Wisconsin’s delegates praise Democratic leaders for a lifetime of service while also looking ahead

Generational changes are apparent throughout the convention.

Political conventions are funny places to measure star power. At this Democratic gathering, an ovation for Nancy Pelosi is bound to be as raucous as one for Lil Jon. Good luck trying to tell the difference between cheers for Stevie Wonder and President Joe Biden. But in every case, there were delegates in the United Center, in conference rooms, and in hotel lobbies thrilled to meet or catch a glimpse of someone they consider a star.

“For me, it was so bittersweet with Joe Biden,” said Lincoln County delegate Melissa Schroeder. “Having been a Biden delegate in 2020 and not being able to go to the convention because of Covid, seeing the warm welcome that President Joe Biden and Jill received was just absolutely wonderful and heartwarming.”

Kim Butler of Polk County, the state Democratic Party secretary, admired former First Lady Michelle Obama’s pivot to a more direct approach—including her criticism of former President Donald Trump and her admonition to women about not waiting for permission to get more involved to elect Vice President Kamala Harris.

“One of the things that struck me about what Michelle said was that we can’t wait to get invited,” Butler said. “We have to take self-initiative to get this done—and to get our friends and our family organized. There’s no time for sitting back and saying ‘well, they didn’t ask me.’”

For Kate Duffy, co-founder of Motherhood for Good, there are also rising stars to admire. The day after Wisconsin’s primary elections, she was the first to set up an Instagram Live joint interview with Rebecca Cooke and Dr. Kristin Lyerly, the Democratic nominees in the 3rd and 8th Congressional Districts.

“They are really going to appeal to women, to moms,” Duffy said. “They’re both really well-connected in their community, and it’s going to be really exciting watching the campaigns that they run.” 

Longtime liberal activist and pundit Scot Ross, meanwhile, pointed to Biden’s star power in terms of public service.

“This week is the political capstone to President Joe Biden’s 50 years of public service to the United States of America,” Ross said, calling the lengthy ovation on Monday night “a testament to what Joe Biden’s done for the country, that he puts country first like he always does.”

Like Schroeder did with Biden, Butler used the term bittersweet  to describe the lengthy cheers for former Secretary of State Clinton.

“I kept thinking, ‘what if she had won?’” Butler said, quickly pivoting to look forward. “But I’m excited and happy at seeing people who I really want to get elected.”