Jill Biden visits Madison, a crucial Wisconsin Democratic stronghold with the 2024 election looming

MADISON — First lady Jill Biden on Thursday afternoon visited Madison, a crucial pocket of Democratic support in the state, to highlight the importance of cancer screenings, meet with teachers and attend a fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

Biden's events in Wisconsin come a little over a week after Republican presidential candidates took the debate stage in Milwaukee and as both parties zero in on the critical state ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Her visit bookends two Biden administration stops in Wisconsin earlier this month.

President Joe Biden, who is running for reelection, touted his economic policies in Milwaukee on Aug. 15 — a week before the GOP debate in the same city, which will host the Republican convention in a year's time. Vice President Kamala Harris also made stops in Wisconsin in early August to highlight the administration's broadband efforts.

Biden's visit began with a laboratory tour at Exact Sciences, the makers of Cologaurd, an at-home screening test for colorectal cancer. She then joined Baldwin for a listening session at the Foundation for Black Women's Wellness.

The stops were part of White House Cancer Moonshot, an effort the first couple relaunched from Biden's time as vice president.

“Cancer touches us all, and it changes everyone it touches,” Biden said, referencing Beau Biden’s death from brain cancer. “Joe and I knew that we had to find purpose to deal with the grief that we felt after his death. So this is very personal to us.”

The first lady joined Baldwin and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to give remarks to teachers and union members at Glacier Edge Elementary School in Verona.

Teachers' unions had criticized Evers' shared revenue compromise with Republican leaders earlier this summer, which boosted funding for private schools. Some administrators were also concerned that his budget veto move to extend school funding for four centuries wouldn't keep pace with inflation.

"You have a friend in the White House. Two, in fact," Biden told the union members. "I always knew Joe would be an education president. And he's delivered on his promises, from addressing the mental health and academic needs of our students to signing the bipartisan gun safety bill."

Baldwin called Evers the “one of the most pro-union, pro-education governors in Wisconsin history.”

“Let’s get you reelected,” Evers said of Baldwin.

Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming criticized Biden's Thursday visit and Baldwin in a statement.

"Jill Biden’s visit to Madison shows who is top of mind, not only for the Biden administration, but for Tammy Baldwin — who is beholden to the teachers’ unions," Schimming said.

Biden, who teaches at a community college, has made previous stops in Wisconsin focused on education. She spoke at a Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association meeting last fall, where she praised Evers during his reelection campaign. Biden also visited a Milwaukee elementary school in 2021 to discuss federal funds for COVID-19 safety protocols.

First lady attends Baldwin fundraiser as Republicans slow to enter race

Biden appeared at a fundraiser for Baldwin Thursday evening. Baldwin has raised $5.4 million in the first half of 2023. Republican contenders have been slow to announce campaigns for her seat.

In supporting Baldwin Thursday night, Biden referenced Wisconsin's 1849 law that effectively banned abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Abortion was a key issue in April's Wisconsin Supreme Court race, which saw high Democratic turnout.

“Wisconsin Republicans, like their national counterparts, want to drag us back to a past that we thought was long over. But we won’t let them,” Biden said.

An invitation to the Thursday event said the fundraiser would benefit the newly created "Biden Baldwin Victory Fund," with tickets ranging from $100 to $6,600.

Baldwin is a proven fundraiser and has won previously by 5.6 points in 2012 and 10.8 points in 2018 — significant margins by Wisconsin standards. She has raised $5.4 million in the first half of 2023.

Possible Republican contenders for Baldwin's seat include banking mogul Eric Hovde, who lost the Republican primary for Senate in 2012. He is largely seen as a top GOP candidate, though he might not make his decision until the fall.

Franklin businessman Scott Mayer is also considering a bid, as is former Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. To date, a 40-year-old student at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point remains the only Republican to publicly announce a challenge to Baldwin.

“Republicans are looking for the most extreme candidate to challenge her," Evers said Thursday night.

A number of high-ranking Wisconsin officials have passed on a challenge to Baldwin in 2024. Republicans' top choice in the state, U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, took his name out of the speculation earlier this year. Similarly, U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil has repeatedly said he plans to run for reelection in the House. Both men have leadership positions in the current Congress.

Lawrence Andrea of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Jill Biden visits Madison, a key Democratic stronghold in Wisconsin