Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris greets a supporter as she stops at LegendErie Records and Coffee House, a Black-owned small business, in Erie, Pennsylvania, Oct. 14, 2024.
Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
When you order a cheesesteak from Jim’s West in Philadelphia these days, you get something else for free from owner Cortez Johnson: an endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election.
“I support her for many reasons. She’s definitely for the community. She’s definitely for small business,” Johnson recently told CNBC.
Signs supporting Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, hang inside the restaurant in a predominantly Black neighborhood in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.
The vice president visited Jim’s West in May to have a cheesesteak and talk about Black businesses. Since then, Johnson has been a vocal supporter.
“She’s definitely foot on land, especially in Philadelphia,” said Johnson. “I’m looking at a willingness to help us thrive and build up small businesses.”
Johnson and other …