Day 1 of Wisconsin's State Democratic Convention kicks off with protestors and Pritzker

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The presidential election is just 150 days away. Democrats say they'll use every one of them to keep President Biden in office and help elect democrats throughout Wisconsin and beyond. Saturday, June 8 was day one of the Wisconsin State Democratic Convention.

"We've already opened 47 offices right here in Wisconsin and that's with more to come. As for the RNC, hm...," said Jaime Harrison, chairman of the Democratic National Convention.

It was a smaller footprint than the Republican National Convention will have here in Milwaukee in just over a month, but Democrats say their presence will be known.

"Trump and the Republican campaign have hardly shown up in this state at all," said Ben Wikler, the chairman of Wisconsin's Democratic Party.

Democrats rallied hundreds of supporters throughout the day.

"These halls have been packed with democrats in conversation, training in persuasion tactics, mobilizing and organizing caucus meetings where a united party celebrates our values and prepares for 150 days in which Wisconsin is going to gear up and take this presidential election away from GOP," said Wikler.

Local leaders from Congresswoman Gwen Moore to Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Governor Tony Evers and state senator Tammy Baldwin all took the stage at the conventions main event.

Tammy Baldwin was interrupted by pro-Palestinian protestors shouting at the stage and calling her names. 

Wisconsin Democrats were joined by Democratic National Chairman Jaime Harrison and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. They chose to focus on Trump and his MAGA extremism. 

"It's the felonious Trump Party that is spreading false conspiracy theories about voter fraud, undermining our democracy and claiming they won Wisconsin in 2020," said Pritzker. 

The second and final day of the convention kicks off at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 9.