Kamala Harris to campaign in Erie for first time

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, is making a campaign stop Monday night at Erie Insurance Arena.

Stay tuned to GoErie.com for the latest Erie rally updates throughout Monday.

You can watch a stream of the Erie rally below.

VP heads to new Erie record/coffee spot

Harris stopped at Legenderie Records and Coffee House at 5761 Peach St. before the rally to meet with owners Allana and Ishmael Trainor and other Black business owners and leaders.

The press was escorted out before she held a discussion about her new economic plan, “Opportunity Agenda for Black men.” Harris also purchased a Marvin Gaye record.

-Matthew Rink

State Senate candidate Wertz speaks to crowd

Democratic State Senate candidate Jim Wertz is first to warm up the crowd.

Wertz tells the audience that the Harris-Walz ticket will fight for teachers, unions, and all Americans.

This election “couldn’t be a stronger contrast to Donald  Trump and JD Vance.” Wertz said, drawing raucous boos and “We’re not going back!” chants from the audience.

-Kevin Flowers

Walz back in western Pa. on Tuesday

On Tuesday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, is campaigning in western Pa. at a series of events ending with a campaign rally and reception in Pittsburgh. It will be Walz’s sixth trip to Pennsylvania since becoming Harris’ running mate.

Walz will travel to Volant and Butler County before delivering remarks at a pair of campaign events in Pittsburgh.

Harris greeted by Schember, Bizzarro

Harris was greeted by Erie Mayor Joe Schember and state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro on the tarmac before entering a black GMC Suburban and heading to her next stop.

-Matthew Rink

Full capacity expected for Harris rally

Gus Pine, Erie Events’ executive director, said of the Harris rally crowd size that “5,400 patrons is our capacity for this set up,” adding that he expects “full capacity” Monday night based on the numbers of people still waiting to get into Erie Insurance Arena at 6 p.m. Pine recently arrived at the venue.

-Kevin Flowers

Vice President Kamala Harris lands in Erie

Vice President Kamala Harris landed at Erie International Airport around 5:40 p.m. ahead of her campaign rally at Erie Insurance Arena.

-Matthew Rink

Crowd begins taking their seats as DJ Henry GQ entertains

The crowd is filing into Erie Insurance Arena. DJ Henry GQ is playing OutKast’s “Hey Ya,” Olivia Rodrigo’s “good 4 u,” Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.” and other hits as people take their seats, dancing and clapping to the music. A “Freedom for Pennsylvania” banner hangs from the rafters, as well as another large sign with both the American and Pennsylvania flags and the words “A New Way Forward for Pennsylvania.”  People are hoisting Harris-Walz signs in the air.

-Kevin Flowers

Attendees begin entering venue

The doors for the rally opened to general admission attendees around 3:30 p.m. Outside the venue, the line stretched from the arena, down French Street to 10th Street. Anti-abortion protesters were also present on the corner of French and East Eighth streets.

-A.J. Rao

Hundreds in line as of 3 p.m.

Hundreds of attendees waited in line for the doors to open ahead of the Kamala Harris campaign rally Monday afternoon.

-A.J. Rao

Harris unveils plan for Black men

Before her rally at Erie Insurance Arena on Monday night, Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with Black leaders to discuss her newly unveiled Opportunity Agenda for Black Men, which her campaign released Monday morning.

The plan includes a million fully-forgivable loans of up to $20,000 for Black entrepreneurs, expanding opportunities for Black men to land good-paying jobs, a National Health Equity Initiative, legalizing recreational marijuana and creating opportunities for Black men to thrive in the industry.

-Matthew Rink

Monday’s campaign rallies

Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, is making a campaign stop Monday night in Erie, a pivotal county in the bellwether state of Pennsylvania. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa. will be joining Harris at the event, just 22 days before Election Day. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, is campaigning with Democratic governors in Wisconsin on Monday.

On the other side of the state, former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, is scheduled to host a town hall near Philadelphia in Oaks, Pa., on Monday night. Trump rallied at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie on Sept. 29.

The next scheduled appearance for Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, is Wednesday in Williamsport, Pa., and Wilmington, North Carolina.

Voters Guide 2024:Where Harris and Trump stand on key issues

Where’s Kamala Harris’ rally taking place?

The rally will take place at Erie Insurance Arena, 809 French St., from 5 to 9 p.m. Attendees must register in advance.

Doors open at 3 p.m. Attendees are asked to arrive no later than 6:15 p.m. The Harris for President campaign might not be able to accommodate entry after this time.

The following streets will be closed until 9 p.m. Monday:

• French Street from Seventh to 10th streets
• Eighth Street from French to Holland streets
• Holland Street from Seventh to 10th streets

-Matthew Rink

Billing the campaigns

The city of Erie will bill Harris’ presidential campaign for costs incurred by city police and other departments in relation to Monday’s rally.

The city confirmed to the Erie Times-News that a $40,815 invoice was sent by the city last week to the campaign to cover police overtime and related city costs from Sept. 5, when vice presidential nominee Walz campaigned at Liberty Park. 

The city also plans to bill former President Trump for public safety-related costs for Trump’s Sept. 29 rally at the Bayfront Convention Center. Trump’s campaign still owes the city of Erie a total of $40,330 for campaign visits in 2018 and 2023, according to Rob Lee, a spokesperson for Mayor Joe Schember’s administration.

Renee Lamis, Schember’s chief of staff, said the city is not sending a bill to the campaign related to Vance’s Aug. 28 campaign rally at Team Hardinger because the city’s public safety-related costs for that event were minimal.

-Kevin Flowers

This is a developing story. Return to GoErie.com for updates.