Mark Ruffalo, Mark Hamill, Josh Gad, Buttigieg, and Bridges at Harris Zoom

On Monday evening, a Zoom call featuring celebrities, elected officials, and political activists managed to raise over $3.5 million for Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign.

The virtual fundraiser showcased the support of numerous stars, including Mark Ruffalo, Josh Gad, Sean Astin, Mark Hamill, and Josh Groban. Additionally, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, former House majority leader Steny Hoyer, Senator Gary Peters of Michigan, and Pete Buttigieg joined the call.

Many participants took the opportunity to criticize former President Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance. They saw the event as a chance to counter sexist attacks directed at Harris, including the label of her being one of the “childless cat ladies” and accusations of her being merely a diversity hire.

The Zoom call, organized by Brad Bauman and Ross Morales Rocketto, marked the latest effort in Harris’s fundraising campaign following President Joe Biden’s endorsement of his running mate. Morales Rocketto, in his opening remarks, noted that the fundraiser drew inspiration from Black Women for Harris.

Initially, Morales Rocketto had some reservations about organizing the event. He commented, “Throughout American history, when white men have organized, it was often with pointy hats on,” referring to the Ku Klux Klan. “That discomfort and skepticism are understandable, but the left has been ceding white men to the Maga right for way too long.”

A’Shanti Gholar, president of Emerge America, emphasized the importance of engaging white male voters. “Ross, who planned the event, asked me to share it, and I readily agreed,” she told The Independent. “Many people felt it was significant to see a Black woman promoting white men who were supporting Vice President Harris.”

Maurice Mitchell, national director of the Working Families Party, further highlighted that white men constitute a substantial segment of the electorate. Democrats need to capture a sizeable portion of their votes to secure victory.

“White men are a massive part of the electorate, and in a close election, a few percentage points can be the difference between having a democracy or not,” Mitchell said.

A Pew Research Center study from the 2020 election indicated that 40% of white men voted for Biden, an increase from the 32% who supported Hillary Clinton in 2016.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, a longtime friend of Harris, noted, “If white males would vote one to 2 percent more for Democrats than they usually do, then we win this race.” Cooper had been considered as a potential running mate for Harris due to their friendship dating back to their days as attorneys general. However, he announced shortly before the call that he would not pursue the vice-presidential spot.

Throughout the Zoom call, participants defended Harris against accusations of being a “DEI hire” – a term used by conservatives aiming to undermine her qualifications.

Cooper argued, “Here’s what they’re saying: that women and people of color don’t deserve to lead. We know better than that.”

Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that Harris’s achievements should not be diminished by such claims. “Essentially, what they’re saying is a burden that women, African Americans, and anyone who doesn’t fit the main narrative have been carrying—that some of us are created more equal than others and that some of us don’t get to enjoy the same rights and responsibilities.”

The fundraiser also included light-hearted moments. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker referenced a debunked myth about Vance: “I created my own cognitive test to describe the two of them: ‘sofa, dolphin, shark, cats, convict.’”

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a potential vice-presidential pick, remarked that the event was a chance for white men to show that Trump does not represent them all. “How often in 100 days do you get to change the trajectory of the world?” he asked. “And how often does a Black woman kick Trump’s ass and send him on the road?”

Actor Josh Gad noted the contrast between the Zoom call and the testosterone-fueled atmosphere of the Republican National Convention. “They have Kid Rock, Kevin Sorbo, and a dolphin aficionado, and we have the Hulk, Samwise Gamgee, Luke Skywalker, and Mayor Pete just on the Zoom,” he said.