Harvard Students for Harris Travels to Georgia, Maine to Campaign Ahead of Election

Dozens of volunteers from Harvard Students for Harris spent the weekend campaigning in Georgia and Maine in the closing days of the 2024 presidential election.

Thirty-five students affiliated with H4H and Harvard College Democrats took a four-hour bus ride to campaign in Maine’s second congressional district, while 10 other volunteers from H4H flew to Georgia. The groups returned on Monday morning after canvassing for two full days and talking to more than 750 households over the weekend.

H4H Vice President Elizabeth M. Benecchi ’25, who organized the trip to Georgia, said it felt impactful to “engage in a real conversation” with voters.

“I think canvassing is the absolute best way to get involved in the community,” Benecchi said. “We’ve hosted numerous phone banks. We’ve hosted text banks, and those are great to talk to people over the phone, but it’s a lot easier to connect with voters face to face.”

Students on the trip to Georgia met with Representative Ted W. Lieu (D-Calif.) and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

Lorenzo Z. Ruiz ’27, who went on the Georgia trip, said one of his favorite moments over the weekend was getting to speak with Lieu.

“We’re exhausted, and we go to this dinner with Ted Lieu who had invited us earlier that day, and he sits down with us, and we have a conversation with him for at least a good half an hour,” Ruiz, a Crimson Editorial editor, said. “It was an experience to remember.”

The Georgia and Maine trips are part of larger organized efforts by H4H to canvas swing states. Student volunteers have made trips to New Hampshire and Pennsylvania and are planning on returning to Pennsylvania next weekend and New Hampshire on election day.

Ethan C. Kelly ’25, co-president and founder of H4H, said one of the organization’s goals is to give students an opportunity to work on a presidential campaign.

“I think there’s a misconception that you can’t really be involved in presidential campaign organizing because we live in a blue state, but I just don’t think that’s the case,” Kelly said. “I think, generally speaking, we have ways to tap into different portions of the electorate and student groups on campus.”

Benecchi said returning to her home state of Georgia made the trip extra meaningful, adding that she voted with her family during the trip.

“Being able to say I went to elementary school right down the street and knocking doors for somebody I hope to elect to my own school board — that was so special,” she said.

Kelly said their efforts are ramping up as the election approaches.

“I think people are really, really hoping to maximize the amount of impact they can have on the election so close to election day,” Kelly said.

Clarification: October 30, 2024

This article has been updated to clarify the recent rebranding of Harvard Students for Harris.