Let me tell you about Biden-Harris. I have a direct line – a direct line because they care about Reno, because they care about the Washoe families.

Schieve said she met Harris several times.

“We had in-depth conversations about mental health, reproductive rights and small business,” the mayor said. “She understands.”

Last night, David Dawson made a last-minute decision to leave his home in Sacramento with his wife and two children at 8 a.m. for a rally in Reno. They waited in line for about an hour before going to security.

“My kids, my 8- and 11-year-old, had to abandon their Halloween plans,” Dawson said. “Which I think is a really important and mature thing. I had to tell them what they witnessed.”

Dawson is a lifelong California Democrat and said it was important for his children to see the event.

“This is our last chance to meet Kamala Harris before she is elected… to bring our daughter and our son, but especially our daughter. Because she is older and understands better, and because it is so important for her to meet the first female president,” Dawson said.

Also waiting in line was Sya Smith, originally from Four Corners, New Mexico, but now living in Fallon. She said Harris gained her support because of her stance on indigenous sovereignty and reproductive rights.

“I think (the campaign) is going well,” Smith said. “I noticed he was very close.”

This sentiment was shared by Rod and Heidi Tayler, who drove an hour from California to the rally.

“We hope to be smiling next week,” Rod Tayler said.

While Tayler said he felt sorry for Joe Biden when the president dropped out of the race, they were excited about the energy Harris brought to the closest presidential race in 60 years.

“Now it’s not two old men fighting each other, but one old man and one really vibrant young woman,” he said.

Raul Robinson, a UNR student majoring in communications, said he didn’t plan to vote when Biden was running for president, but he had already voted for Harris.

“I was excited and felt the need to vote,” Robinson said.

Colby Thomas, who is part of Generation Z, also said he is excited that the Democratic nominee is younger.

“I think he represents a new generation,” Thomas said. “I think she understands us on a much better level. She’s not on the older end. I think it was good for our economy. She advocates for reproductive rights.”

A candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, Kidd appears at all rallies, regardless of party

Greg Kidd, a nonpartisan activist running against incumbent Republican Mark Amodea in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District, shook hands with campaign workers before entering the venue. He said he attended every political rally in northern Nevada during the election season. This includes J.D. Vance’s visit to Reno last week and separate visits by Tim Walz and Donald Trump earlier this month.

When asked what Nevadans want from politicians in this election based on his experiences at these rallies, Kidd replied: “Most people just want to make sure that gridlock doesn’t prevent something good from happening for Nevada. So that’s good for Nevada. They want this to happen.”

In the final period leading up to Election Day, two leading presidential candidates are hitting hard at the swing state of Nevada.

Kamala Harris is holding two rallies in Nevada today, one in Reno, and then she’ll head to Las Vegas for a rumored rally concert with Jennifer Lopez.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is speaking in Henderson this afternoon, and his running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, will be in Las Vegas on Saturday.

During their visits to the West, the candidates also stop in Arizona, another swing state.

Wearing a shirt with the word “Love” written in large letters, Judy Woodworth attended Kamala Harris’s rally in Reno on Thursday for a quick face-paint of blue, white and silver glitter.

“I support everything she stands for — women’s rights are very important to me,” Woodworth said, explaining why she drove three hours to meet the vice president.

Asked what she thought Harris’ chances were of winning the close race for president, “100 percent,” she replied with a smile.

Clinton Holeman wore a “Veterans for Harris” T-shirt to the vice president’s Halloween rally.

“She is not a traitor or a rebel,” he said, adding that he thinks Kamala Harris is much better at military and defending the United States than Donald Trump.

“She believes in our constitution, which I swore to defend and to that end I spent two tours in Vietnam.”

Holeman lives in Douglas County, where he believes Republicans outnumber Democrats 3 or 4 to 1, so he felt it was important to show his support for Harris.

“Besides, it’s my birthday,” he said. “We’re excited to be here.”

He added that Trump is even older than him and, in his opinion, the former president clearly shows signs of mental decline.

“He’s demented,” Holeman said, “maybe not fully developed, but he’s getting there.”

Nedra Benites traveled from Truckee on Thursday to meet Vice President Kamala Harris for the first time.

“I am here to support our future president,” she said.

She wants to keep former President Donald Trump out of office, but she also attended the meeting because she likes Harris’ policies.

“I believe in protecting the climate, protecting human rights and women’s rights, especially at this moment,” Benites said. “All her rules are way better than that guy’s. “I just believe she cares, she’s compassionate, she’s extremely intelligent, she’s extremely energetic and she works very hard for the American people.”

She felt very anxious about how close the race seemed, especially in Nevada.

“What the world could look like under another Trump presidency is terrifying to me,” Benites said. “He is a criminal in so many ways and I cannot believe that anyone would stand up for someone like that, much less want him to be their leader and the leader of the free world.”

What you can’t take to a Kamala Harris rally

All guests will go through an airport-style screening conducted by the Secret Service. These things are prohibited:

Bags not allowed. Diaper bags and medical bags allowed.
No liquids, including empty or full water bottles.
No posters outside.
No umbrellas
No pens or lighters.
No weapons.
No masks or costume weapons.

Where to park before the Kamala Harris Reno Rally

If you rideshare, direct drivers to 500 N. Sierra St.
Limited parking is available at the National Bowling Stadium for a fee.
Free parking is available at 500 N. Sierra St. and 345 N. Virginia St.

Carly Sauvageau and Siobhan McAndrew contributed to this report.

Mark Robison is a state politics reporter for the Reno Gazette Journal who covers other topics from time to time. Email comments to [email protected] or comment on Mark Greater Reno Facebook page.