By Francesca Hangeior.

Concerts and carnivals hosted at polling precincts. “Souls to the Polls” mobilizations after Sunday service.

And star-studded rallies featuring Hollywood actors, business leaders, musical artists and activists.

Such seemingly disparate efforts all have a single goal: boost Black voter turnout ahead of Election Day.

How Black communities turn out in the 2024 election has been scrutinized due to the pivotal role Black voters have played in races for the White House, Congress and state legislatures across the country.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who if elected would be the second Black president, has made engaging Black voters a priority of her messaging and policy platform.

Meanwhile, former president Donald Trump has sought to make inroads with Democrats’ most consistent voting bloc with unorthodox and at times controversial outreach.

A key strategy in Harris and Democrats’ Black voter outreach includes dispatching the first Black president and his wife, the former first lady, to battleground states where winning may come down to how well the Obamas convince ambivalent or apathetic voters that they must not sit this one out.

Democratic efforts have ranged from vigorous door-knocking campaigns in Atlanta, Detroit and Philadelphia this weekend to swing state rallies. Michelle Obama rallied voters in Norristown, Pennsylvania on Saturday alongside Grammy award-winning artist Alicia Keys while Barack Obama stumped in Milwaukee on Sunday.

The former first lady also conducted her own scrupulously nonpartisan rally on Tuesday where speakers evoked the South’s Civil Rights history.

“I’m always amazed at how little so many people really understand just how profoundly elections impact our daily lives,” Michelle Obama said. “Because that’s really what your vote is, it is your chance to tell folks in power what you want.”

As the U.S. prepares for its November 5, 2024, presidential election, Nigerian-Americans have expressed their intention to support a candidate who prioritizes Nigeria’s interests.

Prominent among those holding this stance is Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinmma, a former member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, who emphasized that though he is traditionally aligned with the Democratic Party, recent Republican administrations have shown more support for Nigeria.

Agbonayinmma, popularly known as EJ, noted that under former Democratic President Barack Obama, the U.S. declined to sell arms to Nigeria to aid its fight against insurgency. This stance only changed under Republican President Donald Trump, who approved arms sales crucial in Nigeria’s battle against Boko Haram.

Commenting on his preferred candidate, EJ said, “Though I’ve long been a Democrat, I believe Donald J. Trump has the ability to do more for Nigeria than Kamala Harris. Democrats often view us as if we lack agency or vision. Kamala Harris, despite her experience, doesn’t seem prepared to lead America.”

Agbonayinmma voiced disappointment in the current Democratic administration’s lack of engagement with Nigeria. He remarked, “Despite Nigeria’s significance as Africa’s most populous country, President Joe Biden has not visited Nigeria. Democrats have been slow to support us in combatting insurgency and corruption.”

Reflecting on past Democratic policy, Agbonayinmma recalled, “During Obama’s tenure, Nigerian-Americans advocated tirelessly for him, yet he declined Nigeria’s requests for arms. When our communities in northern Nigeria were under attack by Boko Haram, it was Trump who ultimately approved the purchase of Tucano jets, allowing us to strengthen our defenses.”

Agbonayinmma also criticized Democratic policies that, in his view, erode traditional values. “Morality is being compromised. Children are now exposed to lessons in schools that undermine our values. This isn’t the America we envisioned; it’s not what our forefathers built.”

Hon. Agbonayinmma’s statements reflect the concerns of some Nigerian-Americans who seek a candidate committed to fostering U.S.-Nigeria relations and addressing issues of moral and ethical governance.

By Francesca Hangeior.

As the 2024 United States presidential election approaches, candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have secured notable endorsements from celebrities and billionaires alike.

The upcoming election, the 60th presidential election in the United States, is scheduled for Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

Using data from the Federal Election Commission as of September, Bloomberg examined the contributions of individuals on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index to the Harris and Trump campaigns.

Trump leads the fundraising race, receiving at least $281 million from billionaire donors. In contrast, Harris has garnered at least $66.2 million from donors, including contributions rolled over from supporters of Joe Biden after he suspended his campaign.

A significant portion of Trump’s funding comes from two major donors: Elon Musk and Miriam Adelson, who each contributed over $100 million.

Harris’s wealthiest supporters include Meta co-founder Dustin Moskovitz and Netflix Chairman Reed Hastings.

Find below the list of the richest Americans supporting each candidate as reported by Bloomberg.

DONALD TRUMP BILLIONAIRE ENDORSEMENTS

The CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk: Net Worth – $270.3 billion | Donations – $100 million+

Chairman of Blackstone, Stephen Schwarzman: Net Worth – $54.2 billion | Donations – $419,600

Chairman of Interactive Brokers, Thomas Peterffy: Net Worth – $44.9 billion | Donations – $844,000

Majority shareholder of Las Vegas Sands, Miriam Adelson: Net Worth – $37.5 billion | Donations – $100 million+

Founder and owner of Hilcorp Energy, Jeff Hildebrand: Net Worth – $18.3 billion | Donations – $515,000

Co-founder of WhatsApp, Jan Koum: Net Worth – $17.3 billion | Donations – $5.1 million

Chairman of Continental Resources, Harold Hamm: Net Worth – $14.5 billion | Donations – $1.2 million

Chairman and sole owner of ABC Supply, Diane Hendricks: Net Worth – $14.3 billion | Donations – $15 million

Chairman and CEO of Fertitta Entertainment, Tilman Fertitta: Net Worth – $13.8 billion | Donations – $487,000

Founder and president of Beal Financial, Andy Beal: Net Worth – $13.6 billion | Donations – $2 million

Co-founder and CEO, Apollo Global Management Marc Rowan: Net Worth – $10.2 billion | Donations – $1 million

Owner of New York Jets, Woody Johnson IV: Net Worth – $8.8 billion  | Donations – $2 million

Founder and CEO, Pershing Square, Bill Ackman: Net Worth – $7.7 billion | Donations – $419,000

Founder of TD Ameritrade, Joe Ricketts: Net Worth – $7.7 billion | Donations – $867,900

Co-founder of Home Depot, Bernie Marcus: Net Worth – $7.5 billion | Donations – $1 million

Chairman and largest shareholder of Energy Transfer LP, Kelcy Warren: Net Worth – $7.4 billion | Donations – $10 million

President and chairman of Majestic Realty, Edward Roski: Net Worth – $7.3 billion | Donations – $100,000

Chairman and CEO of Rollins Inc., Gary Rollins: Net Worth – $6.8 billion | Donations – $12,500

Trump has attracted a range of celebrity endorsements, particularly from the film and television industry. Actors such as Jon Voight, Dennis Quaid, and Mel Gibson have expressed their support for the former president, along with familiar faces like Zachary Levi and Rosanne Barr.

In the music space, Trump has found allies in artists like Kid Rock and Jason Aldean, who have openly backed his candidacy, along with endorsements from Amber Rose and Azealia Banks.

The sports community has also rallied behind Trump, with endorsements from boxing legend Mike Tyson and former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan, as well as notable athletes like Lawrence Taylor and Danica Patrick.

KAMALA HARRIS BILLIONAIRE ENDORSEMENTS

Co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates: Net Worth – $160.2 billion | Donations – $50 million

Grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton, Lukas Walton: Net Worth – $36.4 billion | Donations – $416,000

Former CEO of Alphabet, Eric Schmidt: Net Worth – $32.3 billion | Donations – $1.6 million

Co-founder of Meta Platforms, Dustin Moskovitz: Net Worth – $26.6 billion | Donations – $38 million

Daughter-in-law of Walmart founder Sam Walton, Christy Walton: Net Worth – $16.4 billion | Donations – $25,000

Former co-chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Melinda French Gates: Net Worth – $15 billion | Donations – $920,000

Daughter of Ned Johnson III, former chairman of Fidelity Investments, Elizabeth Johnson: Net Worth – $13.2 billion | Donations – $200,000

Founder of Emerson Collective and wife of the late Steve Jobs, Laurene Powell Jobs: Net Worth – $11.6 billion | Donations – $2 million

Founder and majority owner of DE Shaw & Co., David Shaw: Net Worth – $10.7 billion | Donations – $295,000

Filmmaker, Steven Spielberg: Net Worth – $9.6 billion | Donations – $1.5 million

President and chief operating officer of Blackstone, Jon Gray: Net Worth – $9.4 billion | Donations – $500,000

Wife of the late Charles Schusterman, founder of Samson Investment, Lynn Schusterman: Net Worth – $8.9 billion | Donations – $5,575

Co-founder of Airbnb, Joe Gebbia: Net Worth – $8.3 billion | Donations – $20,000

Shareholder of Stryker Corp., Pat Stryker: Net Worth – $8.1 billion | Donations – $500,000

Former chief scientist and vice president of Renaissance Technologies, Henry Laufer: Net Worth – $8 billion | Donations – $1 million

Chairman and co-founder of Kleiner Perkins, John Doerr: Net Worth – $7.9 billion | Donations – $1.3 million

Co-owner of Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban: Net Worth – $7.8 billion | Donations – Not yet

Co-founder and executive vice president, SAS Institute, John Sall: Net Worth – $7.7 billion | Donations – $82,000

Former executive vice chairman of Blackstone, Tony James: Net Worth – $7.2 billion | Donations – $250,000

Wife of the late Ross Perot, Margot Perot: Net Worth – $7 billion | Donations – $20,000

Son of investor and music composer J. Paul Getty, Gordon Getty: Net Worth – $6.7 billion | Donations – $1.8 million

Founder of Soros Fund Management, George Soros: Net Worth – $6.5 billion | Donations – $1.8 million

Co-founder of Netflix, Reed Hastings: Net Worth – $6.5 billion | Donations – $6.9 million

Shareholder of Cox Enterprises, James Cox Chambers: Net Worth – $5.7 billion | Donations – $1.2 million

Shareholder of Cox Enterprises, Katharine Rayner: Net Worth – $5.7 billion | Donations – $300,000

KAMALA HARRIS CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENTS

In the music industry, Harris has received support from stars like Taylor Swift, who endorsed her after a debate, and Beyoncé, who featured her song “Freedom” in Harris’s campaign. Other notable artists advocating for her include Eminem, Cher, Lizzo, Nicky Jam, and Don Omar.

In Hollywood, high-profile actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Julia Roberts, George Clooney, and Jennifer Lawrence have publicly backed her, alongside influential figures like Octavia Spencer, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Mindy Kaling.

The sports world has also shown strong support, with endorsements from NBA coach Steve Kerr and star playerS Steph Curry and Lebron James. Legendary athletes like Billie Jean King and Magic Johnson further bolster her appeal in this arena.