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.”
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.”
