Over the past five weeks, Cap Times photo director Ruthie Hauge has crisscrossed the state, gaining deep insight into the political complexities of its various regions and uniquely divided residents — confirming why this state was among the most sought after by both major party presidential candidates in their quest for the White House this year.
This Dairyland odyssey allowed Hauge to document campaign rallies, voters, canvassing, battling yard signs and the candidates themselves — all as part of a larger, growing photo project exhibited at the Carl-Schurz-Haus German American Institute in Madison’s sister city of Freiburg, Germany.
The institute studies American politics and democracy and has taken a special interest in this presidential election and the critical work journalists and photojournalists do in marking these moments in history.
Hauge’s work has been hanging on the walls of the institute for scholars and Freiburg residents to view, with new installments added each week as the election has ramped up in the days leading up to Tuesday’s election.
Later this month, Hauge and Cap Times political reporter Erin McGroarty will travel to Freiburg to present a panel at the institute — discussing what happens behind the scenes in reporting on campaigns in a critical swing state, the details of each weekly installment of photos and the assignments the two have worked side-by-side to document together since campaign activity took the state by storm months ago.
A homemade sign is affixed to a street sign pointing to cheese and the town of Fayette, Wisconsin. The phrase "Let's go Brandon" became a pro-Trump rallying cry after an NBC reporter mistook a crowd's "F*ck Joe Biden" chant for "Let's go Brandon" while interviewing the NASCAR driver Brandon Brown.
Donald Trump supporters and Kamala Harris supporters hold competing campaign signs outside of a rally for Harris at Ripon College in Ripon in October.
Presidential candidate Donald Trump holds his youngest grandchild, Carolina Trump, 4, while she sleepily rubs her eyes on the last night of the Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. Trump wore a bandage on his right ear after being grazed by a bullet during an assassination attempt that happened five days prior.
A supporter of Kamala Harris at a Harris rally in Ripon wears a miniature American flag, which is attached to a hat with a ",La" button — a play on the name Kamala.
At the July Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, a delegate wears an American flag patch over his ear in solidarity with Donald Trump.
Supporters of Donald Trump cheer and take photos and videos as he takes the stage at a campaign rally at Dane Manufacturing in Waunakee.
Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally Sept. 20 at Alliant Energy Center in Madison.
See more photos in person
The Cap Times will hold a special event on Dec. 17 in Madison for Cap Times members and other members of the community who would like to hear from Hauge and McGroarty about their work, the photo exhibit, what it looked like behind the scenes throughout the process of documenting this election and their time in Germany.
Stay tuned for more details on coverage coming from the two while in Germany and details on the Dec. 17 event and, as always, thank you for your support of the Cap Times, which allows our hardworking journalists to provide you the coverage you need during such a pivotal moment in our country’s political journey.
Linda Krahn, a volunteer for the Jackson County Democratic Party, hand-writes postcards to voters at the party office in Black River Falls on Oct. 17.
People in Wisconsin have been exposed to an increased number of campaign signs displayed throughout their towns, as neighbors enter "sign wars".
A get out the vote event focused on Indigenous voters is held at Menominee Indian High School in Keshena. "Skoden" is Native American slang for "let's go then." "Vote" was added to the phrase to appeal to young voters.
Davida Randolph cuddles her 8-year-old daughter, Vada Randolph, as Kamala Harris speaks about women's rights at a campaign rally in Madison in September.
Vice President Kamala Harris takes the stage for a campaign rally and concert at Alliant Energy Center in Madison six days before the election.
Former President Donald Trump speaks to a crowd of 500 supporters at a rally on Oct. 1 at Dane Manufacturing in Waunakee.
An independent voter, turned Democrat, wears patriotic shoes and humorous election socks to a meeting and potluck dinner at the Democratic Party of Sauk County, less than three weeks before Election Day.
JoAnn Maxey stops sophomore Chase Tilson on Oct. 11 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to discuss voting for Democrats. Maxey traveled from Arkansas and told The Cap Times, "It is so important to us to pull a win for Harris and Walz. I want to go somewhere meaningful. Wisconsin is so important."
A collection of saved campaign text messages soliciting donations from over 115 phone numbers. Screenshots of the messages, sent between Nov. 6, 2023 and Oct. 14, 2024, were compiled to create one long receipt.
Retired wrestler Hulk Hogan rips off his shirt while talking about the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump as he speaks on the final night of the Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
Rapper Cardi B endorses Vice President Kamala Harris and tells the crowd she doesn't want former President Donald Trump's "protection," a reference to Trump's recent statement, "I'm gonna do it whether the women like it or not. I'm gonna protect them."