Hollywood star visits Central Pa. to campaign for Harris: 'You have to stand up'

A Hollywood star appeared in Lancaster today to support Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign.

Jennifer Garner, star of the series “Alias” and films such as “13 Going On 30,” “Juno,” “Love, Simon” and “Elektra,” was greeted at the Lancaster County Democratic Committee headquarters by several local party officials.

Dozens of Harris/Walz campaign supporters crowded into the basement of the party headquarters in downtown Lancaster, aptly dubbed “The Underground” by party activists.

“We are literally underground!” Garner laughed during the opening statement.

Garner mentioned that she visited Lancaster early in her career while researching a small role as an Amish woman in the film “Harvest of Fire.”

“I love Lancaster,” she said. “I ended up finding all these little places and I loved it so much. I’m really excited to be back.”

Garner compared the Lancaster County region to her own home in West Virginia, where there is a large rural community and many conservative voters.

Her own father, she said, was a staunch Republican. And Garner emphasized that connecting with these voters and their concerns is crucial.

“We are united,” she said, noting that misinformation and division can be overcome through compassion and listening. “And you know what? This also applies to Vice President Harris. We are all Americans and we want the same things.”

Garner has been an ambassador for the nonprofit group Save the Children since 2009 and a board member of the group since 2014.

And while she has been vocal about supporting Democratic candidates in the past, she said she hasn't made it easy to support a political candidate.

“Honestly, it’s a little nerve-wracking because with Save the Children I work on both sides,” she said. “For me it is very important not to alienate (people), but to be as neutral as possible. But there are times when as an American you have to stand up and have a voice.

And in this election, Garner said, she believes the issues are important enough to campaign on Harris' behalf.

“If I can do something, it’s my job, but it’s up to me to choose those moments wisely,” she said. “I firmly believe that both parties are important. But in this case? We must vote for Kamala Harris.

The main issues that Garner said drove her support for Harris included child care, family tax credits, housing costs, and women's and LGTBQ+ rights.

The election is expected to be decided in swing states like Pennsylvania and may come down to split counties like Lancaster, she said.

“You are on the front lines,” she told the gathered Democratic Party volunteers. “I look and these beautiful faces, these women and these strong men – God, is there anything sexier than men to Kamala?”

Other speakers included Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace, State Representative Ismail-Smith-Wade-El and County Commissioner Alice Yoder, each of whom emphasized the importance of the upcoming election and the need for Democratic mobilization.