President Biden visits Milwaukee Sept. 5; celebrates Labor Day
MILWAUKEE - President Biden is scheduled to travel to Milwaukee and Pittsburgh on Monday, Sept. 5, about two months before the election.
Biden will speak at Milwaukee's Laborfest celebration and will go to Pittsburgh where other national labor leaders are appearing at that city's Labor Day Parade, both the White House and labor unions said Monday. Biden plans to "celebrate Labor Day and the dignity of American workers," according to the White House.
Biden is expected to tout the bipartisan infrastructure law passed last year, as well as the Inflation Reduction Act, which the president signed in August.
Both states have races for governor and U.S. Senate.
In Wisconsin, Democrats are trying to reelect Gov. Tony Evers and oust Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson. His Democratic challenger, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, has highlighted his middle-class background and parents' union membership. Evers faces Republican Tim Michels, who co-owns the state's largest construction firm.
In Pennsylvania, Democrats are trying to hold on to the state’s open governor’s office and to flip the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey.
The AFL-CIO has endorsed the Democrats in both races: state Attorney General Josh Shapiro running for governor against state Sen. Doug Mastriano and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman running for Senate against heart surgeon-turned-TV celebrity Dr. Mehmet Oz.
The AFL-CIO also has endorsed Evers and Barnes in the Wisconsin races.
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Biden last came to Wisconsin in March and his stop in Milwaukee would be his fourth since his term began. Evers last week said he would welcome a visit from the president to the state and his campaign said he planned to attend the event with the president. Barnes also planned to participate in Labor Day events in Milwaukee, but his campaign spokeswoman did not say whether Barnes would join with Biden.
Fetterman planned to join Biden next week in Pittsburgh. Biden was also going to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday to discuss an initiative designed to reduce gun crimes.
A news release from the White House says the president will "celebrate Labor Day and the dignity of American workers."
Reaction
Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Paul Farrow
"President Biden’s appearance in Wisconsin is no surprise given the surge in the polls by Tim Michels and Ron Johnson. Biden is hoping to shore up the failing campaigns of Tony Evers and Mandela Barnes, but Wisconsin voters are already rejecting the failed policies of Democrats and Wisconsinites are eager for change in November."
Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler
"Joe Biden is the most pro-worker, pro-union, and pro-job president of our lifetime. From the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to the recently-enacted Inflation Reduction Act, President Biden has worked alongside Democrats in Washington and Madison to create thousands of good-paying jobs across the Badger State—all while Wisconsin Republicans try to block that progress.
"While extremists like Tim Michels and Ron Johnson turn their back on Main Street businesses and working families to enrich large corporations and wealthy donors, President Biden and Democrats are working together to create an economy that works for working Wisconsinites—and we’re going to make sure voters know that before November."
Ben Voelkel, Senior Advisor for the Ron Johnson campaign
"Lt. Gov. Barnes and President Biden are a couple career politicians who think hardworking people's money is theirs to redistribute to special interests, so it is no surprise electing Lt. Gov. Barnes is President Biden's top priority. Whether it is Barnes' lockstep support for the Biden tax hikes and inflation agenda or adopting President Biden's strategy to answer as few questions as is humanly possible, a vote for Lt. Gov. Barnes is just a vote for President Biden."
Associated Press contributed to this report.