From the Arkansas Advocate:
Former Vice President Kamala Harris will be the keynote speaker at Arkansas Democrats’ annual Fisher Shackelford Dinner next month, the state party announced Thursday.
The dinner will mark the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee and possible 2028 contender’s first keynote address since her defeat at the hands of President Donald Trump. Harris’ stop in Little Rock on April 25 will come after visits to North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, according to CNN.
“This has been a year in the making. Vice President Harris is the national leader that most embodies the spirit of our Fisher Shackleford dinner,” said Janie Cotton, the vice chair of the Democratic Party of Arkansas, during a media call. “We are so excited to host this once-in-a-generation leader here in Arkansas for our signature event.”
Cotton said she believed Harris’ visit would be a boon for the Arkansas Democratic Party as the party attempts to become more competitive in a state that it used to dominate before losing control of the Legislature in 2012, and the Governor’s Mansion in 2014.
“We want to make Arkansas a better place, and I just believe (Harris) embodies what we believe is great for our state,” Cotton said. “I think she will help our candidates.”
Harris’ selection as the 2024 Democratic nominee came amidst the fallout of a disastrous summer debate performance from then-presumptive nominee President Joe Biden. This reignited questions about Biden’s mental acuity and fitness for office, ultimately prompting him to end his bid for reelection and endorse Harris as the nominee.
Harris then embarked on a 107-day blitz campaign that broke campaign finance records but failed at translating her fundraising momentum into votes.
Harris garnered 33.6% of the vote in Arkansas to Trump’s 64.2%. Republicans hold a majority in both chambers of the state Legislature, all statewide partisan offices and every seat in Arkansas’ congressional delegation. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served as White House press secretary during Trump’s first term, is also widely viewed as a potential Republican presidential contender in 2028.
Cotton said the “chaos” in the world and in Arkansas has left people tired, and Harris could help turn out disaffected voters.
Tickets to the Shackelford dinner were sold out by 1 p.m. Thursday just four hours after the former vice president’s visit was announced.
The Fisher Shackleford dinner is named after Jimmie Lou Fisher and Lottie Shackelford. Fisher, who died in 2022, was a former state auditor and treasurer. Shackelford is a former Little Rock mayor and Democratic National Committee official.
