Waukesha Mayor Endorses Kamala Harris for President

In a significant political move, Mayor Shawn Reilly of Waukesha, Wisconsin, an independent who spent the majority of his life as a Republican, publicly declared his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency during an interview on Wednesday. This endorsement is particularly crucial for Ms. Harris, whose campaign has strategically focused on the suburban regions of Milwaukee. These areas, while historically leaning Republican, are densely populated and critical in delivering a substantial number of Democratic votes in this vital swing state.

Mr. Reilly, 63, shared that this endorsement marks the first time he has ever supported a Democrat. Reflecting on his political journey, he described a significant transformation from being a loyal Republican for decades to identifying as an independent in 2021. “It’s very easy to not even stick your nose in this — that’s the easiest way to go about it,” he explained. “But the reason I’m doing it is because I think we’re at a crossroads. I’m very afraid of the direction our country will head in if Donald Trump becomes president. I think we’ll be heading down a road of authoritarianism and fascism.”

The Harris campaign has invested considerable time and resources in Waukesha County, which encompasses the city of Waukesha. They are hopeful that Ms. Harris can reduce Mr. Trump’s margins in the area. In the 2020 election, Mr. Trump secured nearly 60 percent of the vote in the county. With a population exceeding 400,000, Waukesha County ranks as the third-most populous county in Wisconsin, following Milwaukee and Dane counties.

Since assuming office in 2014, Mr. Reilly has served as the mayor in a nonpartisan capacity. He noted that during his initial mayoral campaign, he consistently identified as a Republican. However, when Mr. Trump ran for president in 2016, Mr. Reilly chose not to vote for him, nor did he cast a ballot for the Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton. Following the Capitol attack in 2021, he formally renounced his affiliation with the Republican Party, stating that he no longer identified as a member.

On Monday, Mr. Reilly attended a rally in Waukesha County where Ms. Harris appeared alongside former Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming, aiming to resonate with conservative women in the Milwaukee suburbs. As early voting commenced in Wisconsin on Tuesday, Mr. Reilly observed from his office in City Hall the long line of voters stretching down the sidewalk. He noted that approximately 800 individuals were voting in person each day.

Despite his endorsement, Mr. Reilly expressed concerns regarding whether Ms. Harris could secure a victory in Wisconsin, a pivotal battleground state that President Biden won by a narrow margin of fewer than 21,000 votes in the 2020 election. Reflecting on his timing, he acknowledged, “I probably should have endorsed Ms. Harris sooner. But it’s one of those things where I’d much rather do it now, even if it doesn’t have as much of an effect.”

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