As the 2024 presidential election approaches, the impact of the January 6 Capitol attack continues to resonate, particularly in battleground states like Wisconsin. Shawn Reilly, the mayor of Waukesha, has publicly expressed his disgust with the GOP's response to the events of January 6, 2021, and has announced his support for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Reilly's breaking point came after witnessing the Capitol attack, which he believes has fundamentally altered the political landscape [a7e195b8].
Wisconsin, a state with a history of close elections, was won by President Biden in 2020 by a narrow margin of just 20,682 votes. Recent polling indicates a significant divide among Republican voters, with Trump enjoying 92% support among likely Republican voters, while only 7% are considering Harris [a7e195b8]. However, the number of undecided voters could reach up to 190,000, a substantial portion of whom may be Republicans disillusioned by the party's direction post-January 6 [a7e195b8].
In a notable endorsement, former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney has backed Harris, emphasizing the implications of January 6 on the current political climate. Cheney's stance reflects a growing concern among some Republicans regarding the party's alignment with Trump and the events surrounding the Capitol attack [a7e195b8].
Conversely, former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has claimed that voters are moving past the January 6 incident, suggesting that its relevance may be diminishing as the election draws nearer. This evolving narrative within the GOP highlights the complexities of voter sentiment as the election approaches [a7e195b8].
In the context of this charged political atmosphere, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has been actively campaigning for Harris, emphasizing the importance of abortion rights and the need for male engagement in the electoral process. His efforts, alongside those of other Democratic leaders, aim to solidify support in key states like Wisconsin, where the stakes are particularly high [d20149b1].