Wisconsin delegate says he voted ‘present’ during DNC roll call to protest Gaza war

CHICAGO – The only Wisconsin delegate who refused to back Kamala Harris during the roll call tells WisPolitics he voted present to make a point about the youth vote and what he calls the genocide of Palestinians by Israel.

Roman Fritz, a 19-year-old UW-Milwaukee student from Oconomowoc, said he plans to support Harris in November and backs her economic plans.

Still, he sees her position as essentially the same as President Joe Biden’s. Fritz wants a ceasefire in Gaza and a stop to U.S. military aid to Israel.

“I don’t see any policy difference. I see a sympathy difference,” Fritz told WisPolitics today. “I just can’t vote for her in good conscience. I don’t think she has a real plan to end the war.”

And that could spell trouble for Harris, he said, because young people and progressives may sit out the race over the issue. 

“Kamala Harris has to earn young people’s vote,” he said “If Harris wants young people and progressives to vote, if she wants to win, she has to do better policy.”

During last night’s roll call, Dem Gov. Tony Evers symbolically cast 94 delegates for Harris with one delegate voting “present.” The roll call didn’t identify which delegate declined to support the vice president.

Fritz acknowledged Biden is trying to broker a peace deal but it’s “not tenable” and “he’s playing both sides.’’

Fritz said his activism on the issue resulted in him being “refused” entry into the Harris rally in West Allis on July 23 even though he had been invited. He said being targeted like that “really concerned me.” Fritz previously told WisPolitics state Dem Party Chair Ben Wikler called him to apologize.

Fritz said the Biden campaign pressed him to fall in line before Biden dropped out, adding, “They were begging for my endorsement.”

The party had a multi-day, virtual delegate roll call that wrapped up Aug. 6 to ensure Harris met state ballot deadlines. Fritz said he spoke with Wikler ahead of that, and the state chair asked the college student why he was voting present. 

“I don’t think I was being pressured,’’ Fritz said, adding he opposed the pre-convention virtual roll call as undemocratic.

Fritz said some fellow delegates have quietly congratulated him on his stance, while others have not. 

“I got some weird looks from the Wisconsin delegation,’’ he admitted.
See more in a previous WisPolitics story.