She dropped by unannounced.
In a powerful address in Chicago, where she hosted her renowned TV show for many years, Oprah Winfrey rallied support for Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Speaking to a full convention hall, Winfrey emphasized that the upcoming election transcends partisan divides, stating, “This election isn’t about us and them. It’s about you and me and what we want our futures to look like.”
Winfrey praised Harris and Walz, asserting that they embody decency and respect. She said, “Common sense tells you that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz can bring us those qualities.”
The speech also included pointed criticisms of former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio. Winfrey referenced Vance’s 2021 comment about “childless cat ladies” influencing the Democratic Party. She countered this by emphasizing our shared humanity, saying, “When a house is on fire, we don’t inquire about the homeowner’s race or religion. We don’t question their partner or their voting history. We simply try to save them, and if that house belongs to a childless cat lady, we’d try to rescue the cat too.”
Reflecting on Harris’ journey to the Democratic nomination, Winfrey praised the role models who shaped Harris’ path. “Someone did an incredible job teaching this young girl how to challenge those in power and uplift those who are marginalized,” she told the enthusiastic audience.
Winfrey envisioned a future where children learn about Harris’ background, noting, “Soon, we will be telling our children about how this daughter of an Indian mother and Jamaican father grew up to become the 47th president of the United States.” Winfrey, who has long been active in Democratic politics, previously supported Joe Biden and Harris in 2020 and endorsed several key Senate candidates in 2022.
In her speech, Winfrey also honored trailblazing Black women, sharing the story of Tessie Prevost Williams, who passed away last month, and the “New Orleans Four”—the young African American students who integrated the New Orleans school system in 1960. She connected Prevost Williams’ legacy to Harris’ own educational journey, saying, “Women like Tessie Prevost Williams had the grace, courage, and determination that paved the way for another young girl who later integrated the public schools in Berkeley, California.”
