Why excitement is palpable with a Kamala Harris candidacy in Wisconsin

The second person of color and second woman is poised to secure the nomination of a major political party. People in Wisconsin are feeling pride and optimism as a Kamala Harris presidential win would serve as another historical marker that many see as overdue.

On a recent day at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, people lined up to grab lunch at the Davies Center cafeteria. But instead of students taking summer classes, the dining center contained a few hundred people who were there to attend leadership training for a group that creates organizations that unite people of diverse faiths and races.

In the same week that Vice President Kamala Harris hit the campaign trail —starting in Wisconsin— as the likely Democratic presidential nominee, there was buzz at the lunch tables.

“I’m quite excited for the possibility of Kamala Harris to be President Harris,” said Rev. Kelli X, pastor of The Village Church, an African-centered Christian Church in Madison, Tennessee. “It means a lot to have a woman as a president—knowing that women haven’t had the right to vote for very long—little over a hundred years—and to have a Black woman—a woman of color.”

Nadra Barnes of Kansas City, Kansas, sat at another table chatting with an acquaintance about the history of men being president. “It doesn’t matter what nationality she is—it’s time for a woman to stand up and take charge,” Barnes said. “It’s been men for how many years? Why can’t we be—why can’t she be?”

Arayah Westmoreland of Davenport, Iowa, was just finishing up her lunch and heading back to the conference. “I’m so proud of her—being the first lady, being Black, being an example for all children—you can make it no matter your race, background—you can become president no matter any circumstance,” she said.

Outside the Davies Center, Catherine Emmanuelle of Eau Claire was finishing up her lunch-break run. Emmanuelle said she and Harris shared the same birthplace—Oakland, California. And with a political background, diversity education experience, and being the same age, she felt a special connection to the presumptive nominee.

“I think she’s been getting ready for this moment and I think all of America, including myself, is excited to see her rise into her power,” Emmanuelle said. “I’m really excited because I think she’s poised, ready, and very prepared to be the top of the ticket and if she’s elected I think she would be a capable, thoughtful,  and wise leader.”

“I also think about the type of international influence we will have and I want to be proud of our country, and the country I love to be a kind, stable, and calm contributor to our world,” Emmanuelle said. “So I’m looking for that type of leadership.”

About a block away on Water Street, two friends, David Jones, and Jack Bushnell, both of Eau Claire, were walking out of a cafe called The Nucleus.

“I love the idea we could have a woman—we could have a woman of color—as President,” Bushnell said. “I also like the idea that she’s tough, and I think she’s somebody who could step into that role pretty easily.”

“It’s good for the country to welcome leadership in the form it comes in,” Jones said. “I think sometimes we struggle to embrace that we have a diverse population, so it’s good to represent that with people from different demographics including women, especially.”

“I think we’ve taken for granted we haven’t had a female chief executive and I think that’s an important historical and political landmark to achieve.”

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