Wall-to-wall Walz sightings in Wisconsin, from watch parties to a planned appearance in Wausau

Minnesota’s governor and first lady are each planning Badger State visits this week. Gwen Walz headlines one of more than 200 debate watch parties being set up around Wisconsin, vice presidential nominee Tim Walz schedules a Friday event.

In the latest sign that Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential run is still generating excitement around Wisconsin, the Harris-Walz campaign announced more than 200 watch parties have been set up throughout the state for Tuesday night’s faceoff with former President Donald Trump—with Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz headlining an event in La Crosse. Days later, Gov. Tim Walz, the Democrats’ vice presidential nominee, is coming to Wausau.

A campaign spokesperson said other watch party headliners include Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez in Waukesha, Attorney General Josh Kaul in Middleton, Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski in Madison, and Rep. Jodi Emerson in Eau Claire.

“The massive enthusiasm demonstrated across the state at these more than 200 watch parties is just the latest example of how Wisconsinites are fired up for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, with more than 42,000 new volunteer signups in Wisconsin since the Harris campaign launched in July,” said a Harris campaign official in Wisconsin. “We’re capturing this momentum thanks to our more than 180 staff spread across 48 offices in 43 counties, including 32 counties Trump won in 2020.”

UpNorthNews was first to be told that the number of Wisconsin watch parties had surpassed 200. The Friday visit to Wausau by Gov. Walz was first reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

Former President Donald Trump was in Mosinee last weekend and made an appearance the week prior in La Crosse, where he said he wasn’t aware that the event had been billed for days as a town hall format. His Mosinee remarks focused largely on attacking immigrants through violent imagery, even claiming the thousands of people standing in front of him were in imminent danger.

“Migrants and crime are here in our country at levels never thought possible before,” Trump said incorrectly, as crime levels have fallen since Trump left office. “You’re not safe even sitting here, to be honest with you.”

Harris’ campaign says the enthusiasm over her candidacy reflects voters’ wishes to look forward and have a White House that looks out for working families “while Donald Trump and JD Vance’s Project 2025 agenda would raise costs for families and strip away fundamental freedoms,” said the campaign official. 

Harris, Walz, and top surrogates are planning trips to every media market in every battleground state this week.