GREEN BAY, WI – (WGBW & WISS) – Joined by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Minnesota Governor and Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate Tim Walz was in Green Bay to kick off the “Driving Forward Blue Wall Bus Tour,” for the Democratic ticket. Governor Walz addressed about 850 enthusiastic supporters during the rally.

Gretchen Whitmer

Whitmer was on hand to compare the number of factory workers now under the Biden/Harris Administration to the number of jobs lost under the Trump administration.

“Today There are more Auto Workers. More factories getting built. More roads getting fixed. More middle-class jobs than when Trump was president,” said Whitmer. “The Midwest is moving forward. Thanks to Kamala Harris and leaders like Tim Walz.”

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer stumps for Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate, Tim Walz in Green Bay on Monday evening. Photo: Lisa M. Hale/Civic Media

Whitmer described the Harris/Walz ticket as one that knows what it’s like to clip coupons for the grocery store, to live a middle-class lifestyle, and who will be there when things get tough.

“If we’ve learned anything it’s that in the next four years, there will be some crisis of some sort. We know that,” Whitmer said. “We’re going to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz because they are going to show up for us every single day, crisis or not. And when God forbid, there is, they will have our backs.”

Tony Evers

As part of the Blue Wall Bus Tour, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers commented on the hard work ethic of a Midwestern teacher, like himself. Like Tim Walz.

“You know my friend, Tim Walz, is going to be an incredible, incredible Vice President,” said Evers. “Because Governor’s get sh** done!”

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers introduces Minnesota Governor and Vice Presidential Candidate Tim Walz at the Democratic Driving Forward Blue Wall Bus Tour in Green Bay on Monday evening. Photo: Lisa M. Hale/Civic Media

Tim Walz

Walz spent a few minutes of his time speaking to a supportive crowd playing on the Viking/Packers rivalry but noted that everything important is lying with the Midwest right now.

“This year, the road to the Super Bowl. The road to control the Senate. And the road to the White House goes right through the NFC North,” Walz said. “Michigan! Wisconsin! And Minnesota!”

“You had a Lions’ fan, a Packers’ fan, and a Vikings’ fan up here. The only thing more amazing is we’ve got Bernie Sanders, Dick Cheney, and Taylor Swift on the same side!”

Once the joking was put aside, Walz began to compare what an administration under Kamala Harris would look like as opposed to that of Former President Trump.

“It would be funny if it wasn’t so dangerous,” Walz said of Trump’s rambling, ranting persona. “Yesterday he went on Fox News. That’s a safe place for him. He went on there. And he suggested that he is going to send the military against the ‘enemy from within.’ I want you to think about it. In other words, Americans who don’t support him.”

Walz also appealed to the hard-working middle class and laborers in the audience. Mentioning that Harris has been a part of the most pro-labor, pro-union administration the country has seen.

“That’s why under her leadership, we’re investing in America’s people once again,” said Walz. “Today there are more factories getting built. More American energy’s being produced than on any given day when Donald Trump was president. And that’s a fact.”

As he was wrapping up his speech, Walz brought the topic around to freedom and what it means in modern America.

Tim Walz addresses crowd at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay on Monday night. Photo: Lisa M. Hale/Civic Media.

“Freedom means a lot of things. We’re talking about freedom for you to make your own choices; freedom to retire with dignity; freedom to have health care, Walz said. “.And I’ll say this. Freedom to send your children to school without worrying they’ll be shot dead.

That led to a natural segue into a discussion of women’s reproductive freedoms.

“I’m gonna make a message to the guys here. You got any women, you love in your life: your wives, your daughters, your mothers, and friends. Let’s not forget their lives are literally at stake in this election. Let’s be very clear,” said Walz. “This issue about personal freedoms. While it puts women’s lives at risk, every man in here, you have a vested interest to make sure that Donald Trump gets nowhere near the Whitehouse again.”

The campaign continues

Governors Whitmer and Evers will continue their bus tour through the key battleground states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

This was Walz’s fifth time campaigning in Wisconsin since being named the Vice Presidential candidate. His running mate, Kamala Harris will visit La Crosse, Milwaukee, and Green Bay on Thursday. However, details of that visit have not been made public yet.

Former President Donald Trump last visited the greater Green Bay Area in April. JD Vance was in De Pere in August.

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