Logan Howard, Senior Photographer

In late July, five Yale seniors formed Yalies4Harris, an organization dedicated to building up energy for the Harris-Walz campaign on campus and across the country. 

In the lead-up to Election Day, the group plans to participate in phone banking sessions, voter registration campaigns, door knocking in the nearby swing state of Pennsylvania and social media outreach.

While originally founded as a separate organization, Yalies4Harris operates as a temporary branch of the Yale College Democrats and is collaborating with the group to campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris. The group is also part of Students for Harris-Walz, a national network of student organizations campaigning for Harris-Walz ticket. 

Yalies4Harris is led by Pia Baldwin Edwards ’25, Madeline Levin ’25, Audrey Bernstein ’25, Cormac Thorpe ’25 and Matthew Quintos ’25. 

“The country has seen a surge of youth enthusiasm for the Harris-Walz ticket, and we hope to continue that momentum here on campus,” Yalies4Harris leaders wrote in a joint statement to the News. “We hope that Yalies4Harris can be the bridge between the enthusiasm for the Harris-Walz ticket we’ve seen around the country and the diligent organizing needed to ensure their victory in November.” 

Baldwin Edwards had the initial idea to form the group after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and the Harris campaign began garnering increased support among young people. 

The Harris campaign’s social media presence — specifically @KamalaHQ accounts on social media platforms — has also inspired Yalies4Harris leaders.

“Kamala HQ has been doing an incredible job — seeing their social media develop over the past month and a half has felt (and is) historic in terms of the force of young people to invigorate and revitalize such a crucial campaign and that it was impossible to sit still,” the organization wrote to the News. 

In an Instagram post, Yalies4Harris outlined six reasons why they support Harris for president, including her platform’s policies surrounding reproductive freedom, the education system, gun control, climate change, student loans and immigration. 

The Yalies4Harris Instagram page was created using the same account as Yalies4Biden, which was formed during the 2020 presidential election. As of Sept. 2, Yalies4Harris has 1,142 followers and its GroupMe has 26 members.

As a branch of the Yale College Democrats, Yalies4Harris will receive funding from outside donations as well as organizations such as the Harris-Walz campaign and the national Swing Left organization.

Yale Dems President Janalie Cobb ’25, who was previously an audience editor and staff reporter for the News, wrote that the collaboration with Yalies4Harris allows Dems to “engage with the presidential election far more than we would have been able to otherwise.” The groups plan to co-host weekly phone banking and coordinate multiple weekend canvassing trips.

Yale Dems member Jack Dozier ’27 first heard about the organization from a friend and was drawn to Yalies4Harris’ upcoming voter contact efforts. 

“The energy around Harris on and off campus is so vibrant, and I am so energized to join their efforts! It felt like a great way to be involved with the campaign while managing a full course load,” Dozier wrote to the News. 

Specifically, Dozier is interested in Yalies4Harris’ plan to campaign in the swing state of Pennsylvania. 

Baldwin Edwards said that the differences between Harris and former President Donald Trump has motivated them to organize for the Harris-Walz campaign. 

“The choice is no longer between two old white men, and the stakes of this election are now right in voters’ faces: you can go to the polls to elect our first woman President; our first Black, South Asian woman President; a former prosecutor; or, you can go to the polls and elect an old white man with a criminal history,” Baldwin Edwards wrote to the News. “The stark differences for the future of our country are right in voters faces this election, and the power of that is massive. You can feel it. I feel it.”

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.