Voters, some hearing for the first time, discuss Biden stepping down, Harris stepping up
Outside Fiserv Forum on Sunday afternoon, where Republicans last week promoted a message of unity and coalesced around former President Donald Trump, two young voters took stock of the news that President Joe Biden was dropping out and upending the presidential race.
Lucian Tash, 19, from South Carolina, and Wynn Grame, 22, from Milwaukee prefer Biden over Trump. They like Biden's policies on lowering student loan debt.
But they said his debate performance last month was hard to watch.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who Biden has endorsed, "is the most well-known Democratic figure, so it makes sense to go with her. I don't think she's the strongest candidate," Tash said. "I think other Democrats would probably perform better if they were more well-known."
Grame said he likes Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, but "a lot of the candidates (they) would put forward, I do not really know who they are. At this point, it would be late to build an entire candidacy."
"Personally, I think Kamala is a safe bet, probably just stick with her," Tash said. "But it's going to be a tough race."
Harris planned to visit Milwaukee on Tuesday, though what would be her first stop since Biden's exit — and in a crucial swing state to boot — was news to Tash and Grame.
More: Biden withdrawal puts Kamala Harris' planned Tuesday visit to Milwaukee center stage
A few blocks away, outside Mader's Restaurant, Penny Webb from Kentucky learned the news for the first time. She had been on an airplane to attend the Green Bay Packers shareholders' meeting Monday at Lambeau Field.
"Biden dropping out was a smart thing and his counsel advised him well, because he can't even call his vice president by her name," said Webb, who tends to vote Republican. "I'm interested to see who the Democratic candidate is going to be ... whoever the candidate they choose will be a big indication of how this race may go."
Others said that even at this late date, it gave them an option that was less depressing.
“The presidential race in the fall isn’t going to be like two really old white men that I don't really feel represented by either of them,” said Josephine Selvik, 23, who lives in the downtown Milwaukee area. “So it kind of opens up a chance to maybe feel more seen in government.”
She said the uncertainty following Biden’s decision at least offered “a bit of relief” and a chance to see some promise in what has been a pessimistic election season.
Voters in Madison support Harris, but float alternative candidates
In Madison, the state's other large Democratic hub, voters along the streets surrounding the state Capitol were shocked about the news but said they would throw their support behind Harris.
“Are you serious?” said Elizabeth Manger, 52, of Milwaukee. “I’m flabbergasted right now.”
A delegate to next month's Democratic National Convention, Gerald Sternberg, said Biden’s decision to step down was the ultimate act “of patriotism and graciousness” and will build on his legacy. He’s ready to put his support behind Harris and anticipates other delegates will follow suit.
“She's a prosecutor, he's a criminal. She speaks beautifully on reproductive rights for women. She's going to bring people of color, women, men, all Democrats and many independents and even some Republican women in support of our campaign,” Sternberg said.
Not everyone was thrilled with the situation.
Kyle Konop, 43, of Madison, said the news was a giant "eye roll" to him. “The press has been bored to tears with this rerun election, and they want their shiny chaos convention, and I really, really hope they don't get it.”
Though he plans to support Harris, he said people forget about the backing Biden had among Black voters and among older voters, two groups he said Democrats are “absolutely great at taking for granted at every turn.”
Lary Sheffert, a Michigan voter in Madison for the weekend, said “it’s about time” to replace Biden. He’s a registered Republican and would have voted for Nikki Haley if she was the Republican nominee, but voted for Clinton and Biden in 2016 and 2020, and plans to vote Democratic again in November.
He thinks Harris can win, especially if Trump keeps “hammering on the same idiotic” rhetoric about Jan. 6 and election falsehoods. “It's not my Republican Party anymore. They're a bunch of clowns now, like a bunch of lemmings falling behind Trump.”
Asked about Harris’ VP pick, people threw out names such as Whitmer, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, and former first lady Michelle Obama.
“Probably somebody white male and southern or Midwestern,” Konop said. “Politically she (Harris) is probably way too Black and female to get away with having anything but a white male down ticket.”
Voters in Milwaukee are split on Harris
Back in Milwaukee, Karol Aguilar and Felix Ruckstuhl, who were sharing a big soft pretzel at the War Memorial beer garden on Sunday afternoon, held different opinions on Harris' chances in November.
Ruckstuhl said he is not excited about a Democratic ticket with Harris at the top, but he was not surprised at Biden stepping down.
“I think there’s a lot of campaign money attached to (Harris), so they can’t spend that war chest without her,” he said.
Aguilar, on the other hand, said she thinks Biden dropping out could draw more voters to the polls in November. While she's not sure Harris is ready to become president, she said she would be excited to vote for any Democratic candidate other than Biden.
“If the Democratic Party plays it correctly, if they have a solid candidate, they could get a lot of Republicans that don’t feel tied with Trump," Aguilar said.
Terry and Colleen Kline, a married couple from Oak Creek, also are unsure about Harris.
“I think when someone makes a decision to run, it’s hard to change your mind,” Colleen said about Biden stepping down. “I would hope that someone very qualified takes the spot.”
She said that no one comes to mind to replace Biden.
“There’s too many people I’d be willing to listen to right now,” Colleen said, meaning she couldn't decide just yet. “I think one of the biggest problems in this race is people are very emotional and not listening to both sides. And I think whichever side you’re on, you need to listen.”
Her husband said he hopes anyone but Harris replaces Biden.
“I think she’s an airhead. I don’t think she’s professional and I don’t think she’s qualified to do the job,” Terry said.
Daniel Schmitt, a voter from West Allis, said he was not affiliated with either political party but would rather vote for a potted plant than Donald Trump. However, no one comes to mind when thinking about a Democratic replacement for Biden, he said.
“Anyone that is not a convicted sexual … molester of women would be a good start. Someone who is not being indicted for business corruption, documentary corruption. Somebody who has a good sense on trade,” he added.
Michelle Au, a twenty-year-old Marquette student, said she is “disappointed but not surprised” Biden dropped out.
“I didn’t like either candidate, but I would have rather voted for Biden,” Au said.
Au said the news Sunday brought feelings of anxiety.
“I definitely am really worried, especially for my rights, for women’s rights, and I’m a supporter of the LGBTQ community, so I’m worried about that as well,” Au said.
Tommy Harry, a 24-year-old from Milwaukee who identifies as an individualist, also is worried.
He said he wasn't surprised Biden dropped out of the race. “Many people don’t see him as reliable due to his age,” Harry said.
But he wasn't convinced Harris was a lock going forward.
“Dropping out this far out is idiotic,” he said. “Clearly people don’t want Harris to step in, so they’re going to choose a new candidate entirely.”
On Milwaukee’s East Side, voters had a variety of perspectives, and some frustration.
Michael Sheeran, 71, a Milwaukee resident from the East Side, said he voted for Trump in 2020, but was put off by the former president’s convictions. He said he would definitely consider voting for Harris in the upcoming election if she was the nominee.
“She’s good, she’s good — she seems sharp,” Sheeran said of Harris.
Star Howard, a 21-year-old resident of Milwaukee, had not heard Biden was leaving the race. They said they would feel much more comfortable with Harris due to age concerns.
“I’m curious to see if she'll be able to garner as much support and publicity,” Howard said, adding “it’s about time” a Black and Asian American woman led a presidential ticket.
Nadine Galloway, a senior from North Milwaukee, said Biden’s decision to leave the race was unsurprising, but she was disappointed it came so late. Still she called it brave. Her real frustration was with the Democratic Party, which she said "sat back and did nothing” for too long.
“Everyone was trying to kick him out, because, you know, he’s embarrassed the Democratic Party or whatever, because he’s too old,” Galloway said. "You knew he was old when he ran."
Harris could mobilize key groups of Democratic voters
Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of immigrant rights group Voces de la Frontera, feels confident Biden’s decision to step down will mobilize significant segments of the party that were concerned about Biden’s ability to serve as a strong messenger.
Neumann-Ortiz said Voces constituency has been disenchanted the Democratic Party due to limited changes to immigration reform.
Since the beginning of 2024, Neumann-Ortiz said, organizers have worked to remind people of the gains made under the Biden-Harris administration, such as protecting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), modifying the immigration process to allow for easier family reunification, and expanding Affordable Care Act coverage for DACA recipients.
With Harris at the top of the ticket, the party has the opportunity to activate female voters, young people, and underrepresented and marginalized populations who are most concerned about issues like abortion and immigration, Neumann-Ortiz added.
“The stakes are high for this election," she said. "I think ultimately it is a good choice, but I think the threat of a Trump administration overshadows anything else.”
Other organizations that typically support Democrats also have been disenchanted.
For months Janan Najeeb, a Listen to Wisconsin organizer and co-chair of the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine, advocated for Biden to drop out of the race over his administration's financial backing of the war in Gaza.
Najeeb, along with more than 48,000 voters across Wisconsin, cast an uninstructed ballot in the April primary to indicate that dissatisfaction. The act of protest aligned with efforts in states like Michigan and Minnesota, where large cohorts of eligible voters cast their ballots as “uncommitted.”
“For someone that has become known as ‘Genocide Joe,’ the possibilities of him winning were slim to none,” Najeeb said. “That was very distressing for many of us who definitely did not want to see a Trump presidency, because that would be horrific as well.”
With Biden’s endorsement of Harris, Najeeb said there is a strong possibility that more voters will see themselves reflected in the Democratic ticket, but will still be awaiting policy initiatives to end the war.
“We are not naive to believe that just simply because someone says something that that's going to happen,” she said.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What Wisconsin voters think about Biden leaving, Harris as candidate
