Sometimes, a big moment gets the best of you. For Gov. Tony Evers, it happened in front of millions of viewers during a botched ceremonial roll call vote at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago Tuesday night.
The vibe at Chicago’s United Center was akin to a music festival as Democratic delegations from all 50 states and U.S. territories announced their votes to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s candidate for president.
When the roll call got to Wisconsin, the unmistakable trumpets from the University of Wisconsin hype song “Jump Around” blared from the speakers, and a smiling Evers appeared on the jumbotron. He told his fellow Democrats he was “jazzed as hell” to announce Wisconsin’s votes, but lost his place when it came to the actual tally.
Stay informed on the latest news
Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.
“I’m jazzed as hell to announce that Wisconsin cast one vote present and 94 votes for … for, whoa. Where are we at here?” Evers said.
Feeling the pressure, Evers’ stumble got worse.
“You got me going here,” said Evers. “Former Wisconsinite. Former state … oh, my God.”
Wisconsin’s delegates were there to back up the flustered governor. Their chants of “Tony! Tony! Tony!” echoed throughout the arena. All told, it took Evers nearly a minute to find his words, and after he announced 94 Wisconsin votes for Harris, the audience of tens of thousands of Democrats roared.
In a post to the social media site X later Tuesday night, Evers said, “sometimes the jazz gets the best of ya, folks.”
Evers’ theme continued Wednesday morning at the Wisconsin delegation’s breakfast when reporters asked what happened on the convention floor.
“I was too jazzed,” Evers said. “But it’s just one of those moments you obviously don’t want to have happen. It happened and life goes on.”
When asked about social media reactions to the flub, Evers said “to think that that is a defining moment in anything is just ridiculous.”
“One thing I know for sure is you don’t, you don’t control social media, and so I’m not worried about social media,” Evers said. “It is what it is.”
Evers went on to tell reporters he thinks Harris is going to win the presidential election “big time” and foreshadowed vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s DNC acceptance speech Wednesday night.
“I mean … I bet you he’ll stumble sometime along the way, too,” said Evers.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.
