Former Vice President Kamala Harris stumbled over her opening remarks at a campaign event in Georgia on Thursday, momentarily referring to an incumbent Democratic senator as though he were seeking office for the first time.
Harris was appearing at a gathering of campaign volunteers supporting Sen. Jon Ossoff when she made the verbal slip just moments after taking the microphone.
“Let’s hear it for Jon Ossoff,” Harris began.
“The next … and continuing senator from the state of Georgia,” she added, quickly correcting herself after initially describing Ossoff as the state’s next senator.
The awkward introduction became a notable moment during an otherwise routine campaign appearance, as Harris traveled across the country to support Democratic candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Ossoff, who is seeking another term, stood alongside the former vice president as she addressed volunteers in Atlanta.
Harris soon moved past the stumble and turned her attention to criticizing President Donald Trump’s administration.
During her remarks, she attacked the administration’s trade policies, referring to what she characterized as “reckless tariffs.”
She also criticized a “war nobody asked for” and accused the administration of cutting Medicaid and food assistance programs.
Her comments reflected the broader Democratic campaign strategy of challenging Republican policies while encouraging supporters to remain politically engaged.
But much of Harris’s speech focused less on specific legislation and more on offering personal encouragement to the volunteers gathered at the event.
The former vice president thanked attendees for their work and told them their influence could extend well beyond the election.
“I came here today to thank you in advance for all you will do in your lifetime,” Harris said.
She then introduced an unusual phrase to describe the audience.
Harris called the volunteers fellow members of the “Role Model Club,” explaining that their actions could inspire people they might never personally encounter.
“The Role Model Club, we’re all in it, and in the Role Model Club sometimes it can be weighty,” she said.
The former vice president continued by emphasizing the responsibility of setting an example for others.
She argued that pursuing personal excellence could have a positive effect on people far beyond one’s immediate circle.
“You are lifting up folks who may never know your name or mine, folks you may never meet,” Harris told the audience.
Her remarks took on the tone of a motivational speech as she encouraged volunteers to recognize their potential influence, according to the New York Post.
At one point, Harris appeared ready to conclude her address.
However, supporters encouraged her to keep speaking.
She obliged.
“OK, I got some more advice,” Harris said before offering another message about confidence and individuality.
She told the audience that many would eventually find themselves in professional environments where they felt different from everyone else.
“In your careers, there will probably be many moments when you are in a room where you are the only person like you,” Harris said.
Her advice was to remain authentic regardless of the circumstances.
“I require you to be you,” she told the volunteers.
The Georgia appearance was one stop in a busy stretch of campaigning for the former vice president.
Harris has recently traveled to Nevada, Mississippi, New Hampshire and Wisconsin to support Democratic candidates as the party works to build momentum before Election Day.
Her efforts come as Republicans conduct their own campaign push across competitive states.
Earlier Thursday, Trump appeared at a rally in Rock Hill, South Carolina, supporting Republican Sen. Darline Graham in her contest against Democratic challenger Annie Andrews.
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance traveled to Weatherford, Texas, where he campaigned for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton.
With early voting concluding Friday in several states, both parties are intensifying their efforts to reach voters before the remaining ballots are cast.
For Harris, Thursday’s event was intended to energize Ossoff’s campaign volunteers and encourage them to continue their work through Election Day.
Instead, her brief opening stumble also attracted attention.
Although she quickly corrected herself, the moment added another awkward exchange to a speech otherwise devoted to criticizing Republican policies and inspiring Democratic supporters.
As the midterm campaign enters its final days, Harris is continuing her role as a prominent Democratic surrogate, traveling between states and urging voters to support the party’s congressional candidates.
