LITTLE ROCK — Vice President Kamala Harris delivered the first keynote address at the Arkansas Democrats’ 2026 Fisher Shackelford Dinner. This is the first address she’s made since the 2024 election. The event was held at the Wally Allen Ballroom inside the Little Rock Convention Center and brought together Democratic leaders, supporters, and community members from across the state.
The Fisher Shackelford Dinner, established in 2014, honors the legacies of two Arkansas political figures: Lottie Shackelford, the first Black female mayor of Little Rock, and Jimmie Lou Fisher, the state’s longest-serving treasurer. The annual event recognizes women who continue that legacy of leadership and service. This year’s honorees were Debrah Mitchell, Representative Tippi McCullough, and Addie Jones.
Harris opened her remarks by acknowledging the impact of community work, noting that much of it benefits people who may never meet those doing the labor. She also paid tribute to the dinner’s namesakes, highlighting Shackelford’s early activism challenging racial exclusion in local media and her rise to leadership at the state, national, and international levels.
Framing her speech as “real talk,” Harris focused on what she described as long-standing economic and political challenges facing working people. She pointed to the rising cost of living, wage stagnation, and policy decisions that she said shifted the focus away from everyday Americans. She also addressed the influence of money in politics and the growing distrust in institutions, connecting both to broader national division.
“Donald Trump is not just the source of the problem. He is also a symptom of it. […] He didn’t create the weakness. He pounced on it.”
Harris criticized recent federal and state-level decisions, including economic policies, healthcare cuts, and changes to education funding. She argued that these actions have widened inequality and placed additional strain on working families. Specifically referencing Arkansas, she noted concerns about maternal healthcare coverage and public school funding.
Despite the critique, Harris centered her message on civic engagement and collective power. She emphasized that political and economic systems can be reshaped through participation, pointing to recent public demonstrations as evidence of continued public will.
“It's time for a revival of the American dream. where when you work hard, you're also able to spend time with friends, raise a family, buy a home, and go on vacation from time to time. Where it's not just about getting by, but getting ahead. And to spark an American revival. We must start with a bold agenda. Where our public dollars go to affordable housing and healthcare and childcare, not spent on reckless or more than no idea. Where we invest in public education. One that sets students up for success. In the 21st century. Set them up for success in the 21st century, and not debt for a lifetime. Well, we write a tax code that rewards hard work, not just fast wealth. Where we have guardrails, around social media, and on AI to serve the public, not just the profit. Our government is focused on progress, and not so distracted by process that it means we don't get the people's needs done. Where we protect and expand our fundamental rights, not roll back and restrict them. That's, I believe, how we revive the American dream. And our American revival has to be more than just legislation.”
Looking ahead, Harris highlighted the upcoming midterm elections as a key moment but stressed that long-term change requires sustained effort beyond a single election cycle. She called for what she described as a revival of the American dream, defined by economic stability, access to affordable housing and healthcare, strong public education, and policies that support working families.
She also urged renewed civic responsibility at the local level, encouraging volunteerism and community support as part of broader national progress.
Harris closed by reinforcing a central theme of her address: that power in the United States rests with the people. She encouraged continued engagement, stating that lasting change depends on both participation and persistence.
See our photos of the night