Kamala Harris makes case for the presidency in Houston speech to national teachers union

Vice President Kamala Harris delivered the key note address and received a roaring ovation at The American Federation of Teachers National Convention in Houston, Thursday.

AFT represents approximately 1.8 million people working in education across the country. It was first union to officially endorse Harris for president the day after Joe Biden announced he would no longer seek reelection and she launched her bid for the White House.

In her address Thursday, she praised the president and AFT members for their service to the nation.

"You all do God's work educating our children," Harris said. "It is you who have taken on the most noble of work which is to concern yourself with the well being of the children of America and I thank you for that."

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Harris wasted little time collecting key endorsements, delegate support, and more than $126 million in donations this week. Her Houston appearance followed stops in Milwaukee Tuesday and Indianapolis Wednesday. At each, she made the case that a Harris administration would move the country forward and a second Donald Trump administration would take it backward.

While addressing AFT members, she criticized Republican calls to end the Department of Education, ban books, and forbid some educators from discussing gender and sexual orientation in classrooms. She said Trump and his "extreme allies" support union busting but she credits unions for helping build America's middle class.

"What kind of country do we want to live in? A country of freedom, compassion and rule of law or a country of chaos, fear and hate?" Harris asked the crowd. "The beauty of our democracy is that we each have the power to answer that question when we vote."

Harris also launched her first campaign ad Thursday. Featuring Beyoncé’s song “Freedom,” it sharply contrasts the vice president with the Republican nominee and highlights her progressive stance on key issues like abortion.

Speaking ahead of Harris, AFT President Randi Weingarten called the Biden-Harris administration the most "pro-public education" in the country's history.

"There's a lot of teachers in this hall. So we all know a lot about assignments. My friends, my siblings, do you understand our assignment? … Are we going to elect Kamala Harris the next president of the United States?" Weingarten asked as the crowd, which responded with resounding cheers.

While introducing Harris, AFT member Brittany Shoup said she had her student loans forgiven thanks to Biden-Harris administration policy.

Harris repeated her support for student loan forgiveness and her claim that public school teachers are not paid enough in her address.

"In this moment, we are in a fight for our most fundamental freedoms and to this room of leaders, I say bring it on," Harris said as the room echoed her with chants of "bring it on."

Rachel Barber is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on politics and education. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @rachelbarber_

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kamala Harris addresses national teacher's union