Tim Walz says middle class, workers will be priority for Kamala Harris

MANITOWOC - In front of a "Made in America" sign, surrounded by production workers, Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz emphasized his and Vice President Kamala Harris' mission to support the middle class and union workers during a campaign visit Monday morning.

Inside a Manitowoc Pattern & Machining warehouse, a Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry division, Walz assured voters that a Harris administration would prioritize the middle class and protect workers.

"That's Kamala's vision for the entire country," Walz said "Where workers are respected, they're lifted up, they're paid, they're protected, and we grow our economy."

The event was Walz's second visit to northeastern Wisconsin this election cycle and joined the long list of campaign visits from candidates and surrogates to the area as both parties hope to gain votes in a crucial swing state just a week before Election Day. After his stop in Manitowoc, Walz quickly boarded a plane to Waukesha for another campaign event.

Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance also visited Wisconsin on Monday, making a stop in Wausau in the afternoon. Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to rally voters in Green Bay on Wednesday, his second stop to the area this election cycle.

Harris visited Green Bay for the first time this election cycle on Oct. 17, when she emphasized a "new way forward" to voters inside the Resch Expo.

In a brief, 15-minute speech, Walz discussed manufacturing jobs, unions, the economy and early voting. Here are some takeaways.

Speaking to a room full of production workers, Walz emphasized that a Harris administration would prioritize manufacturing in the United States and increase manufacturing jobs across the country. He described manufacturing as "the ticket to the middle class."

"A ticket that doesn't require you go into debt with a college degree," Walz said. "And under (Harris') leadership, we're winning the race to make sure the future is made in America."

Walz criticized Trump for offshoring jobs during his presidency and said he is "all talk when it comes to being tough on China," even commenting on the production of Trump's God Bless the USA Bibles, which were reportedly made in China.

"He outsourced God to the Chinese," Walz said, evoking laughter from the crowd.

The Minnesota governor said he and Harris would fight for union workers, demand increased pay and better working conditions, and work alongside striking workers. Walz said Trump and Vance only care about "their billionaire friends."

Although he spoke against Trump's approach to manufacturing and unions, Walz noted that he wanted to give voters "something to vote for, not just against." He said Americans can vote for Harris' plan to revitalize manufacturing communities in the United States, create a tax credit to create more jobs in strategic industries, give tax cuts to companies that guarantee worker's rights to organize into unions and ensure federal contracts to manufacture in the U.S.

"So we can lead in the industries of the future," Walz said. "And we can keep what we've always done, out-innovating and out-competing the rest of the world. That's what we've always done."

During his remarks, Walz linked Trump to Project 2025, a conservative policy handbook published by the Heritage Foundation that Trump has repeatedly denied affiliation with. Walz said the handbook is a "nightmare for American workers."

Walz said Trump would repeal the bipartisan infrastructure act, establish a federal sales tax, repeal the Affordable Care Act and bankrupt Social Security.

"It undermines our system, it undermines unions, it undermines the middle class," Walz said.

Walz closed his remarks with a reminder to vote and to encourage others to vote. He emphasized early voting, which opened in Wisconsin on Oct. 22.

"All this work, all these rallies, all these meetings, all of those ads you're sick of, all of the door-knocking, all of the phone-banking, all of the things you're doing, really they translate into one thing," Walz said. "It needs to be that little sticker that says 'I voted' on more people who believe in America, believe in the promise, are hopeful, joyful and believe in the middle class."

Vivian Barrett is the public safety reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You can reach her at [email protected] or (920) 431-8314. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @vivianbarrett_.