Live Updates: At Kamala Harris Rally in Madison, Feeling ‘Part of History’ – Madison.com

The event at the Dane County Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center marks Harris’ 12th trip to the battleground state this year and her eighth since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race this summer and endorsed his vice president in a Nov. 5 matchup with former President Donald Trump .

The rally. which will feature performances by Gracie Abrams, Mumford and Sons, Remi Wolf and The National’s Matt Berninger and Aaron Dessner, coincides with a race rally Trump is holding the same day in the Green Bay suburb of Ashwaubenon, where he will be joined by former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre.

5 in the afternoon | Sira Sane, 17, a student at Portage High School, came to Madison with three of her school friends, all 17. Although none of them can vote, the group went to tonight’s rally to “witness history.” , she said.

Several others in the crowd that quickly filled the Coliseum echoed the historic nature of Harris’ campaign. If elected, Harris would be the first woman and the first woman of color to lead the country.

Tracy Utley, 61, is a real estate agent who rescheduled a major travel ad from Minnesota to today’s event.

“You can feel the energy and the enthusiasm is so strong here and there’s this momentum,” Utley said. I want to be a part of history.

She met other Harris supporters, Mary Ceslewicz, 69, and Nancy Riddle, 53, in line. The trio have become fast friends and plan to sit together inside.

“It’s a great thing to be a part of, especially this close to the election,” said Jack Garfin, 19, a UW-Madison student who is originally from Minnesota.

4:40 in the afternoon | Stacey Mladic, 51, wore Taylor Swift-inspired Harris merchandise to the rally, but said she didn’t believe rumors the singer herself might make an appearance.

“I was really happy to hear about her support and it’s nice to hear, but we’re really here for Harris,” Mladic said. While she thinks the artists joining Harris today can be helpful in engaging young voters, she said Harris’ campaign’s social media play is probably more effective.

“This generation is interested in what’s on TikTok, and they do a great job of meeting people where they are,” Mladic said. The @KamalaHQ TikTok account has over 5 million followers and is known for posting campaign content in the form of trendy online memes.

Sira Sane, 17, a student at Portage High School, agreed, saying the best way for Harris to get her GenZ peers out who are old enough to vote is to “just keep posting on TikTok “.

Mladic brought three generations of support to the rally, attending with his mother, Bobbi Pivnicki, 73, and her nephew.

“Thinking generationally — it’s grandma, mom, my daughter, and we’re about to have our first great-grandchild in the family — for me it’s all about reproductive rights and making sure we have all our freedoms,” Mladic said.

4:12 in the afternoon | Compared to previous Democratic rallies at the Coliseum — including Harris’ first rally here in September and a joint event by former President Barack Obama and Tim Waltz, Minnesota governor and Harris’ running mate, last week — more supporters began filling the venue earlier . By 4 p.m.—more than two hours before the event’s scheduled start time—the Coliseum was about 50 percent full. Thousands more supporters are still lined up outside.

Many supporters wore Harris merchandise, from t-shirts promoting abortion access to many bright green “kamala is brat” t-shirts worn by young supporters. Others wore UW-inspired Harris shirts or Harris merchandise riffing on Taylor Swift lyrics — like Stacey Mladic, who wore a white T-shirt that read, “We’re not coming back. As Always,” inspired by the singer’s hit “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.”

3:25 in the afternoon | Behind the podium where Harris is scheduled to speak tonight is a large red banner reading “Badgers for Harris-Waltz.” Inside, the event’s playlist featured mostly young pop hits like Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” and Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul.”

Just outside the arena, event organizers set up a “friendship bracelet making” table — an activity championed by Taylor Swift fans — further evidence that tonight’s event will have some connection to the Eras Tour mogul. Swift is not scheduled to appear, but has previously collaborated with three of the four artists scheduled to appear, and is currently touring with Abrams on the Eras Tour.

2:45 p.m | Under overcast skies, thousands of fans began lining up to enter the Dane County Coliseum on Wednesday afternoon. Doors were supposed to open at 3.

Harris’ rally will be held at the Dane County Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center. This is the same site where Harris appeared on his last trip to Madison on Sept. 20. The site also hosted her deputy, Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz, and former President Barack Obama last Tuesday to kick off the first day of early in-person voting in Wisconsin.

The rally and performances are scheduled to run from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. Doors open at 3 and no one will be admitted after 6.

You must RSVP in advance at the venue, but this does not guarantee entry into the event.

If you want to see the event but can’t make it, it will be broadcast on C-SPAN among other places.

There is limited parking in the south lot of the Alliant Energy Center, accessible through the East Rusk Avenue entrance. Organizers encourage people to travel together, walk or ride bicycles.

Additional parking is available on the grass at Quann Park, accessible via East Olin Avenue. Participants coming from the UW-Madison campus can take shuttles from the Memorial Library to the East Olin Quann bus stop, next to the Alliant Energy Center. After the event, buses will be parked in the same location for the return to campus.

Bicycle parking is available at Willow Island across from the Alliant Energy Center. If using a ride service, you must request to be dropped off at the Capitol City Trail Head in Olin Park.

Undoubtedly. Officials haven’t announced the exact route candidates or supporters will take, but it’s safe to avoid that stretch of John Nolen, Rimrock Road and Olin for most of the day.

Unfortunately not. Plan to wear a raincoat instead. Umbrellas, bags, water bottles and a whole host of other items deemed dangerous by the Secret Service are not allowed. Think of it like boarding a plane.

The two presidential candidates will return to Wisconsin on Friday, with Trump gathering supporters at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, where he accepted the Republican presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention this summer. Harris’ campaign said Tuesday that she, too, will be on the battlefield Friday, though details of when and where have not yet been provided.