Five takeaways from the state Democratic convention in Milwaukee

Gov. Tony Evers crowed. Speakers ridiculed Donald Trump and rallied around President Joe Biden. And the conflict in Gaza loomed in more ways than one. Here are five takeaways from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin state convention at the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino in Milwaukee this weekend:

State Democratic convention delegates support ceasefire in Gaza

After pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted Sen. Tammy Baldwin's speech Saturday night, Democratic delegates voted Sunday for a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

The resolution said the collective punishment of Palestinians is "an egregious violation of humanitarian law and is … genocide." One delegate called for the resolution to drop the word "genocide," but that motion was defeated.

Heba Mohammad, a delegate and a Palestinian, said Democrats in other states had passed similar resolutions as far back as November. "We are late to the game," Mohammad said.

The resolution passed on a vote of 136 to 91.

The delegates then voted in favor of a resolution condemning antisemitism. But first, the Democratic delegates narrowly voted to remove a line saying antisemitic incidents have risen 400% since Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

Members of the Jewish caucus weren't happy with decision to delete the line. "This is outrageous," said Milwaukee County Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman.

Tony Evers fired up the Democratic delegates

Not usually known for his rousing speeches, Evers brought down the house Saturday night with his pithy description of what he said his party has achieved in Madison.

"Democrats are getting shit done and delivering for Wisconsin," the Democratic governor said.

Evers ticked off a list of policy successes, including boosting shared revenue for municipalities, expanding access to high-speed internet in the state, keeping the Milwaukee Brewers in town and "fixing the damn roads."

Democrats, Evers contended, could get more done but are locked in stalemates with Republicans over such issues as how best to spend money set aside last year to address "forever chemical" contamination.

“If you ask me, I don’t think they’ve gotten over the fact that Wisconsin Democrats helped elect a former teacher as governor and ran up the scoreboard for triple the margin the second time — a 3% win," Evers said.

Democrats beat up on Trump while touting Biden's achievements

Biden might be faring poorly in the polls, but nearly every Democratic speaker at the convention sung the praises of the first-term Democrat.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison, for example, credited Biden for "promises that he made and promises that he has kept." He noted that Biden put the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court while making health care more affordable and creating jobs.

Likewise, most speakers mentioned Trump's recent conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records in his hush-money trial. At one point, Evers said Trump has "more felonies than Baskin-Robbins has flavors."

"Biden gets it done," said U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan of Madison. "Trump gets felonies."

Milwaukee officials were front and center

It might have been the state Democratic convention, but Milwaukee Democrats led off Saturday night's activities by welcoming the hundreds of delegates to the Cream City.

First up was Marcelia Nicholson, Milwaukee County Board chairwoman. Perhaps signaling her own political ambitions, Nicholson started off with, "For those who don't know me yet … "

She was followed by Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, who kicked off what would become a familiar theme regarding this fall's presidential election. "Every path to victory runs through Wisconsin," said the first-term mayor.

Packers still rule over Pritzker's Bears

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, delivering the keynote speech, used a familiar analogy when discussing the mindset that Midwest Democrats need to have this fall.

"It has to be like game day when the Packers play the Bears," Pritzker said. "We can spend the entire off-season debating coaches and quarterbacks and kickers and draft picks and play calls, but when we get on the field, we all have one goal — winning every time we play, we leave it all on the field. Losing is not an option."

"For us," shouted one Wisconsin delegate, drawing hearty laughter. The Packers have a 10-game win streak over the Bears.

"Oh, we’re going to get you this year,” Pritzker countered.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Five takeaways from the state Democratic convention in Milwaukee