By Tate Hutchinson
On Tuesday, as tens of thousands packed the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Vice President Kamala Harris and running-mate Tim Walz hosted an unprecedented event just 90 miles north at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum. While most candidates would stay put for the week awaiting their nomination, Harris and Walz got to work inspiring a crowd 15,000-strong in what may be the deciding state in November’s election.
Photo Credit: Hoyt Leitzke
Wisconsin’s largest city, which was slated to host the canceled 2020 DNC, was given the opportunity to host the 2024 Republican National Convention in July. Though it was a moment that confirmed the possibility for Milwaukee to host an event of its size, the RNC was met with grumbles and disappointment in the solid-blue city. Even with thousands of visitors in the downtown arena, the city’s vibrance was curtailed by a lower-than-expected boost in tourism; many restaurants reported underwhelming turnouts, and many metropolitan residents avoided the downtown area during the event. It certainly didn’t help that former President Donald J. Trump, who was confirmed as the GOP’s nominee at the event, had previously labeled Milwaukee “horrible” during a meeting with Republican lawmakers weeks prior.
However, for Tuesday’s rally, the city appeared jubilated to welcome Harris and Walz in the same venue that the GOP occupied earlier in the summer. Instead of being criticized with “horrible” labels, the Democratic candidates embraced Milwaukee with a joyful presence. First, Jaliah Jefferson, deputy director of WI’s Democratic Party, engaged the crowd first as the final few sections were filled. She encouraged attendees to volunteer and help the campaign in the crucial Badger State.
Photo Credit: Hoyt Leitzke
The 15,000+ spectators were shown a live broadcast of Chicago’s DNC on the stadium’s jumbotron. The crowd cheered as each state’s delegates cast their support for the Harris-Walz ticket and shared what electing America’s first woman president this November would mean to them. And halfway through the roll call, the crowd was electrified as Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz greeted the packed arena.
Gov. Walz’s speech highlighted the contrast between their campaign strategy and that of Republicans. Walz remarked that the GOP’s fearmongering and egotistical focus on Trump would be their downfall. “Not only do we have massive energy at our convention, we’ve got a hell of a lot more energy at where they had their convention!” Walz credited the enthusiasm of their supporters to a campaign centered around joy, while expressing an urgency for supporters to share this joy with others and convert their energy into votes. “We have 77 days to change the world,” he declared.
And just as the streamed broadcast confirmed her as the official nominee for the party on the jumbotron, Kamala Harris came onstage to thunderous applause. Harris gave thanks to the delegates in Chicago for her nomination and showed strong leadership as she laid out the important issues her campaign will fight for.
The newly chosen candidate showcased her vision for strengthening the middle class; she aims to cut taxes, decrease the cost of housing, groceries, and pharmaceuticals that are holding many Americans back financially. She also spoke to the freedoms most important to America, especially in her advocacy for a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body without governmental restrictions.
Additionally, Harris showed her compassion in action when a member of the audience needed medical attention, pausing her speech to encourage attendees to clear a path for emergency personnel. “This is who we are, this is what we’re about, looking out for each other…It’s about truly understanding what ‘love thy neighbor’ means.”
Harris conclusively embraced Wisconsin’s motto as she stressed her “forward”-thinking position. “This is not just about us vs. Donald Trump. This is about two very different visions for our nation: one focused on the future, another focused on the past. And Wisconsin, we fight for the future.”
As the DNC continued in Chicago, Vice President Harris and Governor Walz would make their highly anticipated appearances. In their speeches, they clearly defined their bold vision as representatives of the Democratic Party. They solidified their party platform with policies centered on protecting necessary freedoms and worked to appeal to Republicans resistant to Trump’s inflammatory leadership of the GOP.
In Walz’s speech on Day 3 of the convention, he told his story in military service, as a teacher, a coach, a politician, and a father. He spoke about the importance of protecting children and communities and fighting to “build a country where workers come first” and “healthcare and housing are human rights.”
Finally, Harris closed out the convention on Thursday night with a 40-minute speech dedicated to unity, defying political divisions to showcase her policy goals to help everyday Americans. She declared her intent to expand housing construction, strengthen the border, and reinstate abortion access nationally. Harris’s well-articulated platform was met with overwhelming cheers in Chicago and millions nationwide. Her speech was broadcast to 28.9 million viewers, just surpassing the TV ratings of Trump’s RNC speech.
The campaign continues to gain momentum as the Harris/Walz duo tours nationwide, making stops in critical swing states. As their popularity rises in the polls, the Democratic nominees have many opportunities to sway undecided voters ahead. The stage is set for the long-awaited Donald Trump-Kamala Harris debate in Philadelphia on September 10, followed by their running-mates JD Vance and Tim Walz squaring off on October 1 in NYC. With the election mere months away, Harris and Walz hope to continue their wave of optimism up until the final ballots are cast on November 5.