Why are there cheeseheads on the floor of the DNC? That's the Wisconsin delegation.
CHICAGO – There are many of shades of blue on the floor of the United Center during the Democratic National Convention. But to the right of the right of the stage on the first level, there's a big pocket of yellow.
That's the Wisconsin delegation sporting cheeseheads — a symbol of the Green Bay Packers and the state's dairy industry. The specialty hats didn't make an appearance Monday night but were out in full force Tuesday.
While Vice President Kamala Harris was already officially nominated virtually, the ceremonial roll call will still give each state and territory a few seconds in the spotlight.
Wisconsin isn't the only delegation that's standing out for their hats. Delegates from Kentucky are wearing light-up cowboy hats, and some members of the Colorado delegation have similar, but less flashy, headwear.
The Kansas delegation also used their football team as inspiration. They showed up in red-and-gold jerseys, similar to the Kansas City Chiefs uniforms, with a big “24” printed on front.
More: The history of the Milwaukee-made Cheesehead
Wisconsin delegates wore cheeseheads on the last day of the Republican National Convention, and former President Donald Trump recognized them as "easy to spot."
But it's not looking like cheeseheads will become a unifying, bipartisan force for the two parties in Wisconsin anytime soon.
In a post on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, the state Republican Party of Wisconsin said Democrats were "copying our convention attire. We are flattered." Democrats responded with screenshots of news articles showing them wearing cheeseheads at the 2016 convention.
At the Wisconsin delegation's Tuesday morning breakfast, state Democratic Party of Wisconsin chairman Ben Wikler indicated everyone was given a cheesehead and told to carry it, sit with it and wear it at United Center. "This is your charge," he said.
"The cheeseheads don't glow," he said, referring to Kentucky's hats. "It will figuratively emanate (a) kind of dairy goodness."
The delegation has three or four cheeseheads that they're trying to get each speaker who stops by Wisconsin's breakfasts to sign. There will be a drawing for delegates to take them home at the end of the week.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed their names on Monday, though they prefer the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin delegates will wear cheeseheads during DNC roll call