Scarlett Johansson closes out Harris campaign in Pittsburgh

In the waning days and hours before Election Day, the Harris campaign sent a familiar face to Pittsburgh. Scarlett Johansson, known for her portrayal of Black Widow and performances in movies like “Marriage Story,” joined canvassers in Pittsburgh on Sunday.

In an exclusive sit-down with The Pitt News, Johansson explained why she chose to be in the all-important swing state two days before Nov. 5.

“It really feels like we are on the precipice of massive fundamental change happening, and there’s two very distinct roads looking towards the future,” Johansson said. “It feels to me like [the stakes are] emergency-level high … I think that’s why so many people in the public eye are getting out and advocating for their own candidate.”

Johansson is one of a slew of celebrities who have been campaigning for Harris and Walz in key swing states over the weeks leading up to the presidential election. When asked about what she wants young, first-time voters to know, Johansson emphasized the importance of individual votes.

“The truth is that this election will come down to margins. It’ll be thousands of votes here and there, and the country is so shockingly divided that it really comes down to ‘your one vote matters,’” Johansson said.

The star reminisced upon the energy leading up to the 2008 election and the similarities she sees this year, especially the presence and importance of organizers and volunteers.

“My first time voting was actually when Obama was elected. It was an incredibly exciting time because you got to see the true effects of the grassroots movements like that,” Johansson said. “It was supported by the grassroots movement, which is really student-led.”

Johansson talked at length to the crowd of volunteers at the Harris campaign headquarters in East Liberty about her dedication to fighting for reproductive justice, which she continually emphasized.

“Next door, you have women that literally have no options, have no choices and feel that even their own body is out of their control,” Johansson said. “It’s not just about abortion access, although of course that’s a massive issue, but it’s also about support in women’s health.”

In the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the slew of abortion bans around the country, Johansson noted the people most impacted by these decisions — women, who are currently outperforming men in early voting numbers.

“Who will suffer in this election if Trump wins? It’s going to be girls and women, 100%,” Johansson said. “My daughter is 10 years old … the idea of envisioning a future for her where she has less rights than I did growing up is unfathomable.”

When asked about the message she wanted to convey to voters while canvassing, Johansson emphasized that this is a “race that is won within margins” in which single votes are monumental, especially in Pennsylvania.

“So many people in this world do not have the opportunity to participate in democracy and participate in government this way. I think it’s a really empowering feeling to go to your polling location and cast your ballot. It feels like you’re actually making a difference because you are,” Johansson said. “You want everybody to be able to experience that, and they have the right to go out and exercise it.”