ST. PAUL, Minn. ― Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) on Monday drew what her campaign said was the largest crowd of her presidential campaign tour yet, attracting thousands of energized supporters to her town hall at Macalester College.
“Hello, Minnesota!” the 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful shouted as she took the stage Monday evening. “Dang, it is good to be here.”
Advertisement
Though the event was billed as a town hall, it more closely resembled a rally once Warren announced the audience Q&A portion of the event would be scrapped given the massive turnout. Her campaign estimated 12,000 people were in attendance.
A volunteer with the grassroots organizing group Minnesota for Warren told HuffPost that the event was scheduled to be held in the college’s field house but was moved outside given the large number of people who RSVP’d.
Volunteer with Minnesota For Warren says there were so many RSVPs to this town hall that they had to move it outside from the Fieldhouse to Shaw Field. pic.twitter.com/hlTx4StTlY
During the rally, Warren focused on three major actions she plans to take if elected president: Tackle corruption within the government, make structural changes in the economy and protect American democracy.
“If you want to get something done, you ought to have a plan for it,” she said, repeating a line that has become a mantra for her campaign. “Believe me, I plan to get something done.”
She drew raucous applause when she discussed her proposed wealth tax, which would impose a 2% tax on fortunes worth more than $50 million and a 3% tax on fortunes worth more than $1 billion.
With money raised from the wealth tax, “we can provide universal child care for every baby in this country [and] raise the wages of every child care worker and preschool teacher in America,” Warren said. She added that the tax would result in a $50 billion investment in historically black colleges and universities and the cancelation of student loan debt for 95% of borrowers.
Advertisement
“This is our moment in American history,” she said. “This is our time to decide where this country goes. This is our chance to rescue our democracy. And how do we do it? We get organized. We build a grassroots movement. We persist. We dream big. We fight hard. We build the America of our best values.”
The town hall held at the private liberal arts college in St. Paul marked her first campaign event in Minnesota. She’s the fourth Democratic presidential candidate (outside of Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota) to campaign in the North Star State.
“I hear her say, ‘I’ve got a plan for that,’ and she does,” said Nancy Docken, a 75-year-old St. Paul resident. “And she not only has a plan, but it’s thought out beyond just the first sketch of the idea ― there’s depth to it.”
Docken suggested Warren’s most attractive qualities are her ex-teacher’s ability to explain complicated subject matter and her humility, which allows her to admit she’s wrong at times and evolve in her beliefs.
Advertisement
Warren is her No. 1 choice, but at the end of the day, Docken said, she’ll vote for whoever the Democratic nominee is over President Donald Trump.
Several undecided voters who attended the rally said they felt Warren was one of the strongest Democratic candidates but worried whether Americans would vote a woman into the White House.
“I would like [Warren] to make it far,” said Joanne Kuria of Minneapolis. “But I don’t know after Hillary Clinton if the country is ready for a woman president. I would really like to see us surpass that.”
“I’m more of a moderate with progressive leanings,” she added. “I’ve got tons of friends that sit on the more conservative side that I’ve had conversations with who really, I don’t think, would vote for a woman.”
Others, like Jessica Edwards of Cannon Falls, waved off such concerns.
“Hell, yes,” America is ready for a woman president, she told HuffPost. “I’ve always felt that [Warren] is very intelligent and knows her stuff. At the same time, she’s very genuine and comes across very sincere, and that’s really important, too.”
Advertisement
Warren’s second campaign event in Minnesota is scheduled for Tuesday at Better Futures Minnesota in Minneapolis, where she is expected to participate in a roundtable on criminal justice reform.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.