A large crowd welcomes President Joe Biden during the DNC
A large crowd greets President Joe Biden during the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on Monday, August 19, 2024.
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden will travel to southwestern Wisconsin next Thursday to highlight his administration’s investments in manufacturing and infrastructure, his first visit to the state since dropping out of the presidential race.
A White House spokeswoman declined to say Wednesday where Biden plans to stop in the southwestern part of the state, but an administration official said Biden will highlight his “investment in America agenda” and how it “benefits communities across Wisconsin and ensures a better, more prosperous future for Americans.”
It is Biden’s first visit to Wisconsin since he dropped out of the presidential race late last month and Vice President Kamala Harris quickly became the new Democratic nominee. Harris held the first rally of her presidential campaign in West Allis and has since visited Eau Claire and Milwaukee for rallies with her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Walz will also return to the state next week. On Labor Day, he will stop in Milwaukee with Minnesota’s First Lady Gwen Walz, the Harris-Walz campaign announced on Tuesday. Where the Walz brothers will speak in Milwaukee or when they will be in the city has not been announced by the campaign.
Biden had visited the swing state at least five times this year before growing concerns within his own party about his age and chances of success forced him to end his campaign. He last campaigned in the state in early July, when he held a rally at Sherman Middle School in Madison.
Next week’s visit is part of a series of planned trips by Biden over the next few weeks to highlight the Biden-Harris administration’s investments in local communities, the White House official told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. In Wisconsin, Biden plans to talk about the Inflation Reduction Act, a sweeping bill that targets everything from green energy incentives to health care subsidies.
Biden spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last week and appeared alongside Harris at other events this month.
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign has also been active in Wisconsin. Ohio Senator JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, has held press conferences in Wisconsin over the past three weeks and planned a stop in De Pere for Wednesday evening.
Trump will hold a town hall-style event in La Crosse on Thursday night, moderated by former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, whom Trump appointed to his transition team this week.
Hope Karnopp of the Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.
