Gwen Walz campaigns for Democrats in Ozaukee, Waukesha County

 

GRAFTON Wis. (CBS 58) -- Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz visited the Milwaukee suburbs to campaign on behalf of the Harris-Walz ticket and Democrats up and down the ballot.

Gwen spoke to a couple dozen supporters at the Ozaukee Democratic Party Headquarters in Grafton before traveling to Waukesha later in the afternoon.

It marked Walz first solo campaign visit to Wisconsin to boost support for Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Tim Walz.

"They are the underdogs in this race, but I know that we can win," Walz told supporters. "And I know why, we can win because we have you."

Ozaukee and Waukesha County are two areas Democrats are targeting to try and pick up votes in areas that traditionally elect Republicans.

In Grafton, Walz was joined by Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin, a candidate vying for the 8th state Senate District. She'll face Republican Sen. Duey Strobel (R-Saukville) in November.

Since 1992, residents of the 8th SD have been represented by a Republican but that could change with new voting maps enacted earlier this year.

The district now stretches from Whitefish Bay up to Port Washington, a demographic shift that makes the area slightly more competitive for Democrats.

"I'm hoping under the new fair maps we will have a change of a fair representation," Habush Sinykin said. "I'm talking to just as many Republicans as we are Democrats, especially those Republicans who voted for Trump in 2016."

The district has trended bluer recently. During last year's special election, Habush Sinykin narrowly lost to her GOP opponent Sen. Dan Knodl by fewer than 1,300 votes.

Knodl is now running for his former Assembly seat after he was drawn into the new 8th Senate District with Stroebel.

The Trump campaign responded to Walz's visit by blaming Democrats for inflation and rising costs.

"Tim Walz said it himself - we can't afford four more years of this," said Jacob Fisher, Wisconsin Press Secretary of the Trump campaign. "While Gwen Walz visits Wisconsin today, hopefully Wisconsinites take her advice and listen to her husband!"