Recap: Kamala Harris rallies in Madison, Donald Trump rallies in Green Bay Wednesday
(This story was updated to add new information, photos and videos.)
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump returned to Wisconsin Wednesday, less than a week from Election Day.
Harris hosted a Get Out the Vote rally in Madison, while Trump delivered remarks in the Green Bay suburb of Ashwaubenon at the Resch Center.
Harris' rally featured performances from Gracie Abrams, Mumford & Sons, Remi Wolf and The National’s Matt Berninger and Aaron Dessner. Trump's rally featured former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre.
Both presidential candidates and their surrogates have canvassed the state over the last several weeks as Wisconsin will play a significant role in the election.
Here's a recap of the Journal Sentinel's live coverage of the events Wednesday afternoon and night:
Replay of Kamala Harris rally in Madison
Replay of Donald Trump rally in Ashwaubenon
Harris speaks to college students, young adults
To a crowd of many first-time voters, Harris praised young adults for being "rightfully impatient for change."
"I love this generation!" she said toward the end of a 20-minute speech.
It's young adults who are leading the push to address climate change, Harris said. It's young adults who grew up with active shooter drills fighting to keep schools safe. It's young adults who know fewer reproductive rights than their grandmothers and mothers fighting for change.
"This is your lived experience," Harris said. "I see you and I see your power. I see your power. And I am so proud of you."
— Kelly Meyerhofer
Harris promises to put 'country over party'
Harris pledged to seek "common ground and common-sense solutions," a refrain she's repeated at many of her stops across the country.
"I pledge to put country above party and self and be a president for all Americans," she said. "We love our country, and when you love something, you fight for it."
After a chorus of "USA! USA!" from the crowd, Harris spoke about the promise of America, and how she was raised attending civil rights rallies as a child.
"I've spent my life fighting for people who have been hurt or who have been counted out, but have never stopped believing, in our country, anything is possible," she said. "Today, I see the promise of America in all of you."
— Laura Schulte
Protesters interrupt Harris speech
Several pro-Palestinian protesters in two corners of the arena were escorted out of the Harris rally while interrupting her speech.
Some held a banner that read "No fundraising for war crimes." Others shouted, “Ceasefire now!” throughout her speech.
"We all want the war in Gaza to end," Harris said. "Everyone has a right to be heard but, right now, I am speaking."
— Kelly Myerhofer
Crowd jumps around in lead-up to Harris taking stage
It wouldn't be a Madison rally without the crowd jumping around.
UW-Madison sophomore Ty Schanhofer urged his peers to vote. He said he already voted for Harris.
"We have the power to choose a different future," he told the crowd. "There's too much at stake to sit this out this year."
Schanhofer then introduced Harris.
"Freedom" by Beyonce blared through the speakers. A "FREEDOM" banner floated across some attendees. As Harris stepped on stage, the crowd went wild.
— Kelly Meyerhofer
Trump shouts out Green Bay Packer AJ Dillon at rally
Among those to receive shoutouts from Trump at his rally was Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon.
Trump said he got to meet Dillon before taking the stage at the Resch Center.
Dillon's 2024 season was ended by an injury.
— Alison Dirr
Harris meets Wisconsin women's volleyball team
Harris met the Wisconsin women's volleyball team before the rally. She gave each of the players a hug, telling them she was "so proud" of them and that they had "an extraordinary team." One of them could be heard telling her, "You're so pretty," according to a pool report.
The Badgers (15-4) are ranked No. 7 in the country.
— Mary Spicuzza
Harris rally brings more than 13,000 people to Madison arena
More than 13,000 people packed into the Alliant Energy Center in Madison for the Harris rally, which featured musicians Gracie Abrams, Mumford & Sons and more, according to the Harris campaign.
— Mary Spicuzza
Mumford & Sons takes the stage at Harris rally
Grammy-award winning band Mumford & Sons walked onto the stage at the Alliant Energy Center at 7:20 p.m.
The band performed four songs: “The Cave,” “Little Lion Man,” “Awake My Soul” and “I Will Wait.”Marcus Mumford, the band's frontman, said that, as a California-native, he was proud to vote for Harris and Tim Walz.
"Now get with your mates, make a perfect plan, go out and vote, because every vote will matter,” Mumford said.
— Tamia Fowlkes
Gracie Abrams performs at Harris’ Madison rally
Pop singer Gracie Abrams performed “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” “Risk” and “Free Now” at the Harris rally.
Abrams, 25, is the daughter of film director J.J. Abrams. She spent part of 2024 opening for Taylor Swift during the singer’s Eras Tour.
“We’ve inherited a world that is struggling and it's easy to feel disconnected and disillusioned, between the advent of social media and our childhoods and COVID and relentlessly targeted disinformation,” she told attendees in a speech Wednesday.
“We know that, unless we vote and keep our democracy intact, there is nothing we will be able to do to fix it.”
— Tamia Fowlkes
Tony Evers mispronounces Harris' name
Gov. Tony Evers urged rallygoers to vote for Democrats down the ballot, including for Harris, whose first name he mispronounced multiple times.
"I know her," he said. "She will forgive me."
He also promoted Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who's locked in a tight race against businessman Eric Hovde.
"He doesn't even go here!" Evers said, riffing on a popular line from the movie "Mean Girls" and a jab at Hovde's California ties.
To thunderous applause, Evers said the era of gerrymandered maps was over. He said Democrats will protect reproductive rights, take climate change seriously and support LGBTQ rights.
"Your vote will matter now more than ever," he said.
— Kelly Meyerhofer
Trump speaks to reporters from garbage truck ahead of rally
Trump spoke to reporters from a garbage truck ahead of his rally at the Resch Center, an effort to highlight President Joe Biden’s comments in which he appeared to refer to Trump's supporters as “garbage” when addressing offensive comments comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made at Trump’s rally Sunday.
Hinchcliffe had called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage."
Biden and the White House quickly sought to clarify that Biden was referencing Hinchcliffe specifically.
Trump, in comments from the truck Wednesday, denied knowing "anything about a comedian," according to video from CNN.
"Nobody loves Puerto Rico more than me," he said.
When Trump took the stage at the Resch Center, it was in an orange safety vest.
He opened with a reference to Biden's comment.
— Alison Dirr
Harris lands in Madison
Harris' plane touched down at Truax Airport in Madison around 6:30 p.m.
Her motorcade is headed to Alliant Energy Center where thousands of supporters wait to hear her speak.
— Laura Schulte
The National's Dessner and Berninger perform at Alliant Energy Center
The next musical act was Aaron Dessner and Matt Berninger of The National, an indie rock band.
Among the songs they performed were “Bloodbuzz Ohio,” “I Need My Girl” and “Fake Empire.
Desnner posted his endorsement of Harris on Instagram, writing she would "fight for those who need it the most and pull our country toward a future of reason, decency and unity."
— Kelly Meyerhofer
Barnes optimistic about youth voter turnout
Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes joined the stage in Madison to hip-hop song "Swag Surfin’" by Fast Life Yungstaz.
He touted Wisconsin's high youth voter turnout rate, saying this made him the most optimistic about the future.
"We've seen just how how unstable the former president has been," he said. "We've seen the lengths that he's taken. We've seen the depths of depravity. But we've also seen opportunity. We've also seen hope. We've also seen a brighter future and a new way forward for this country."
— Kelly Meyerhofer
Byron Donalds, Tom Emmer urge voting ahead of Trump taking the stage
Just at 6 p.m., U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida took the stage, followed by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota.
Donalds painted a grim picture of the U.S. and offered Trump as the solution.
“We got a guy who’s going to fix it all," Donalds said to cheers of “USA!” from the crowd. "He’s going to fire Kamala Harris with your help, and he’s going to be the 47th president of these United States and his name is Donald J. Trump."
Donalds and Emmer urged voters to turn out Tuesday and to make sure their friends and family members do, too.
Emmer offered the same message to vote. He also mocked and derided fellow Minnesotan and Harris’s running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, saying Walz had fallen apart at the debate with Trump’s running mate, JD Vance.
“The problem for Kamala is Tim was supposed to be her emotional support animal,” Emmer said. “Timmy was supposed to be the ones with the jazz hands doing the talking.”
He also slammed Harris, saying she has been making mistakes.
“You know how? She opens her mouth,” he said.
— Alison Dirr
Remi Wolf takes the stage
Singer Remi Wolfe opened the Harris rally with some funky soul pop music and a simple message.
“Wisconsin, this election is unlike any other, so l urge you to go out and vote,” she told the crowd. “I urge you to vote early, by (Nov. 3) or make a plan for Election Day, drop your ballots off and bring your family and friends to the polls, because your vote in this election is so crucial in deciding the future of our freedom in this country.”
Wolfe performed "Cinderella" and a cover of Janis Joplin's "Piece of my Heart."
— Kelly Meyerhofer
Attendees brave rainy weather in line for Harris’ rally
As of 5:45 p.m., hundreds of attendees were still standing outside of Alliant Energy Center, awaiting the beginning of the Harris rally.
After getting through security checks, many attendees sprinted to the main entry of Alliant with plastic ponchos on.
— Tamia Fowlkes
Favre says electing Harris to White House would be ‘insane’
Hall of Fame ex-Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre closed his comments at Trump's rally by slamming Harris, saying it would be “insane to give Kamala four more years in office.”
“It’s time to bench Kamala and put in the star quarterback,” he said.
— Alison Dirr
Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler expects a packed house in Madison
Hours before Harris’ rally in Madison was scheduled to begin, Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler said he was excited about the enthusiasm of the crowd pouring into Alliant Energy Center.
“I think this place is gonna be packed,” Wikler said. “We have these amazing musical acts who are bringing their talent here to help Kamala Harris.”
Wikler praised Harris for her closing arguments speech delivered Tuesday in Washington, D.C., and said it provided a blueprint to the Harris-Walz campaign’s plan to elevate and support middle-class Americans and protect democracy.
Despite the tightness of the race, Wikler said he is “nauseously optimistic.”
“The energy on the ground that I'm seeing in the volunteers knocking on doors, the huge crowds at rallies like this one all over the state, they give me the feeling that we can pull this off if we all do everything we can do,” Wikler said.
— Tamia Fowlkes
Brett Favre takes the stage at Trump rally in Ashwaubenon
Soon after Favre took the stage at Trump's rally, he asked whether there were any fans of the football team present.
The crowd erupted into cheers of “Go Pack Go!”
“It’s an honor to be back here where it all started to campaign with the next president of the United States, Donald J. Trump,” he said.
He compared the Packers to Trump’s organization, saying they’re both winners.
And Favre slammed Biden’s comments in which he appeared to refer to Trump's supporters as “garbage” when addressing offensive comments comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made at Trump’s rally on Sunday. Hinchcliffe had called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage."
Biden and the White House quickly sought to clarify that Biden was referencing Hinchcliffe specifically.
Favre, though, told supporters Wednesday that Biden’s message was that “we’re garbage.”
“I can assure you, we’re not garbage,” Favre said. “How dare he say that? Looking out, I see police officers, teachers, nurses, grandparents, students. I see everyday Americans that make this country great.”
He said he was getting involved because of the high stakes of Tuesday’s election.
— Alison Dirr
Protester says, 'Put Trump in jail'
On the corner of Oneida Street and Lombardi Avenue, a protester in a yellow rain jacket held a sign that read, “Put Trump in jail.” The protester Matthew Mattila of Green Bay, said it was his civic duty to spread the message.
The sign was hand-written on the blank side of an old campaign sign for Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich. The sign, which was folded in half, also featured a side reading “Brett Favre is a disgrace.”
Mattila said, throughout the day, he has received many thumbs-ups and honks from people who agree with his sign. While some Trump supporters made disagreeing comments on their way to the rally, Mattila said he wasn’t there to engage in political debates.
He also emphasized that he was there on behalf of himself on the specific issue on his sign, not on behalf of the Harris campaign.
When early voting opened in Wisconsin on Oct. 22, Mattila said he was among the first groups in Green Bay to cast his ballot. He said he only waited in line for around 10 minutes when he went at 9:30 a.m., though later that afternoon, the line was out the door.
— Vivian Barrett
The crowd emptied into the Resch Center
Remember that line that stretched three blocks to Morris Avenue, wrapped in on itself in the parking lot in front of the Resch Center — and that prompted exasperations of “We’re never getting in”?
The tail end of it just entered the Resch Center at 5:06 p.m. with latecomers trickling in.
— Jesse Lin
For some young voters, this is their first political rally
For many young voters, Nov. 5 marks the first election in which they'll cast a ballot. Another first for some at the Alliant Energy Center: Their first political rally.
"I might get to be in the room with our future president," said Jessica Amaya, 29, of Chicago. "Why not be here?"
Amaya joined her cousin, a UW-Madison freshman, at the event. She said she was a big fan of Mumford & Sons.
"It is incredibly empowering to see a woman of color on the ballot and have a chance," Amaya said. "I never thought I would see that so early in my lifetime."
For Blackhawk Technical College student Lou McCully, Wednesday's event marked their third rally. McCully, who uses they/them pronouns, said LGBTQ rights were important to them and their girlfriend.
Harris was the main draw for McCully. But the music didn't hurt.
"I. Love. Gracie. Abrams." McCully said.
— Kelly Meyerhofer
At Harris’ Madison rally, attendees make friendship bracelets
Inspired by Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, attendees at Harris’ rally were making friendship bracelets in the hallways of the Alliant Energy Center.
The pop singer endorsed Harris in September after a debate between Harris and Trump.
Several attendees have expressed their hope that Swift will make a surprise appearance at tonight’s rally.
— Tamia Fowlkes
Harris brings closing argument to Madison Wednesday
Harris is heading to Madison Wednesday to bring her closing argument to Wisconsin's liberal stronghold — and she'll have some serious star power with her.
The event, billed as her "When We Vote We Win" rally and concert, will feature performances from musicians Gracie Abrams, Mumford & Sons, Remi Wolf, and Matt Berninger and Aaron Dessner from The National. It's being held at the Alliant Energy Center, not far from the UW-Madison campus.
The rally comes as Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump are making a final push in Wisconsin and other swing states ahead Election Day on Tuesday. The two candidates are in a dead heat, according to a Marquette University Law School poll released Wednesday.
— Mary Spicuzza
Lightning! It’s a race for shelter at the Resch Center
A band of thunderstorms is expected to hit Green Bay in a few minutes.
Workers walking out of the Resch Expo yelled to arriving Trump supporters that “they’re gonna close the doors on you, run!”
“We’re trying!” the supporters shouted back as lightning flashed.
— Jesse Lin
Rally attendees dress as 'Trump trash' in response to Joe Biden comment
Kelly Erkkila showed up to the Trump rally wearing a cutout trash bag over her outfit, labeled with the phrase “Trump trash.” Erkkila said she had seen another attendee in similar attire.
She said the outfit was a response to a comment made by Biden at a campaign event Tuesday night. At the event, Biden referred to Trump’s supporters as “garbage” in a response to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage” at a Trump event over the weekend.
“Mr. Biden called Trump voters trash yesterday, and I would be proud to call myself trash,” Erkkila said.
—Vivian Barrett and Lawrence Andrea
Doors open at Alliant Energy Center for Harris rally
Harris supporters streamed into the Alliant Energy Center around 3 p.m. to a mix of Beyoncé and Taylor Swift songs, including "Cruel Summer."
A banner across the stage reads "Badgers for Harris-Walz." Many rally attendees are UW-Madison students, a critical voting bloc Democrats hope will turn out Nov. 5.
Outside the arena, beads, string and clippers sat on a table. A sign invited people to make friendship bracelets, a nod to Taylor Swift fans swapping bands during the Eras Tour.
— Kelly Meyerhofer
'Might as well go home' after long line for Trump rally
A man walked away from looking around the intersection of Mike McCarthy Way and Holmgren Way one block from the Resch Center.
“Might as well go home,” he said to the people he passed, all muttering to themselves variations of “we’re not getting in” and “it just keeps going” after looking down the line that stretches as far as the eye can see.
— Jesse Lin
Not just Japan; the North Carolinians are in Green Bay 'to protect our country'
The Southern accent of the woman checking in the press was unmistakable.
Sandra declined to give her last name but emphasized Hurricane Helene’s impact on her hometown of Chimney Rock, North Carolina, about an hour's drive from Asheville.
She was a non-paid volunteer for Trump who said she's " fighting to protect our country, fighting to protect our values."
— Jesse Lin
All the way from Japan for ‘God-ordained’ Trump
A Japanese flag fluttered with the American flag, several “Trump 2024” flags, and a “Stop CCP” sign on the sidewalk opposite the Resch Center.
Sho Morimota, a 24-year-old recent college graduate, was with his mother and five other people from Japan’s Ishikawa prefecture. Morimota said he doesn’t agree with all of Trump's policies, but he's interested in American politics.
“We believe in Jesus. We believe God chose Trump to lead America,” a woman in Morimota’s entourage said in Japanese. She declined to give her name apart from saying, “We’re Japanese.”
Morimota said they’ve been traveling across the States — from Tennessee to Pennsylvania — to show their support for the person they believe will best challenge the Chinese Communist Party. And their journey has taken them to Green Bay just days away from the election.
— Jesse Lin
Doors open at the Resch Center for Trump rally
Cheers erupted from the large crowd outside the Resch Center just after 2:25 p.m. when the doors were officially opened for Trump’s rally.
Voters dressed in Trump apparel and Favre jerseys began filing into the venue, though the line keeps growing. At 2:30, the crowd filled the Ray Nitschke Field parking lot as attendees continued to join the group.
— Vivian Barrett
About the Kamala Harris rally today in Madison
The Harris rally will be at the Alliant Energy Center, though the time has not been publicly announced.
The effort to turn out UW-Madison students and Dane County voters comes about a month after Harris made her first visit to Wisconsin's capital city since launching her presidential campaign in July. That also was at the Alliant Energy Center.
Former President Barack Obama rallied the liberal base in Madison last week on the first day of early voting.
The visits highlight Dane County's increasing importance in elections as its population grows, outpacing others across the state.
— Alison Dirr
About the Donald Trump rally today in Green Bay
Trump is expected to speak at about 6 p.m. at the Resch Center. An advisory for the event suggested he would center his remarks on the economy.
Wednesday's event will mark Trump's second stop in Green Bay this year. He made his first stop in the battleground state in April, when he rallied voters in a downtown Green Bay convention center.
Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, stopped in De Pere in late August.
— Lawrence Andrea
Harris, Trump will be back in Wisconsin on Friday
Harris will return to Wisconsin on Friday, the same day that Trump will hold a rally at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
The competing appearances will mark the second time in this final week before the election that Harris and Trump will both be in this key swing state on the same day to make their closing pitches to voters.
It wasn't immediately clear where Harris would visit in Wisconsin, how many events she would hold and whether those would be rallies or smaller gatherings.
Trump will return 7 p.m. Friday to the downtown arena where he formally accepted the nomination to run for a second term in the White House during the Republican National Convention in July.
He's expected to make an economic pitch to voters.
"The movement to put Americans first is resonating with voters, even in deep blue Milwaukee, and is exactly why Wisconsin will flip red for the Trump-Vance ticket," the campaign said in a statement announcing the visit.
— Alison Dirr
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Harris in Madison, Trump in Green Bay for rallies Wednesday: Recap
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