Harris to highlight voting rights, election reform in Jan. 6 speech

Vice President Harris on Thursday will warn that democracy is being tested in the U.S. on the anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, and outline the need to strengthen voting rights and elections.

Harris will say the attack on the Capitol one year ago was “an assault on our freedom and values,” a White House official said in a statement previewing her remarks.

“The Vice President will outline that the American experiment is being tested, and that we must work to secure voting rights, ensure free and fair elections, and safeguard our democracy for generations to come,” the official said. “She will also honor the brave men and women in law enforcement, who fought to uphold our democracy, protected the Capitol and saved the lives of the people who were there.”

Harris will deliver remarks at Statuary Hall in the Capitol on Thursday alongside President Biden, who is expected to condemn efforts by some Republicans to rewrite the history of that day and call out continued efforts to undermine American democracy.

The two are scheduled to travel to Georgia on Tuesday for a broader speech on protecting voting rights, an issue Harris has taken the lead on as part of her portfolio.

House Democrats have planned a day’s worth of events for Thursday to mark one year since the Capitol insurrection, where multiple people died and dozens of law enforcement officers were injured after a pro-Trump mob stormed the complex to try and halt the certification of Biden’s electoral victory.

Former President Trump had planned a press conference that day at Mar-a-Largo, but later canceled the plan.