VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

“All right, Madison, are we ready to do this?” asked Vice President Kamala Harris.

Even as they waited in line to hear from Harris at a get out the vote rally in Madison on Oct. 30, the mostly young crowd had their minds made up.

“One of the biggest issues for me is her plan for middle class families and helping make housing more affordable, especially for people in my generation, Gen Z,” said Annemarie Goncalves, a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Students like Goncalves said they understand what’s at stake in the 2024 election.

“We’re the ones who these decisions are going to affect,” Goncalves said. “We’re also going to have to deal with the ramifications and repercussions of the decisions that are made by our political candidates at the moment. So, it’s super important that we elect officials that we believe are going to be making the right choices for us.”

Many said they’ve already cast their ballot for Harris, including Rashawn Overton, who drove to Madison from Illinois.

“I think people like me in this country — we often feel like we don’t have the opportunity to be successful — so to hear Harris talk about building an opportunity economy, an economy in which we all get a chance just to do something and thrive and find fulfillment within our life, it sounds amazing to me,” Overton said.

But older generations turned out to the event too.

“Health care is very important. The economy of this country is really important. Coming up with a plan for immigration is important,” said Kathy Roberg of Madison. “And she’s got all those things in a policy right now.”

Inside the arena, the energy was stoked by the star power and a capacity crowd.

“Early voting is happening right now, so make your plan, bring your friends, and get out there and vote,” said Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is running for reelection in 2024.

The thousands of college students left with a homework assignment.

“If you are one of those people who has already cast a ballot, you’ve just signed yourself up to bring 10 people to the polls between now and Election Day,” said Mandela Barnes, a former lieutenant governor of Wisconsin and a 2022 candidate for U.S. Senate.

“Call and text 10 people in your life” said Gov. Tony Evers. “That’s all you have to do.”

Harris made a direct appeal to young voters on the issues of climate change, gun violence and reproductive rights.

“You all are rightly impatient for a change,” Harris said. “These issues are not theoretical. This is not political for you. This is your lived experience. And I see you.”

And like the other speakers, Harris emphasized the act of voting.

“Let us remember that your vote is your voice,” she said.
“And your voice is your power.”

Election Day will be the true test if Harris brought the energy, and if Wisconsin voters, as they say, understood the assignment.