Wisconsin Megathread v2: Hagedorn vs. Neubauer

[Drew]

Kelda Roys wins the Wispolitcs Democratic Party Convention Straw Poll

Results:

Ballots cast: 800

– Governor

Total votes: 789

Kelda Roys: 184
Mahlon Mitchell: 93
Tony Evers: 91
Andy Gronik: 89
Dana Wachs: 89
Kathleen Vinehout: 83
Mike McCabe: 81
Matt Flynn: 71
Josh Pade: 7
Paul Soglin: 1 (lol)

— Lieutenant Governor

Total votes: 763

Mandela Barnes: 617
Kurt Kober: 146

— Secretary of State

Total votes: 728

Doug La Follette: 385
Arvina Marie Martin: 343

— State Treasurer

Total votes: 704

Sarah Godlewski: 530
Cynthia Kaump: 109
Dawn Marie Sass: 65

I was there.  Roys also won the straw poll at the 2nd CD convention a couple months ago, wasn’t sure if she’d be able to replicate it statewide.  I voted Wachs, but Roys would have been my 2nd choice.  Voted for the winners of the other races.  Surprised at how close SOS was.  Pade beat Soglin?!

The gov candidates all spoke last night.  I’d say Roys, Evers, and McCabe had the most enthusiastic crowd reactions as they walked out.  Vinehout and Mitchell too.  I heard some boos with Flynn due to his baggage.  Gronik was still trying to talk as they cut the mic and introduced the next speaker.  They only had 5 min each to speak.  However, candidates for other offices (Congress, AG, WI leg members) didn’t seem to have time limits and spoke much longer.  Pete Buttigieg capped it off with the keynote.

[Drew]

Also yesterday, Andy Gronik endorsed Kelda Roys.

https://www.wispolitics.com/2018/roys-campaign-andy-gronik-endorses-kelda-roys-for-governor/

[Drew]

A few Wisconsin tidbits from recent days:

-Evers to appoint DPI official and Madison educator Carolyn Stanford Taylor to be the new Superintendent once he resigns and becomes Governor.  The first black state Superintendent in state history, she would serve the balance of Evers' term until Spring 2021.  https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2018/12/27/tony-evers-appoint-madison-educator-wisconsin-schools-chief/2425588002/

-Cabinet picks include two state legislators and a former Obama official.  https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/tony-evers-names-obama-official-two-democratic-legislators-to-cabinet/article_445bcfc0-c677-547f-95e3-0a059caaa4b0.html

-The Supreme Court election this spring will be between two Appellate Court judges.  Lisa Neubauer, backed by Dems, and Brian Hagedorn, backed by GOP.  https://madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/brian-hagedorn-lisa-neubauer-set-for-wisconsin-supreme-court-battle/article_92071bbc-11f6-560d-b8b5-1a174674ff73.html

-It looks like Paul Soglin will have 4 challengers for Mayor of Madison this spring, including alder Mo Cheeks and former alder Satya Rhodes-Conway.  There were others in the running, but they failed to qualify due to insufficient signatures. https://madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/clerk-madison-mayoral-candidate-toriana-pettaway-ineligible-one-nomination-signature/article_41fd8f11-d2e1-5ce3-bccd-92ad6f5c7d25.html

[Drew]

Any news on the lawsuit to invalidate the WIGOP's last-minute power grab?

Tony Evers says it will take a lawsuit to get him to go along with lame-duck legislation
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/01/02/incoming-gov-tony-evers-said-wednesday-he-would-not-go-along-parts-lame-duck-legislation-curb-his-po/2464342002/

He didn’t give specifics, but acknowledges that he may be the defendant rather than the plaintiff in some cases.

[Drew]

Democratic Party of WI chair Martha Laning won’t seek re-election.  Vice Chairman David Bowen, Kelda Roys, and Randy Bryce considering running.  Election in June 2019 at party convention.

https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/state-democratic-party-chairwoman-won-t-run-again-for-post/article_741d4bd9-082d-5db2-af54-bcde63cb1936.html?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=wisconsin%20state%20journal

[Drew]

Spring primaries are today in WI, including a Madison mayoral primary.  Turnout in Madison is on par with 2011 (when the Act 10 stuff was going on), double 2015.  This is without a Supreme Court primary.  https://madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/madison-primary-election-morning-voter-turnout-on-par-with-double/article_6b2c01a3-972b-5b6c-8b05-4e87380f3c23.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

[Drew]

And it gets worse for Hagedorn, as he loses the endorsement of the Wisconsin Realtors Association and they’re pulling back financial support.  This group has been influential in getting conservative court candidates onto the bench.

https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/wisconsin-supreme-court-candidate-loses-influential-backer/article_527a3ff6-4d23-5239-96ba-2694c66b11a9.html?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=wisconsin%20state%20journal

[Drew]

Potentially huge news:

https://twitter.com/sbauerAP/status/1111003916869750784

Would be almost a certain flip for the liberals. Only makes next week's contest that much bigger.

And a liberal candidate has already announced.  Marquette law professor Ed Fallone is running.  Main downsides are lack of experience as a judge and a loss in the 2013 SC race.  But he otherwise has an extensive law background and then there’s the fact that Kelly had no judicial experience before Walker appointed him.

https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/ed-fallone-announces-run-for-wisconsin-supreme-court-in/article_80304dbe-fadb-5f9b-9272-becc1b37756b.html?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=wisconsin%20state%20journal

[Drew]

First results for Madison Mayor race.

Candidate   Vote Percentage   Number of Votes
Paul R. Soglin (NON)   43.1%   868
Satya Rhodes-Conway (NON)   56.5%   1,139
WRITE-IN (NON)   0.4%   9
2.8% of Precincts Reporting (4 of 144)Votes By Precinct