EMILY’s List, an abortion-rights political organization, is set to launch a new 30-second TV and digital ad that both publicly supports Vice President Kamala Harris’ newly launched presidential campaign and attacks former President Donald Trump over the fall of Roe v. Wade and abortion rights.
The ad, titled “Kamala Harris for President: The Time Is Now,” is the first effort by the organization to publicly support Harris’ campaign.
The ad, first obtained by ABC News, was paid for by the EMILYs List super PAC, Women Vote. The super PAC, which launched in March, aimed to strategically combat what EMILY’s List called “sexist and racist attacks” against women.
Women Vote will be the official super PAC for Harris’ bid for the White House, aiming to raise $20 million in the next 18 weeks, sources told ABC News.
The ad touches on Roe v. Wade as abortion access remains a critical issue for voters in an election year.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to a crowd during a campaign event at James B. Dudley High School on July 11, 2024 in Greensboro, N.C.
Sean Rayford/Getty Images
In the ad, a narrator highlights Harris as a candidate and includes clips of Trump taking credit for the Supreme Court’s decision to overrule Roe v. Wade.
“Kamala Harris won’t back down,” the narrator says, later adding “With so much at stake, we don’t have time to waste. Resilient, relentless, fighter. The time is now.”
On Sunday, EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler endorsed Harris for president, saying in a statement that “she is the most qualified and most prepared candidate to meet this unprecedented moment and lead the country.”
“In a moment when Republicans have launched a full-scale attack on our reproductive rights, an issue that will be the driving force for Democratic wins, Vice President Harris is our most powerful advocate and messenger on this issue,” Mackler added.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event for Maryland Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks on Gun Violence Awareness Day at Kentland Community Center on June 7, 2024 in Landover, Md.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images, FILE
EMILY’s List has supported Harris throughout her career, from her time as San Francisco’s district attorney to when she made history as the first woman to serve as California’s attorney general and again when she made history as the second Black woman in the Senate.
The group’s former president, Sen. Laphonza Butler, is expected to speak to EMILY’s List donors on Monday afternoon, a source told ABC News. Butler is the junior senator from California — a role Harris held just four years ago.
Kamala Harris, the former Democratic presidential candidate and current Senator from California, has launched her first campaign ad from her newly formed super PAC, targeting President Donald Trump on the issue of Roe v. Wade. The ad comes at a crucial time as the Supreme Court is set to hear a case that could potentially overturn the landmark 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide.
The ad, titled “Protecting Our Rights,” highlights Harris’ commitment to defending women’s reproductive rights and ensuring that Roe v. Wade remains the law of the land. It features footage of Harris speaking passionately about the importance of protecting women’s access to safe and legal abortion, as well as clips of Trump and other Republican politicians threatening to overturn the decision.
In a statement accompanying the ad, Harris emphasized the importance of the upcoming election in safeguarding women’s rights. She warned that a second term for Trump could mean the end of Roe v. Wade and urged voters to support candidates who will protect reproductive rights.
The ad is part of Harris’ broader strategy to mobilize support for Democratic candidates in key battleground states ahead of the November election. Her super PAC, called “People for the American Way,” aims to raise funds and support progressive candidates who share Harris’ values on issues such as healthcare, immigration, and climate change.
Harris’ decision to focus on Roe v. Wade in her first campaign ad reflects the growing concern among Democrats about the future of reproductive rights in America. With a conservative majority on the Supreme Court and a president who has vowed to appoint anti-abortion judges, many fear that Roe v. Wade is in jeopardy.
As the ad makes clear, Harris is not backing down from the fight to protect women’s rights. She is using her platform and resources to rally support for candidates who will stand up for reproductive freedom and ensure that women have control over their own bodies.
In the coming months, Harris and her super PAC will continue to push this message and mobilize voters to support pro-choice candidates at all levels of government. With the fate of Roe v. Wade hanging in the balance, the stakes could not be higher for women across the country.
