This weekend, ahead of early voting starting in Wisconsin on October 22, the cast of the hit TV series The West Wing toured across the state, speaking with voters on the stark contrast between Vice President Kamala Harris’ New Way Forward plan and Donald Trump’s extreme Project 2025 agenda that would make a second term even more dangerous. 

Cast members Bradley Whitford, Martin Sheen, Richard Schiff, Mary McCormack, and Dulé Hill stopped in Waukesha, Milwaukee, and Madison, where they championed Vice President Harris’ plan to cut grocery and health care costs, secure reproductive freedoms, and create an opportunity economy. 

The Harris-Walz campaign is encouraging voters in Wisconsin to make a plan to vote early. Early vote sites will be open statewide starting on Tuesday, October 22nd. You can vote at any early voting site in your municipality. Wisconsinites can register to vote during early voting or on Election Day. Wisconsinites voting in person should bring a photo ID.

On the airwaves:

WISN (ABC – Milwaukee)

Reporter: “The cast of TV drama The West Wing speaking to voters here in Third Street Market Hall Saturday about speaking to the undecided and independent voters in their lives and how important that is in battleground Wisconsin. […] from ‘The West Wing’ to the campaign trail, Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford, Dulé Hill, Mary McCormack and Richard Schiff hammering home a message.”

Richard Schiff: Talk to those people who might be on the margin.”

Bradley Whitford: “I actually have had some interesting conversations that gave me a lot of hope in terms of what I’m looking for, which is a huge Harris victory.”

WZAW (FOX – Wausau)

Reporter: “The cast of The West Wing was in Wisconsin on Sunday, campaigning for Harris. They made a pit stop in Madison to talk with voters about the stakes of the 2024 election. The cast went on to talk about lower costs, reaching undecided voters and reproductive rights before the team stopped in Madison, they campaigned in Waukesha and Milwaukee.”

WKBT (CBS – La Crosse)

Reporter: “Cast members from the TV show The West Wing campaigned in Wisconsin this weekend. Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford, Mary McCormack, and Richard Schiff reuniting in Madison, 18 years after the show ended, to support the Harris-Walz campaign. The cast also visited Waukesha and Milwaukee, rallying Democrats and undecided voters ahead of the election. Madison native Bradley Whitford noted his father’s work with planned parenthood, highlighting local connections.” 

Bradley Whitford: “He was a man who felt that women deserve agency over their own bodies and that’s what I grew up with. That’s what I think the majority of people in Wisconsin [are] looking for.”

WAOW (ABC – Wausau)

Reporter: “In southern Wisconsin, stars of the hit show The West Wing hit the campaign trail Saturday for Kamala Harris in Milwaukee.” 

Bradley Whitford: “I’m not here because I wear makeup [for] a living, or pretended to work in the White House and think I’m smarter than anybody else about this. I am here because I’m a parent and I care about the future. I care about the rights, the fundamental rights have been taken away from my daughters, and I really do believe in democracy.” 

WEAU (NBC – La Crosse)

Reporter: A former president was also in Wisconsin… well kind of. The Barrymore Theater in Madison acted as an impromptu Oval Office for the cast of West Wing as they discussed the stakes of the 2024 election. The cast, including Madison native and actor Bradley Whitford and Martin Sheen, who played President Bartlett in the show, campaigned not for a reelection bid for Bartlett, but Harris and Walz.” 

WMTV (NBC – Madison)

Reporter: “The cast of the TV show The West Wing campaigned in Madison yesterday for Vice President Kamala Harris. Madison native and actor in the show, Bradley Whitford, and his fellow castmates shared the importance of voting, especially here in battleground Wisconsin. Whitford was joined by his fellow stars of the hit TV drama Richard Schiff and [Martin] Sheen. Many fans of the show came to the Barrymore Theater for the event. One voter says that seeing actors from such a well-known political show discuss real life issues was energizing.”

WKOW (ABC – Madison)

Reporter: “The cast of political drama series The West Wing was in town to campaign for Kamala Harris. They hosted an event at the Barrymore theater. Cast members called out former president Donald Trump on a number of issues like his tax policies and […] they also called the audience to action.”

Martin Sheen: “We are rightly called to find something in our lives worth fighting for. Something deeply personal and uncompromising. Something that unites the will of the spirit with the work of the flesh.”

Online: 

Daily Cardinal: ‘The West Wing’ cast triumphs abortion, climate change for Harris-Walz ticket in Madison

[Bryna Goeking and Sreejita Patra, 10/21/24]

Stars of 2000s political drama “The West Wing” Bradley Whitford, Martin Sheen, Richard Schiff and Mary McCormack were warmly welcomed by an energetic crowd at the Barrymore Theatre after canvassing with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin on Sunday.

Whitford hit the stage first, leading the audience in chanting, “We’re gonna win!” […]

A Madison native, Whitford spoke about his father’s past role as the president of Planned Parenthood, a role he said “wasn’t controversial” back then. Whitford lamented political partisanship over abortion rights, comparing the present day landscape of women’s health care to Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

“I’m working on a documentary called ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ now,” Whitford said ironically about his role on the Hulu television adaptation of the book. “Here we are in this moment, where Amber Thurman in Georgia died unnecessarily because she didn’t get access to the health care she needed because she wasn’t she wasn’t almost dead enough for the doctors to feel safe [providing reproductive healthcare].”

WKOW: Cast of ‘The West Wing’ campaigns for Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz

[Chloe Morrissey, 10/20/24]

Cast members of the political drama “The West Wing” visited Madison. They held a canvassing event at the Barrymore Theatre for Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

[…]

Cast members discussed Former President Donald Trump’s plans, like his tax policy and response to Hurricane Helene. 

“[Trump] sees a natural disaster where people’s lives are at stake to spread misinformation, to gain political points. What kind of broken soul do you have to be to do that?” said actor Bradley Whitford. 

During the event, Trump’s views on abortion were also called into question. 

“Women are bleeding out in their cars racing to other states trying to get help and [Trump] says it’s a beautiful thing,” actress Mary McCormack said. 

Wisconsin Law Journal: Roe vs. Wade and religion take center stage in Milwaukee with West Wing cast

[Steve Schuster, 10.19.2024]

The U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade took center stage in Milwaukee on Saturday as a cast member of the West Wing broke into tears during her speech.

[…]

Before a nearly full room of Harris supporters and campaign volunteers, McCormack expressed her gratitude.

“I should say ‘thank you so much’ because you guys are doing the hard work, knocking on these doors and talking to people and convincing them … or at least making a case for us, for women. And I’m grateful; very grateful,” McCormack added.

Stumping for Vice President Harris 17 days before the Nov. 5 Presidential election, Hollywood traveled to the heartland as McCormack was joined by Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford, Dulé Hill and Richard Schiff at the 3rd Street Market in downtown Milwaukee.

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