Chicago’s central location served Democratic National Convention delegates and protesters well, but Kamala Harris surprised everyone by heading back to Milwaukee for a rally while the convention continued without her for the day. Donald Trump and running mate J.D. Vance were also holding events in battleground Wisconsin, in Detroit and Kenosha respectively. Harris’ decision to rally in Milwaukee, the same location as the Republican National Convention, follows a recent pattern of modifying her policy positions to present herself as more centrist.
Harris focused on her new economic agenda in Milwaukee, highlighting a $1.7 trillion economic plan that includes initiatives such as a $6,000 child tax credit, government price control of groceries, and medical debt forgiveness. Vance’s event in Kenosha, focusing on crime and safety, was strategically timed to coincide with the DNC in Chicago and Harris’ rally in Milwaukee. The emphasis on remembering the unrest in Kenosha in 2020 and showing support for the city was an important aspect of the visit.
Harris was joined by running mate Tim Walz in Milwaukee, where they watched the evening speakers of the DNC’s Day Two at the Fiserv Forum. Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama were among the speakers at the convention. Kenosha County Republican Party Chair Sandy Wiedmeyer highlighted Vance’s vocal criticism of Walz’s response to the Minneapolis riots, which resonated with the people of Kenosha who experienced their own unrest in 2020. The critical county is seen as increasingly turning towards conservative policies.
The visit to Kenosha by Vance and the Trump campaign was seen as a way to show support for the city and its residents, who are tired of radical left policies and slow government responses to crisis situations. The importance of Kenosha as a key county in the state and the nation was emphasized by Wiedmeyer. With the DNC taking place in Chicago, just south of Kenosha, the strategic timing of Vance’s visit was seen as a way to position the campaign as being in touch with the issues faced by the city and its residents.
Despite Harris’ rally in Milwaukee, it was unclear if any of the thousands of DNC protesters would follow her to Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Democratic Party did not respond to requests for comment on the situation. The proximity of Milwaukee to Chicago, just an 80 mile drive north along Lake Michigan, made it a convenient location for Harris’ rally. The decision to hold events in Wisconsin, a swing state, reflected the focus of both campaigns on key battleground areas as the presidential election drew closer.
