Democratic events in
Pierce County and beyond
Pierce County and beyond
Watch Parties at Dems Office
Join us to cheer on our favorite candidates
111 E Locust St in River Falls
OCTOBER 1: Party starts 7:30pm, Debate begins 8:00
111 E Locust St in River Falls
OCTOBER 1: Party starts 7:30pm, Debate begins 8:00
Tim Walz and JD Vance will face off on CNN, and we'll be watching it with other Dems at the Dems' office.
The popcorn and drinks are on us!
The popcorn and drinks are on us!
OCTOBER 18: Potluck starts 6:00pm, Debate begins 7:00
Senator Tammy Baldwin takes on Eric Hovde in their only debate match-up. We're making it a potluck, so bring a dish to share.
We'll provide the drinks.
Senator Tammy Baldwin takes on Eric Hovde in their only debate match-up. We're making it a potluck, so bring a dish to share.
We'll provide the drinks.
Pierce Dems Meeting
Tuesday, September 17
Tuesday, September 17
Agenda:
Welcome
Candidate Updates
Voter Protection
Pierce County Fair Recap and TV Drawing
Mobilize Events
Voting Info
Office Hours/Shifts
Announcements
Check back for updates
A note about Harris-Walz yard signs from WisDems: We understand the frustration there's been around not yet having Harris Walz yard signs available. We unfortunately ran into a number of unexpected delays in the process of the Harris campaign's sign order and then the vendor on that order also ran into yet another delay. Union printers across the country are at capacity with the demand for signs. We do want to directly apologize for the delay and assure you all that we've been fighting to get updates and movement on the signs as much as possible.
The WisDems itself has made a significant investment in another order of yard signs right away (before the first batch even arrives) and worked to identify and place the order from a vendor with more capacity to ensure they're getting out ASAP.
As of now, we're tracking the first batch of signs to be arriving to our distribution hubs approximately Sept. 14th , though this is not guaranteed. Stay tuned as we'll make sure to communicate out further information and details as soon as we have them.
Office Hours
Tuesdays 10am-1pm & 4-7pm
Thursdays 10am-1pm & 4-7pm
Saturdays 10 am - 1 pm
Thursdays 10am-1pm & 4-7pm
Saturdays 10 am - 1 pm
111 East Locust Street,
River Falls, Wisconsin
715-821-1259
More shifts will become available once Harris-Walz signs arrive. Check back for for additional shift openings.
Office Shifts Are Available
We are seeking volunteers to work 3-hour shifts mornings and afternoons Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Saturday mornings. If these times don't work for your schedule, you can also design your own shift.
Donuts with Dems
10 am - 1 pm the 2nd and 4th Saturdays
Sep 14 & 28, Oct 12 & 26
Sep 14 & 28, Oct 12 & 26
On the second and fourth Saturdays, the Pierce Dems are hosting Donuts with Dems at the office at 111 E Locust Street in River Falls. Come visit the nicest office we've ever had, enjoy a donut and coffee, and find out how democrats are working to elect candidates who will work on your behalf.
September 11, 2024
Conservative Radio Host Vicki McKenna Has One Word for Eric Hovde’s Campaign: “Weak”
MADISON, Wis. —Conservative Radio Host Vicki McKenna Has One Word for Eric Hovde’s Campaign: “Weak”
MADISON, Wis. — Yesterday, conservative radio host Vicki McKenna took to the airwaves to share her disappointment with Eric Hovde’s campaign for US Senate, calling the campaign “weak” and expressing her concerns about Hovde’s chances in Wisconsin.
“Wisconsin worries me for a bunch of reasons. I think the Senate candidacy of Eric Hovde. While he’s a great candidate, the campaign has been weak. I like him so much that it hurts me to say that. But I think the campaign is weak,” Vicki McKenna said.
This isn’t the first time the call has come from inside the house, as Republican Congressman Glenn Grothman was recently caught criticizing Hovde, saying he is running a “terrible campaign,” and Republican operatives have called Hovde’s campaign “underwhelming.”
Source: https://wisdems.org/news/
September 11, 2024
The Risks of Vaping
by Senator Jeff Smith
Vaping has rapidly emerged as a significant public health crisis, especially among young people. Initially marketed as a safer alternative to traditional smoking, vaping is now known to pose serious health risks. As evidence of these dangers mounts, the Wisconsin state government has a responsibility to take more meaningful actions to protect public health.
Public Health Risks
In 2018, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine reported that the substances in e-cigarettes, like propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, were toxic to users, and led to youths choosing to start smoking traditional tobacco. During a severe outbreak in 2019, the American Medical Association linked more than 2,000 lung illnesses and over 40 deaths to e-cigarette usage.
Equally troubling are the dangers posed to non-users. Secondhand emissions from e-cigarettes, according to the U.S. Surgeon General, contain harmful substances like nicotine, diacetyl (linked to serious lung diseases), benzene (a carcinogen) and heavy metals like lead. These emissions, inhaled by anyone in the vicinity of the vaper, create a public health risk—particularly for children, pregnant women and those with preexisting respiratory conditions.
Impact on Youth
The rise in vaping among young people is particularly alarming. The same National Academies’ report found that youth who use e-cigarettes are at higher risk for respiratory issues like coughing, wheezing and asthma attacks. Nicotine is highly addictive and early exposure to nicotine can also increase the likelihood of addiction to traditional cigarettes or other harmful substances.
Flavored e-cigarettes also play a major role in attracting teens as the fruity, mint and candy taste masks the harshness of nicotine, making it easier to start vaping. The 2022 Wisconsin Tobacco Youth Survey found that 92 percent of Wisconsin high schoolers say they would not use unflavored tobacco products. While some states have implemented flavor restrictions, Wisconsin has yet to take significant action on this front.
Wisconsin’s Legislative Response
While other states have moved to limit vaping, Wisconsin's response has been slower. As of 2024, 19 states (and the District of Columbia) have laws banning e-cigarette use in indoor public spaces like restaurants, bars and workplaces. Wisconsin currently has no statewide restrictions on indoor vaping to protect non-users from secondhand emissions.
In Wisconsin, just last year, Senate Bill 268 was passed into law to require retailers who sell electronic vaping devices to obtain a cigarette and tobacco products retailer license. Several amendments to strengthen the bill failed, but it thankfully passed into law as Wisconsin Act 73 on December 7, 2023.
This law will help control who gets to sell vaping products, and it ensures that sellers are adhering to age restrictions, reducing the likelihood that minors can easily purchase vaping products. This is a good first step toward prevention, but more can be done to protect our public health.
Wisconsin should do more for prevention efforts. We should follow the lead of states like Minnesota and enact excise taxes on vaping products to discourage use, particularly among young people. Other measures should include removing flavored e-cigarettes from the market and banning the sale of all vaping products that are not approved by the FDA.
The health risks of vaping are undeniable, and the impact on Wisconsin’s youth is particularly troubling, and it’s clear that vaping is not the “safe” alternative it was once thought to be.
The Wisconsin state legislature must act swiftly to implement stricter regulations on sales, taxes and public vaping to protect our youth and the wider public. Addressing this issue now is crucial to protecting our kids and keeping them healthy.
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Senator Smith currently represents District 31 in the Wisconsin State Senate. The 31st Senate District currently includes all of Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties and portions of Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson and St. Croix counties.
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For more from Senator Smith, go to his website at:
https://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/31/smith/.
