Closing Summary
This blog is closing now, thanks for following along. You can read our US elections coverage here. Here are the major developments from today:
In Houston, Kamala Harris was joined onstage by superstar singer Beyoncé, congressman Colin Allred, musician Willie Nelson, actress Jessica Alba, several Texas-based OB-GYNs and families impacted by the state’s abortion ban in what her campaign is calling their largest rally to date. Harris focused her remarks on the state’s abortion ban, which sparked a slew of abortion restrictions nationwide, and was joined on stage by Amanda and Josh Zurawski, a Texas couple who sued the state after Amanda was unable to access treatment for a life-threatening pregnancy complication.
Donald Trump’s rally in Traverse City, Michigan was delayed several hours after the ex-president’s interview with podcast host Joe Rogan lasted three hours. Trump
Harris and Trump are tied at 48% each for the popular vote for the US presidential election, according to the final New York Times/Siena College national poll published on today.
Chinese hackers have targeted phones used by Donald Trump and JD Vance, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. According to the sources, investigators are trying to determine what communication data may have been taken or observed.
On Friday, Joe Biden formally apologized for the United States government’s role in running at least 523 Indian boarding schools. His remarks were given at the Gila Crossing community school outside Phoenix, Arizona, and marked his first visit to Indian Country as president.
The Washington Post declined to endorse a presidential candidate for the first time since the 1980s. Senior Democratic figure Susan Rice, who was US ambassador to the United Nations and national security adviser under Barack Obama and then director of the US domestic policy council under Joe Biden, made a blistering post on X about the Washington Post. “So much for ‘Democracy Dies in Darkness’,” she said, referring to the newspaper’s slogan.
Two Senate Democrats have written a letter urging the justice department to investigate, and if necessary prosecute, Elon Musk over his potentially illegal $1m giveaway for registered voters. And another top Democrat is calling for an investigation into Musk for the tech billionaire’s ties to Russia.
During his rally in Scranton tonight, Tim Walz took a moment to express his appreciation for Joe Biden, who was born in the Pennsylvania city and remains a popular figure there. “This country owes a huge debt to you and a huge debt to Joe Biden,” Walz said.
Harris raised $97m in the first half of October, compared with Trump’s $16m, according to reports filed with the Federal Election commission.
In an appearance on the Cats & Cosby podcast, a conservative talk radio show, Donald Trump said special counsel Jack Smith should be deported. Trump made news yesterday when he said he would fire Smith, the justice department official who is prosecuting him for allegedly plotting to overturn the 2020 election and hide classified documents, “within two seconds” of becoming president.
Harris has concluded her rally in Houston, calling on voters to cast their ballots in the next 11 days.
“Do we trust women? Do we believe in reproductive freedom? Do we believe in the promise of America, and are we ready to fight for it?” Harris said, before concluding, “And when we fight, we win.”
