Kamala Harris campaigns for young voters in Fortnite
In the final phase of the US presidential election campaign, Democratic candidates Kamala Harris, the incumbent vice president, and Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota, are breaking new ground to reach young voters: they have released their own map in Fortnite. Starting today, just one week before the election, the map “Freedom Town, USA” is available to players. This initiative marks what is arguably the most political use of Fortnite since the game was released in 2015.
- The map, accessible via the code 733155366547, directly addresses the Harris/Walz team’s key campaign promises. Freedom Town was designed with elements that represent the Democratic standpoint: support for small businesses, incentives for first-time homebuyers, and the expansion of affordable housing. Through this virtual space, the campaign team aims to appeal to a broader, younger electorate and offer players a playful introduction to their political goals. A short trailer shows the game environment and some characters in patriotic clothing, rounding out the immersive experience.
- In addition, the Harris/Walz campaign is supporting the project by engaging well-known Fortnite streamers such as Jordan “Huskerss” Thomas, MODELMORG, Himalyahs, and Khairi “Kdot” Harris for dedicated broadcasts from Freedom Town. By involving popular Fortnite YouTubers, the Democrats hope to gain even more attention and reach within the gaming community.
Fortnite Map: The Role of Tim Walz and the Reactions of the Competition
While Kamala Harris herself has little connection to the world of video games, Tim Walz, her running mate, has shown a strong interest in gaming, especially retro games. In a recent appearance with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, he played the old Sega Dreamcast game Crazy Taxi—a tribute to his youth. Surprisingly, he was featured by a developer in a special Crazy Taxi mod in which he appears as a playable character. This return to his gaming hobby gives Walz a certain authenticity that resonates well with gaming-savvy voters.
- There has been no comparable response from the Republican side so far. The Trump/Vance campaign has not yet launched its own Fortnite project, so the Harris/Walz team’s initiative stands alone at the moment. With only one week left until the election, it remains to be seen whether the Republicans will develop a counterpart to appeal to the gaming community.
- This unusual method of using gaming as a communication platform for political messages could set a precedent for future campaigns.
- The British BBC also attempted to make political education fun this year: information about the British elections was also available in the video game Roblox.
