GREEN BAY, Wis. — Wisconsin Democrats gathered in Green Bay for the annual State Democratic Convention on Saturday.
Democrats have won many of Wisconsin’s statewide elections since 2020; the party used this year's convention to try to build on that momentum ahead of the presidential election in 2024.
“I’m so excited to be here, sharing this space with other Democrats and learning about the issues that we care about and how we are going to take those issues in 2024,” said Norah Sale. Sale is a Democratic delegate and poll worker from Waukesha County. It’s her first state convention.
Historically, Waukesha County is a Republican stronghold.
However Democrats closed the gap a bit in Wisconsin’s spring election; she said she believes the party can take advantage of this in 2024.
“We have a lot of young families moving into Waukesha County and that is a place where they are bringing their concerns about abortion rights. They are being their concerns about school funding. They are bringing their concerns about health care and then the other thing about Waukesha County is that it is becoming increasingly diverse,” said Sale.
Wisconsin’s Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler said the party is reflecting on past victories while focusing on what’s at stake moving forward.
“This spring, in the face of a Civil War, abortion ban and restrictions on democracy and the right to vote, the threat of overturning the next election and gerrymandered legislative map, voters turned out in every part of Wisconsin and broke records in voting for Janet Protasiewicz," said Wikler. “What we need to do now is recognize that all that can be taken away very easily if we don’t keep both feet on the gas.”
Wikler said the most important thing in 2024 for Democrats to do is to show up across the state.
“Republicans put every chip they’ve got on the Badger State. Their national convention will be in Wisconsin. Their first presidential primary debate will be in Wisconsin. Trump wants to win Wisconsin so he can get back into the White House and we need to stop him,” said Wikler.
Margo Miller is a member of the Columbia County Democratic Party Executive Committee. She said her goal, through a tactic called deep canvassing, is to help Democrats make up ground in rural communities where Republicans traditionally win by wide margins.
“A lot of what you do with the deep canvassing is leave them an open [line] to talk about what matters, but a lot of times you can move the conversation..., 'What do you think about the indictments or how Trump handled things versus how Biden is handling things?'” said Miller.
In a "divisive" time, people such as Sale are getting more involved in politics to fight for their vision of the future. Sale said she is confident in her party’s chances.
“I think Donald Trump will flame out on his own. I really do and I think the quality and the intelligence behind the Democratic party and behind Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will win the day for us next year.”