Weekly News from Your Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair     What a convention! What a presidential nominee. What a vice presidential nominee. What a duo—and what a clear message, about decency and democracy, delivered in an entirely new way over four amazing days. Trump's failure to address COVID meant a massive change in the plan for the Democratic National Convention. There's no sugarcoating how tough this has been. And at a time when Trump has driven the economy over a cliff, an economic stimulus would've been invaluable. And at the same time, with this convention, the medium was the message. Joe Biden's first mission is to bring this virus under control so that we can save lives, revive the economy, and get kids back to school. Biden's health advisers said that a virtual convention without travel was the safest option—so that's exactly what the Democration National Convention team did. This wasn't the in-person celebration of Milwaukee and Wisconsin that we'd planned and hoped for. Instead, it was something unique in history. And I was so proud to see Wisconsin voices each night—those of Rep. Gwen Moore, Mayor Tom Barrett, Lt Gov Mandela Barnes, Gov Tony Evers, and Sen. Tammy Baldwin. Great work, all! Meanwhile, Trump traipses around the country holding in-person events, sometimes leaving, as in Tulsa, a spike in COVID infections in his wake. This spring, the pandemic changed everything about how we campaigned. We won anyway. This summer, the pandemic transformed the convention. Nevertheless, we persisted. And this fall, using the newest techniques informed by the oldest and most profound values we hold dear, we're going to win once again. Thanks for all that you're doing to turn Wisconsin blue, Ben                    Key Leaders from Across the Country Join DPW for Virtual Breakfast and Special Events this Week   All week some of the most important Democrats in the country joined DPW to talk about the stakes of the election and how vital Wisconsin is to winning in November. Between Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Eric Holder, Nancy Pelosi, Tony Evers, Tammy Baldwin, Gwen Moore, and so many others, it is clear that the party is not only united behind Biden and Harris’ historic candidacy, but they understand how central the Badger state is to our success. As former Attorney General Eric Holder put it, “The fate of the United States, the fate of the Western World is on your shoulders, not too much pressure. If Joe Biden carries Wisconsin it will be incredibly difficult for Trump to win reelection.” The road to the White House goes right through Wisconsin. We are so excited to have the country behind us and cannot wait to put Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the White House. And Wisconsin's delegates received a special visit from none other than Vice President Joe Biden, who told us that he intends to travel to Wisconsin when his health experts clear him to make the trip. We look forward to it, Mr. Vice President!     Wisconsinites and Democratic Leaders Slam Trump and Pence for Visit Amid Pandemic   Trump and Pence visited Wisconsin this week, touting their broken economy and putting our communities in danger by holding in person events. Leaders from all sectors of the economy spoke out to condemn the visit and the last four years of economic turmoil that the Trump administration has sewn. Trump and Pence’s economic policy has led to disaster and ruin in Wisconsin, with countless farms closing, manufacturing being shipped overseas, and working families being left behind. Now, COVID-19 has put a spotlight on the administration’s callous disregard for working people, and Wisconsinites are bearing the burden of their failed response. Wisconsinites are tired of broken promises from the Trump administration and are exhausted by the political games that Trump continues to play with our lives. As Senator Baldwin said this week, “Our economy is hurting, our state is hurting, we’re tired of the photo-ops. We need leadership. We deserve more. We deserve a president that actually cares, and we’re going to get that when we elect Joe Biden as president and Kamala Harris as vice president.”     INCLUDE & RESPECT   Wisconsin Women support Biden   At a "Wisconsin Women for Biden" virtual rally on Wednesday, Sen. Tammy Baldwin and other leaders in Wisconsin emphasized if elected, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will prioritize women’s issues. Since taking office, Trump has gone after women’s health care, tried to remove workplace protections, and has failed to come up with a comprehensive plan that will keep families and their children safe. We need a leader who understands the challenges that women across the country face, especially in the face of the pandemic. Rep. Robyn Vining said, “As women, we feel in our bones the wounds of the 2016 election; as mothers, we feel in our bones the anxiety of juggling work… unaffordable and inaccessible childcare, not knowing how our kids are going to be educated this year.” The Biden and Harris administration will center equity and have a clear plan to make this country a more fair and equal place to live for all Wisconsinites.

Weekly News from Your Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair

 

 

Our state is about to stand on the national—virtual—stage. Our convention demonstrates our values: we're the party that will end this pandemic, save lives, and open the path to safely reopen the economy and send kids back to school. There have been a million hard choices at every step. But we can be proud that we've risen to them, rather than do what this president has—ignore the problem and hope it goes away. And now, on screens across America, through a first-of-its-kind online event, it's our time to shine. We now know our next Vice President—an extraordinary leader who, thanks to her stint living here in Wisconsin at age five, let's claim as an honorary Badger for life. We know Joe. And we know that Biden-Harris 2020 can bring this fractured, wounded country together and build back better. Now, we get to launch them on the road to the White House. Trump is doing everything he can to mangle our democracy. But we're going to fight to save it. Just look at our primaries this past week. Milwaukee went from five polling places in April to 168. Turnout was up all over the state. Volunteers placed vast numbers of calls to ensure that folks sent in their absentee ballots. And Democrats committed to making change ran for office in communities all over Wisconsin put their names on the ballot, campaigned safely and relentlessly, and—whether they won or lost on Tuesday—made our communities and our party stronger. That spirit will infuse the convention next week. That spirit will inform all our work through November 3. And that spirit will carry us into the fights to come after—because our struggle is the work of a lifetime. I'm proud to be a part, with you, of the virtual convention next week, and the transformative work before us. Let's get to it! Ben

 

 

FIGHT on the Issues & FIGHT to Win

 

Kamala Joins Joe to Fight for Wisconsin!

 

We could not be more excited about Vice President Joe Biden picking Senator Kamala Harris as his Vice Presidential running mate! Harris is the fighter and leader we need to win this election here in Wisconsin. From her time as Attorney General of California to the United States Senate, she has proven that she'll always stand with working Wisconsinites against the wealthy and well-connected, because that is how she has spent her entire career. Sen. Harris is a historic choice for Vice President, and will be a champion and voice for all of the communities that make the Badger state so strong. Biden and Harris both understand that the road to the White House goes right through Wisconsin, and we cannot wait to put them there this fall.

 

 

Join Us at Convention!

 

The Democratic National Convention is next week and we are so proud of the leadership that the Biden campaign and the party have shown in these unprecedented times. Not only will the virtual convention keep our neighbors and loved ones safe, but it will be rooted in the Wisconsin values that we hold dear. Democratic leaders like Governor Tony Evers, Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, Senator Tammy Baldwin, and Congresswoman Gwen Moore will all be speaking, along with several Wisconsinites from all walks of life with inspiring stories to tell. This is our chance to show the country what our Wisconsin values really are. Our schedule for the Convention can be found here: wisdems.org/schedule

 

 

 

 

Trump Poses Existential Threat to Social Security-- Wisconsin Seniors Say No

 

Donald Trump has tripled down on his commitment to slash Social Security and leave thousands of Wisconsin seniors out in the cold in the middle of a pandemic that puts them at heightened risk. Social Security is a vital lifeline for countless Wisconsin families, seniors, people with disabilities, and this threat is part of a long history of Trump and his administration recklessly playing politics with people’s lives. Wisconsinites are fighting back. State Rep. Amanda Stuck, candidate for Congress in the 8th Congressional District, joined two seniors this week to call out the Administration for attacking the benefit that they depend on. Wisconsin resident Crystal Porter spoke to how essential Social Security is to her wellbeing and said, “We are so excited to know that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be our next president and vice president and I can’t wait for November 3rd to come, to make it so we’re all covered and take care of, so that our president and our vice president are concerned about the American people and are not just tossing us out like garbage, as the Trump Administration is doing.” Seniors are fed up with the Administration and ready for new leadership in the White House.

 

 

 

 

 

INCLUDE & RESPECT

 

Incoming Legislature to be the Most Diverse in State History

 

Our legislature is set to become the most diverse in Wisconsin’s history after the primaries on Tuesday. We are so excited to congratulate Francesca Hong from Madison, who will take office as the first Asian-American state representative, and Samba Baldeh who will likely become the second Black person to represent Dane County. All across the state, races were won that will better reflect our state’s diversity. As Hong put it, “When you have representation and you see people in positions of power representing institutions that impact your life directly, there’s a sense that you belong a little bit more. And what that does is bring power to an individual to participate.” Thank you to everyone who ran and participated in our great democracy, and congratulations to those who won their races.