Editor’s Note: Fátima Chavez uses she/they pronouns but she/her pronouns are used in this article for clarity.

Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, the current governor of Minnesota, made three stops in Wisconsin on Monday, Oct. 14, including at UW-Eau Claire.

Walz first stopped to speak briefly at Chippewa Valley Regional Airport, and following his visit to the UW-Eau Claire ampus, he attended a campaign rally in Green Bay alongside Gov. Tony Evers, D-Wis. and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Mich.

The invite-only event was held in The Cabin in Davies Student Center, and attendees consisted of students and community members. Walz was joined by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis. and UW-Eau Claire College Democrats president and third-year graphic communications student Kirsten Thell.

Walz, whose remarks lasted about eight minutes, spoke last. He began by noting his appreciation for Baldwin, Klobuchar and Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn. 

“We have three of the best senators in the United States right here in this part of the country,” Walz said. “If you want to do well, hang around with really smart, effective women. It tends to work really well.”

Walz spoke directly to students at the event and the importance of attending.

“We see things differently,” Walz said. “We think when more people vote that’s a better thing. When more people get access to the ballot box, and when more people are engaged, then your government looks more like the people they represent and we get better policies.”

Walz also referenced a comment Trump made over the weekend about the “enemy within” and his suggestion to use military force against those opposed to him. 

“Donald Trump, over the weekend, was talking about using the U.S. Army against people who disagree with him,” Walz said. “Just so you’re clear about that, that’s you.” 

Walz denied answering any questions asked by the media.

According to Walz, the event served to get students and community members excited to spread the word about voting on Nov. 5, and began by detailing the Harris-Walz campaigns’ focus on the “what, why and how” involved in winning the election.

The “what” centers around the general goal to be accomplished through the campaign: Winning the election.

The “why” focuses on canvassing. More specifically, the idea that, while some people may know why they are casting their vote for Harris, others who are undecided still need to be introduced to that reasoning and direction.  

The “how” involves two ways to participate in high-traffic canvassing. The first method is an app called “Reach,” which enables supporters of specific campaigns to connect, collaborate and organize. The second involves committing to vote cards, which allows people to pledge to vote for a specific candidate, the campaign’s team keeps track of those results.      

Klobuchar, who kicked off the line-up of speakers at the event, spoke about Wisconsin’s role in deciding the results of the election. 

“We know Wisconsin is the battleground state for the country,” Klobuchar said. “We know that with your help, we’re gonna make sure we re-elect Tammy Baldwin and that we have Kamala Harris and coach Walz in the White House.”

Klobuchar spoke about Harris’ effort to gain the support of not only Democrats, but of Independents and Republicans as well. She referenced Harris’ stop in Ripon, Wisconsin, the birthplace of the Republican Party, with former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney.

Klobuchar also detailed her and Baldwin’s experience being present during the Jan. 6 insurrection. She noted the differences in the atmosphere that day prior to and post insurrection.

“[We] made that walk of celebration in the morning with the Electoral College and the kids that were your age, holding these mahogany boxes with all the electoral ballots,” Klobuchar said. “Fast forward, insurrection happens, the place is trashed, cops are killed … This time we’re walking over broken glass.”

Klobuchar ended her remarks by introducing Baldwin, mentioning her work getting the Respect for Marriage Act signed into law, her efforts with the Affordable Care Act, which allows people to be listed as a dependent on their parent’s health insurance until age 26, and her role leading the legislation to codify Roe v. Wade into law. 

Following Klobuchar’s remarks, Baldwin spoke about her support of Harris’ decision to select Walz, a Midwesterner, as her running mate, because of the region’s frequent impact on election results. 

“We are the battleground state … The stakes couldn’t be higher,” Baldwin said. “The truth is, our freedoms are on the line … Including the freedom to control your own body. Your rights should not depend upon your zip code.”

Baldwin spoke about her role in the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would codify Roe v. Wade nationwide. Additionally, she spoke about her opponent Eric Hovde, and his intention to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Baldwin then brought to focus Hovde’s plan to cut the Pell Grant, which gives certain undergraduate students who qualify financial aid, and emphasized the stakes that this election posed for the future of the planet and the Clean Economy Act.

“We have delivered a pivot to clean and renewable energies in a bill that would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by the year 2030,” Baldwin said.    

Following her introduction by Baldwin, Thell spoke about her journey into the world of politics, as well as how it was spearheaded by the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.

“Wisconsin women were living under an abortion ban from 1849 with no exceptions for rape, incest or the health of the mother,” Thell said. “With reproductive freedom in jeopardy, I had to get involved.” 

Thell represents UW-Eau Claire College Democrats at a statewide level. She spoke about the impact of politics on the lives of US citizens, as well as Project 2025.

Following the event, students reflected on the event, and what they took away from attending. Fátima Chavez, a fifth-year women’s, gender and sexuality studies student and vice president of College Democrats, said this election is everything to her. 

“Politics is important. It basically shaped my whole life as a first-generation college student,” Chavez said. “I am a daughter of Hispanic immigrants, so this is everything.”

Walz said he was “preaching to the choir” about the countdown to election day.

“Our recital is 22 days away. It actually starts in 8 days here in Wisconsin, where early voting starts,” Walz said. “We need you. This is not hyperbole.”

Braun can be reached at [email protected].