Wisconsin voters explain why they support Donald Trump and JD Vance
Supporters waiting for Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance in Eau Claire express their support for Vance and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
For the first time since the Republican National Convention in July, former President Donald Trump will return to battleground Wisconsin on Thursday night for a town hall event in La Crosse.
Town hall meetings typically give voters a chance to ask candidates questions. The format is different from the high-energy rallies Trump is known for. This year, Trump has held rallies in Racine, Waukesha and Green Bay, and on Thursday he will campaign in competitive western Wisconsin for the first time this campaign.
Here you can find out everything about the location and time of Trump’s town hall meeting, who will moderate the event, politics in Western Wisconsin and much more:
What time is Trump’s town hall meeting tonight?
The town hall meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. CT. Doors will open at 2:00 p.m. CT.
Where is Trump holding a town hall meeting tonight?
Trump is holding the town hall meeting at the La Crosse Center in downtown La Crosse. The venue is located on the Mississippi River, which forms the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota. The center hosts conventions, concerts and other events.
Vice President Kamala Harris also used the La Crosse Center as a campaign venue in April before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and she became the nominee. During that visit, she gathered a room full of supporters for abortion access.
More: Vice President Kamala Harris speaks about abortion in La Crosse and announces minimum staffing levels in nursing homes
According to the La Crosse Center’s website, the arena can accommodate up to 8,000 people. The Trump campaign has not disclosed how many voters are expected to attend the town hall meeting.
City officials said South Riverside Park and the south levee area will be closed Wednesday and Thursday because of the event.
Can I get tickets to Trump’s town hall meeting?
The campaign includes a link where people can sign up for tickets on a first-come, first-served basis. Only two tickets can be registered per mobile number.
Who will moderate Trump’s town hall meeting?
Former Democratic congresswoman and 2020 presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard will moderate the debate, the Trump campaign team said. Gabbard endorsed Trump on Monday.
Gabbard served as a representative for Hawaii’s 2nd congressional district from 2013 to 2021. She left the Democratic Party in 2022.
In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in June, Gabbard did not rule out joining the Republican Party or serving in Trump’s administration if he wins the November election.
More: Former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard meets with GOP groups in Wisconsin
How did La Crosse vote in the last election?
La Crosse County voted blue in 2020, with about 56% of the vote going to Biden and 42% to Trump. Eau Claire County is the only other county in this part of the state to vote blue in the last election. Both are campuses of the University of Wisconsin.
Trump’s result was roughly the same as in 2016, when he received about 41 percent of the vote in La Crosse County. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton received 51 percent of the vote there.
La Crosse is located in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, one of the most hotly contested seats in the country. Republican U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden is running against Democratic challenger Rebecca Cooke, who advanced in a heated primary on August 13.
Where else has Trump held town hall meetings in Wisconsin?
Neither campaign has held many town hall meetings so far this election year, making Trump’s choice of Wisconsin notable.
Wisconsin is one of the few states that will decide the election, and both campaigns are expected to reconvene before November. Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz and Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz will visit Milwaukee on Labor Day, a few days after Trump’s town hall meeting.
During the 2016 campaign, Trump attended several town hall meetings in Wisconsin, including an event hosted by MSNBC at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. CNN also hosted a town hall meeting at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee, attended by Trump, Texas Senator Ted Cruz and former Ohio Governor John Kasich, who were still in the race.
