The Harris campaign's San Antonio fundraising effort tops $1 million

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Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff raised more than $1 million at a fundraiser in San Antonio for Kamala Harris' presidential campaign on Monday night, the largest presidential fundraiser in the city's history.

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg made the announcement at a reception hosted by Frank and Cecilia Herrera and attended by prominent area Democrats such as Henry Cisneros, a former San Antonio mayor and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Development, state senator José Menéndez and US Senator Representative Greg Casar attended.

“We have to work, even here in Texas,” Emhoff told guests at the fundraiser. “We cannot erase any state from the map. We need to make sure we get the job done here. And even if we don't manage to turn Texas blue this time, you have a good chance of getting an entry [U.S. Rep.] Colin Allred to the Senate.”

Emhoff also said voters could also bring about “serious change” in the state by flipping some general elections and their statewide leaders.

Acknowledging that the presidential election is very close, he urged guests to knock on doors, register to vote and help raise more money for the campaign to continue its fight across the electoral map could.

Earlier in the day, Emhoff attended a rally in San Antonio organized by the Texas Democrats. He contradicted the rejected Texas Democrats and railed against Republican efforts that he said were “attacking the right to vote.”

“Under the guise of election integrity, they made it harder to vote,” Emhoff said. “They know they can only win if fewer people vote. … Unfortunately, Texas was the starting point for MAGA’s uncontrolled takeover.”

Emhoff, visiting Texas for the first time since his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, became the Democratic presidential candidate, said if Trump were to return to the White House it would usher in a nationwide ban on abortion, more inaction on mass shootings and policies that favor only the rich .

But he expressed confidence even as a New York Times/Siena poll Monday morning showed Trump leading Harris by five percentage points in Arizona and also ahead in the battleground states of North Carolina and Georgia.

“I’m really looking forward to Texas. Are you?” he said to applause from about 1,200 people in the gymnasium of the Candler Physical Education Center at San Antonio College. “Are we sending my wife, Kamala Harris, to the White House?”

The rally was attended by brothers Julián Castro, a former mayor of San Antonio and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio.

The effort was part of the Texas Democratic Party's “Texas Offense,” an effort to coordinate voter outreach efforts and political resources from top to bottom. The event was also attended by comedian and actress Cristela Alonzo and social media influencer and political activist Olivia Julianna.

The Democratic speakers attacked Republican state officials for allegedly trying to suppress the voices of people who disagree with their political views. They pointed to Attorney General Ken Paxton's recent investigations into Latino groups working to register people to vote. Speakers urged the crowd to make their voices heard in November by voting for Democrats.

Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa told the crowd that Republican officials like Attorney General Ken Paxton are “attacking the vote” because the races for president and U.S. Senate are close.

“He knows they’re in trouble,” Hinojosa said.

Emhoff's visit gives Texas Democrats a boost. National politicians may not view the state as a battleground — despite the state party's best efforts — but any encouragement of candidate rejection could help the minority party make up ground in state elections. This also introduces these candidates to new potential voters.

Texas political leaders tried to energize the crowd through Emhoff's visit.

“Texas is in the game and if you need proof of that, we have second gentleman Douglas Emhoff here,” Casar said.

Also in attendance at the event were Kristian Carranza and Laurel Jordan Swift, two San Antonio Democrats vying to unseat Republican incumbents in crucial Statehouse races.

Republicans have a majority in the Texas House of Representatives and are likely to push for legislation that would at least somewhat allow public money to be used to fund private education. The issue is a top priority for Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. Democrats are trying to weaken the majority to oppose this type of legislation.

Carranza's race against Republican John Lujan is seen as one of the Democrats' top targets, and Swift is running for a seat that is vacant because moderate Republican incumbent Steve Allison was defeated in the primary by Marc LaHood, a Republican challenger further away from the right .

John Harrison, 72, of Kerrville, who drove about an hour to the event with his wife, Jo, said Emhoff's visit showed that national Democrats still supported the state.

“That means they haven’t given up in Texas and they can derail some races,” Harrison said. “I hope we can beat Cruz and Trump. It will be hard, but still possible.”