MADISON – On Sunday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg campaigned for the Harris-Walz ticket in a liberal area of Wisconsin, highlighting growing enthusiasm for the Democratic team.**
Buttigieg’s last visit to Wisconsin focused on promoting the Biden administration’s work on rail and port infrastructure. This time, he was there to rally support for Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz ahead of the Democratic National Convention.
Speaking to nearly 100 supporters at a Madison coffee shop, Buttigieg praised the campaign’s strong presence in Wisconsin, noting the many campaign offices across the state. “There’s amazing energy here,” Buttigieg said. “It feels good to gather for a good cause and to focus on what we’re for, not just what we’re against.”
In an interview, Buttigieg expressed confidence that the campaign’s early momentum would continue, citing Harris and Walz as exciting candidates for voters who previously had concerns about President Joe Biden’s campaign. “The energy has been building for weeks,” he said.
A recent Marquette University Law School poll showed a tight race between Harris and former President Donald Trump in Wisconsin, with Democratic voter enthusiasm increasing since Harris replaced Biden at the top of the ticket.
The Trump campaign has also been active in Wisconsin, with running mate JD Vance, a Republican senator from Ohio, planning his third visit in three weeks. GOP spokesperson Matt Fisher criticized the Democratic ticket, blaming Harris and Biden for issues like the supply chain crisis and rising airfare costs.
Buttigieg, joined by his husband Chasten Buttigieg and Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin, emphasized that young voters will play a significant role in the Harris-Walz campaign. He stressed the importance of tackling climate change, addressing gun violence, and creating a fairer economy, especially for younger generations who are concerned about their future.
He also noted the growing influence of social media, particularly TikTok, in political campaigns. “The way people get information is changing, he said. “We need to adapt to that.
Buttigieg predicted that climate change would be a key issue that attracts voters to the Democratic Party. He pointed out that addressing climate change not only creates jobs in the clean energy sector but also resonates with young voters who want their concerns about the future to be taken seriously. A healthy debate between Republicans and Democrats should be about who is doing more to fight climate change, he concluded.