In West Allis, Wisconsin, Vice President Kamala Harris launched her presidential campaign, drawing over 3,000 enthusiastic supporters to a high school gymnasium. This rally marked her first campaign event since President Joe Biden withdrew from the race, positioning Harris as his successor. Harris’ rally was significant as it was her fifth visit to Wisconsin this year, a pivotal battleground state that played a crucial role in the 2016 and 2020 elections.
“The path to the White House goes through Wisconsin,” Harris emphasized in her speech. “To win in Wisconsin, we are counting on you right here in Milwaukee. You helped us win in 2020, and in 2024, we will win again.”
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Emphasizing Key Campaign Themes
Wisconsin, which faced restrictions on abortion and endured biased voting maps favoring Republicans, became a focal point for Harris’s campaign themes around abortion rights and democracy. Harris has swiftly become a prominent defender of abortion access following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. In her speech, she assured the crowd, “We trust women to make decisions for their own bodies. When Congress passes a law to restore reproductive freedoms, as president of the United States, I will sign it.”
Harris’s campaign quickly gained momentum, with hundreds of Democratic elected officials endorsing her, a majority of Biden’s state-level delegates pledging support at the Democratic National Convention, and $81 million in donations pouring in within the first 24 hours. The rally, initially planned for a smaller venue, had to be moved to accommodate the overwhelming number of RSVPs.
Mobilizing a Diverse Coalition
The rally featured a diverse, multigenerational coalition of supporters, reflective of the movements opposing Trump, championing #MeToo, and advocating for abortion rights. Attendees expressed excitement at the prospect of Harris becoming the first woman president. “I’ve been waiting for a woman president my whole life,” said Margaret Beres. “I wanted Hillary so bad.”
Harris received introductions from prominent figures like Governor Tony Evers, Senator Tammy Baldwin, and educator Leia Esser, who benefited from student loan relief under the Biden-Harris administration. Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski praised Harris as “the woman we need at this moment,” adding, “She’s not afraid to take down bullies. And that’s what she’s going to do with Donald Trump because he’s the bully that’s been bullying the American public, and enough is enough.”
Addressing Legal and Social Issues
Harris highlighted her background as a prosecutor and attorney general, connecting it to Trump’s legal troubles. “In those roles, I took on perpetrators of all kinds. Predators who abused women. Fraudsters who ripped off consumers. Cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain,” she said. “So hear me when I say I know Donald Trump’s type. In this campaign, I promise you, I will proudly put my record against his any day of the week.”
The crowd showed strong support, chanting “lock him up” in response to Harris mentioning Trump’s legal issues. Harris criticized Trump for his ties to billionaires and corporations and condemned Project 2025, a right-wing policy blueprint that Trump’s campaign has distanced itself from. The crowd responded with chants of “We won’t go back.”
Harris walked on and off the stage to Beyoncé’s “Freedom,” a powerful anthem for Black women. Many attendees wore pink and green, the colors of Harris’s sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. The event underscored Harris’s potential to break barriers as the first woman and woman of color to hold the presidency.
Grassroots Support and Future Plans
Harris underscored the grassroots nature of her campaign, emphasizing the number of small donations received. “Because we are a people-powered campaign, we will be a people-first presidency,” she stated. Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff also emphasized abortion rights in his public appearances, arguing that a vote for Harris would restore Roe v. Wade.
Attendees at the rally eagerly showcased their support with merchandise from past campaigns and feminist slogans. Patricia McFarland, a longtime Democratic activist, proudly displayed a Biden-Harris button with Biden’s name covered and expressed her dedication to voter registration and mobilization efforts. “Every place I’ve gone, women are energized,” she noted. “Women are ready.”
The rally highlighted the enthusiasm and readiness of voters to support Harris’s historic candidacy. Marian Sheridan, attending from Fond du Lac, expressed her pride in supporting a candidate who represents positive change. “This is a historical event,” she said. “Every woman should be behind her.”
Luz Sosa, an educator and union member, praised the Biden-Harris administration’s economic achievements and expressed confidence in Harris’s ability to communicate these successes. “I see the excitement more now than with Biden,” Sosa remarked. “Biden did such an amazing job; he just couldn’t communicate that.”
Despite the challenges, Sosa believes Harris’s candidacy can deliver significant progress for women, particularly women of color. “In this election, I think it’s going to be important that Kamala is going to break that ceiling for women. Women of color are more than just essential workers — we can actually have positions of power,” Sosa concluded.
As the campaign moves forward, Harris faces the task of introducing herself to voters and building a compelling case against Trump. The rally in Wisconsin showcased a robust start, with a strong, energized base ready to support her bid for the presidency.
