KENOSHA, Wis. — Vice President Kamala Harris made a campaign stop in Milwaukee, while Sen. JD Vance visited the city of Kenosha on Tuesday. Both happening while the Democratic National Convention takes place just south of Wisconsin, in Chicago.
Republican vice-presidential nomineee Vance kicked off his event in Kenosha around lunchtime. Speakers included Pete Deates, the Kenosha Professional Police Association president, Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner, U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde and Rep. Bryan Steil.
Vance then spoke and took questions from the press.
The event highlighted law enforcement and was the second Wisconsin stop in the past week where the Trump-Vance campaign has been endorsed by a local law enforcement agency. The Kenosha Professional Police Association endorsed the Trump-Vance campaign on Tuesday. The campaign was endorsed by the Milwaukee Police Association on Friday.
“We have got real problems in law enforcement recruitment in this country and certainly in right here in the state of Wisconsin. A lot of our police departments are understaffed and underfunded. We don’t have enough cops to do the job to keep us safe," Vance said when asked about the importance of law enforcement endorsements from Wisconsin.
The event was held right outside of the Kenosha County courthouse. This area of downtown Kenosha was in a completely different state four years ago this week, following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
The riots and protests was a topic Steil spoke about while addressing those in attendance Tuesday.
“As we saw four years ago this week, what happens when elected leaders refuse to stand with the men and women of law enforcement?” Steil said. “We saw in great contrast when leaders like President Trump answer the call and stand with the men and women of law enforcement and bring public safety to our community, right?”
Supporting law enforcement and cracking down on crime and safety is a main priority for the Trump-Vance campaign.
“We’re here to celebrate law enforcement and to celebrate more importantly the good job that they do and how it benefits every single person in our community,” Vance said.
Hovde also took to the stage Tuesday. He spoke about crime, his reaction to the DNC, the border and the fentanyl crisis in the U.S.
“I believe in the people of this country,” Hovde said. “I believe in the people of Wisconsin. We can turn this country around and restore our safety in America.”
While Tuesday marked Vance’s third visit to Wisconsin since accepting the VP nomination, he said he plans to return many times before the November election.