LITTLE CHUTE – On the final Friday before Election Day, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to a packed crowd in the Little Chute High School gymnasium, where she encouraged her supporters to vote and persuade others to support her facing Donald Trump for president.

Harris campaign hits Wisconsin ahead of Tuesday. Harris met members of an electricians union Friday afternoon in Janesville. After speaking at 6 p.m. in Little Chute, his campaign was expected to continue a star-studded event to 9 p.m. in West Allis.

Democratic and Republican presidential candidates were in Wisconsin Friday as they sought to capture the swing state.

Here are some takeaways from his speech in Little Chute, which took place in a county that historically leans Republican — but not always.

Tammy Baldwin Speaks to Harris and Makes Her Case to Fox Cities Voters

On Friday around 5:45 p.m., Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin took the stage in Little Chute to cheers from the crowd. She opened her five-minute speech by emphasizing the importance of Wisconsin: “This campaign knows that the path to the presidency and control of the United States Senate runs directly through our state. The most influential. “We have a green county, we have a brown county — we don’t have an orange county in Wisconsin,” she said, drawing laughter from the crowd. Baldwin also spoke of his dedication to working to restore Roe v. Wade, support and uphold the Affordable Care Act.

Many spectators have already voted

Harris took the stage at 6 p.m. in front of a wall-to-wall crowd in the gymnasium, clapping loudly and waving signs. While there were signs reading “Steelworkers for Harris,” “Harris/Walz,” and “Kamala,” many others carried signs that simply said “Vote.”

Harris spoke in Little Chute for about 20 minutes, repeating many of her campaign themes: guaranteeing abortion rights nationwide, giving a tax cut to the middle class and lowering the cost of health care .

She also took the opportunity to launch a new appeal to voters.

When Harris asked the crowd who had already voted, many applauded.

Harris asked them to speak to colleagues, friends and loved ones to “share their perspective” on the importance of the 2024 election, which she called “the most important of our lifetimes.”

And to those who haven’t yet voted – she told them “no judgment” – she encouraged them to make a plan for Election Day.

“Wisconsin will make a difference in this election,” she said, concluding with “When we fight, we win.”

Baldwin and Harris riff on Wisconsin state motto

Baldwin and Harris said they want to move the country and Wisconsin forward, observing that “Forward” is Wisconsin’s motto.

Each time, the crowd began chanting, “We’re not going back!”

Harris said she wanted to “turn the page on nearly 10 years of Donald Trump” and that “it was time for a new generation of leadership.”

She also addressed young voters voting for the first time: “You are all, rightly, impatient for change,” she said, observing that they want to live free of gun violence and tackle the climate crisis. “These are not political questions (for them),” she added.

“You will shape the world that you inherit,” she said. “And I see you and I see your power.”

Outagamie County has previously favored both Republicans and Democrats

The counties surrounding the Fox Cities — which include Appleton, Little Chute, Neenah, Menasha, Kaukauna and other nearby cities and towns — have flipped between Democrats and Republicans in recent elections.

Until last spring, Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Green Bay, represented the region in the 8th Congressional District. Democrat Kristin Lyerly and Republican Tony Wied are vying for her empty House seat.

Outagamie County, where Little Chute is located, favored the Trump-Pence ticket in 2020 and Republican Sen. Ron Johnson over his challenger, Democrat Mandela Barnes, in 2022 — both by 10 points or more.

However, a Republican victory is by no means guaranteed. In 2023, Outagamie County favored Democratic-backed state Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz.

Trump, Harris visit battleground states as 2024 campaigns draw to a close

The Harris and Trump campaigns scoured Wisconsin to capture the state’s ten electoral votes. In addition to visiting Milwaukee, both campaigns have visited Green Bay several times.

Harris and Trump are tied in Wisconsinaccording to a Marquette University poll released Wednesday.

Earlier this week, Trump visited Green Bay and will hold a rally at Fiserv Forum this evening.

More: Harris and Trump in Milwaukee tonight after Harris held events in Little Chute, Janesville

Contributor: Kelli Arseneau, Pierre Franck.

Rebecca Loroff is a K-12 education reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. She welcomes advice and feedback on stories. Contact her at [email protected].

This article was originally published on Appleton Post-Crescent: Vice President Kamala Harris campaigns in Little Chute