At Rally With Warren, Baldwin Says ‘Democracy Is On The Ballot’

Democratic U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin and Elizabeth Warren are asking Wisconsinites to cast their ballots early and help get out the vote on Election Day.

Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, voted Thursday and the following day urged a crowd of around 350 people to do the same.

“This is an extraordinary moment in our nation’s history. You could say democracy is on the ballot,” Baldwin said at a rally Friday morning at the Monona Terrace.

Baldwin opened her remarks at the “Women For Tammy” rally by celebrating the record number of women seeking elected office in Wisconsin and across the United States.

Baldwin said that of the 91 people running for Wisconsin state Assembly, 43 are women, and of the 15 candidates running for state Senate, seven are women, Baldwin said.

“This year we are seeing women take on a very difficult climate and speak out,” she said.

One of those women seeking office is, of course, Baldwin’s opponent: state Sen. Leah Vukmir, R-Brookfield.

In the latest Marquette University Law School poll, Baldwin held an 11-point lead over Vukmir.

Neither Baldwin nor Warren, D-Massachusetts, made much mention of Vukmir at the rally. Baldwin’s only reference to her opponent was when she disparaged Vukmir’s vow to abolish the Affordable Care Act if elected. Baldwin, an architect of the Obama-era law, has promised to defend it.

Instead of focusing on Vukmir, Baldwin and Warren focused their remarks on continuing their current fight and work in Washington: fortifying health care, reforming the criminal justice system, building more and better paying jobs, promoting equality, protecting the environment and more. All of these are at stake in the election Tuesday, said Baldwin.

A soft-spoken Baldwin recounted her role in crafting the ACA, including the hallmark protections for pre-existing conditions and the permission for children to stay on their parents’ insurance plans until age 26, and spoke about how her personal experiences as a seriously ill, uninsured child made her concerned about access to quality, affordable health care.

Warren, more fiery, made an impassioned defense of the ACA, Medicare and Medicaid, which Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell has suggested slashing to counteract the nation’s deficit.

Warren said her own party has done a poor job of defending and explaining the safety net programs. Warren said Medicaid helps two out of three people living in a nursing home, and can help bridge the gaps in coverage and cost for those facing insurmountable costs.

The programs exist to guard against the unknown, Warren said.

“And because none of us knows, we all pitch in a little, saying we are part of a great American family that cares for each other in times of need and government is our way to do that,” Warren said.

Warren said ultimately, what the issues amount to, and what this election comes down to, is this: “Who do you believe government ought to work for?”

Warren, whose stance against special interests and money in politics is well-known, said Washington works well for those in power.

“For everyone else it’s not working, and that’s why we’re in this fight,” Warren said.

Kathy Evers, wife of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tony Evers, and Shelia Stubbs, state assemblywoman for Madison, also spoke in support of Baldwin.

Warren and Baldwin were also heading to Milwaukee on Friday afternoon to hold a rally for workers with lieutenant governor candidate Mandela Barnes