In late September 2024, excitement was palpable at the Grant County Democratic Party headquarters in Platteville, Wisconsin. Volunteers were busily preparing campaign materials for U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, who faced a challenging race for a second term. The mood had noticeably lifted, a stark contrast from the prior anxious months, following President Joe Biden’s decision to halt his reelection bid and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee. This change spurred hopeful discussions about reclaiming Wisconsin’s western congressional seat and gaining traction in a predominantly Republican area.
Sue Leamy Kies, a retired high school English teacher, expressed a renewed optimism that was shared among many Democrats in the rural town. She believed that the momentum shift with Harris at the helm could turn Wisconsin blue and improve the chances for Baldwin and other Democratic candidates.
Grant County, like many rural parts of southwestern Wisconsin, had leaned Republican in recent years, but historically, it had supported Democratic candidates, bolstered by strong local campaigns. Memories of significant wins like Barack Obama’s victories and Baldwin’s past Senate races lingered, motivating local Democrats to reclaim their dominance.
Ben Wikler, chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, emphasized the critical juncture in U.S. politics, suggesting that if Democrats worked tirelessly, they could flip the House, maintain the Senate majority, and secure the presidency. Achieving this would allow the passage of legislation to restore Roe v. Wade and enhance voting rights, marking a consequential period in American history.
Amid differing views on the feasibility of such successes, the Harris-Walz Democratic ticket, consisting of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, started gaining momentum. This fueled hopes for significant Democratic gains in the November elections. The campaign strategy extended beyond traditional swing states to regions where Democrats had previously been strong but had lost ground in the past decade.
The enthusiasm was not confined to Wisconsin. Campaign efforts extended through Iowa, Nebraska, central and western Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky—areas that had shifted Republican but showed signs of potential Democratic resurgence. Discussions with volunteers, union leaders, and party officials highlighted the belief that a robust national campaign could transform the political landscape.
Achieving a “trifecta” control of the presidency, House, and Senate, as seen during the Democratic strongholds of Roosevelt, Johnson, and Obama, was viewed as essential to implementing significant policy changes. Figures like Ai-jen Poo of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and union leaders like Randi Weingarten and Lee Saunders noted a unique sense of engagement and hope among their members, reflecting widespread support for the Harris-Walz ticket.
Observers like David Sirota noted that the Democrats had often struggled to build effective governing coalitions despite notable wins at the top of the ticket. The opportunity presented by the 2024 elections was seen as both an immense opportunity and a potential inflection point in American politics, influenced significantly by Biden’s decision to withdraw.
As Harris and Walz gathered support and resources, the need to expand Democratic reach in traditionally Republican areas became evident. Insight into strategies revealed that mobilizing strong local campaigns and focusing on broad national appeal could enhance Democratic prospects not just for the presidency but for critical Senate and House seats.
Candidates in states like Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska stood to benefit from increased campaign efforts, with hopes that higher Democratic turnout could overturn recent Republican gains. Redistricting challenges remained, but the newfound energy injected into the campaign brought a level of optimism that had been waning in previous months.
Ultimately, winning the presidency was seen as a priority, but securing majorities in Congress was vital for enacting significant policy changes. A comprehensive campaign approach beyond swing states, driven by the Harris-Walz ticket’s appeal, was considered crucial for Democrats to chart a new course in U.S. governance.