Wisconsin Megathread v3: GOP in MASSIVE DISARRAY

[Hope For A New Era]

And so once again Wisconsin gives a very liberal result in a special election.

Presidential Trumpist turnout is intense!

I know that I'm always pouring cold water on good news but Karofsky's win last year didn't mean jack-s*** for 2020.

Yes, that was my whole point.

[Drew]

The special election in AD-37 happens today.  It was 56-41 R in 2020, which was a D swing from 62-38 R in 2016 (the 2018 race was uncontested as the D was kicked off the ballot).  The district includes a portion of Dane County including DeForest, Columbia County (only Columbus), and portions of Jefferson and Dodge.  The Dem will have to run it up in Dane and Columbia in order to have any chance at an upset.  There is an ideologically conservative independent candidate from DeForest who got 3% in 2020 and is running again.  The D and R are both from Columbus.

[Devils30]

The special election in AD-37 happens today.  It was 56-41 R in 2020, which was a D swing from 62-38 R in 2016 (the 2018 race was uncontested as the D was kicked off the ballot).  The district includes a portion of Dane County including DeForest, Columbia County (only Columbus), and portions of Jefferson and Dodge.  The Dem will have to run it up in Dane and Columbia in order to have any chance at an upset.  There is an ideologically conservative independent candidate from DeForest who got 3% in 2020 and is running again.  The D and R are both from Columbus.

Only a 54-44 GOP win. Such a low turnout election but makes you wonder if districts like WI-3 might have a decline in low propensity Trump voters.

[walleye26]

Giannis could be elected Governor if he ran right now. Don’t know why he would, but I’m sure it’d be his if he wants it.

[Secretary of State Liberal Hack]

Giannis could be elected Governor if he ran right now. Don’t know why he would, but I’m sure it’d be his if he wants it.

Is he even an american citizen ?

[walleye26]

Giannis could be elected Governor if he ran right now. Don’t know why he would, but I’m sure it’d be his if he wants it.

Is he even an american citizen ?

No idea

[Drew]

The WisGOP will soon be getting a new chair, as Andrew Hitt is resigning.

https://www.wispolitics.com/2021/hitt-to-step-down-as-state-gop-chair/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2oEShbVhpuHYt2nJmY3qHWw-90-J2uMiK7sYVLmiEwpJk-e4evF6xbBZw

[Pollster]

Am hearing through the grapevine that Ron Kind has been polling the Lt Gov race.

[Lambsbread]

Am hearing through the grapevine that Ron Kind has been polling the Lt Gov race.

That would be really weird. Why would he run statewide and not run for Senate?

[wbrocks67]

Am hearing through the grapevine that Ron Kind has been polling the Lt Gov race.

That would be really weird. Why would he run statewide and not run for Senate?

Maybe he finds the Lt Gov to be less polarized? Like people more willing to vote for opposing part for Lt Gov instead of Sen/Gov?

[Lambsbread]

Am hearing through the grapevine that Ron Kind has been polling the Lt Gov race.

That would be really weird. Why would he run statewide and not run for Senate?

Maybe he finds the Lt Gov to be less polarized? Like people more willing to vote for opposing part for Lt Gov instead of Sen/Gov?

Yeah but it's not like people don't already have strong opinions about Evers and if they're pretty much running on the same ticket...

[Pollster]

Plenty of reasons for Kind to go for Lt Gov:

1) Barnes will be tough to beat in the Senate primary and his being on the GE ticket can take care of Milwaukee turnout.

2) The Lt Gov race is wide open - Kind would clear the primary field and add regional and ideological balance to the ticket. He can be deployed to cover the driftless/Eau Claire area during the campaign and would be a strong, well-connected fundraiser.

3) Running on a statewide ticket with Evers (who is popular) probably easier than holding down his district post-redraw.

4) Well-positioned for gubernatorial run in 2026 if Evers retires if he wants it.

[wbrocks67]

Plenty of reasons for Kind to go for Lt Gov:

1) Barnes will be tough to beat in the Senate primary and his being on the GE ticket can take care of Milwaukee turnout.

2) The Lt Gov race is wide open - Kind would clear the primary field and add regional and ideological balance to the ticket. He can be deployed to cover the driftless/Eau Claire area during the campaign and would be a strong, well-connected fundraiser.

3) Running on a statewide ticket with Evers (who is popular) probably easier than holding down his district post-redraw.

4) Well-positioned for gubernatorial run in 2026 if Evers retires if he wants it.

Plus, Barnes/Kind is a very well balanced ticket as well.

[walleye26]

State Sen Andre Jacque (R-1st Sen district) is on a ventilator with COVID. He was previously a staunch opponent of vaccine and mask mandates.
https://www.channel3000.com/state-sen-jacque-reportedly-on-ventilator-as-he-remains-hospitalized/

On another hand, former Republican Governor Tommy Thompson (who is currently the UW System Administrator) told the GOP legislature basically to Get F****ed as they said they are going to oversee UW vaccine and COVID policy, trying to wrestle that decision away from the UW Board of Regents.  Thompson said “I’m no stranger to litigation. If they want to fight this, I’ll take them to court and they’ll lose.” 

[Drew]

Longtime Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett has been picked as Biden’s ambassador to Luxembourg.  Council President Cavalier Johnson would become interim Mayor if Barrett is confirmed.  The current mayoral term runs through 2024.  The quote below suggests that a special election will be held at some point mid-term.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2021/08/25/milwaukee-mayor-tom-barrett-named-ambassador-luxembourg-biden-resign/5590780001/

With Barrett no longer at the city, [Cavalier] Johnson, as council president, would become acting mayor, under the city charter.

While filling the vacancy, Johnson could continue to serve as council president but could not vote during that period.

He would serve as acting mayor "until a successor shall be elected for the residue of the unexpired term," the charter states.

[Roll Roons]

Ambassador to Luxembourg seems like just about the cushiest position imaginable.

[Born to Slay. Forced to Work.]

Ambassador to Luxembourg seems like just about the cushiest position imaginable.

Nah that’d be Ambassador to the Holy See, or maybe Ambassador to Denmark

[Telesquare]

Kevin Nicholson is considering a run.
https://mobile.twitter.com/KevinMNicholson/status/1432145908188188676

[GeorgiaModerate]

Giannis could be elected Governor if he ran right now. Don’t know why he would, but I’m sure it’d be his if he wants it.

Is he even an american citizen ?

Giannis is not a U.S. citizen (he has dual citizenship in Greece and Nigeria) so he is ineligible to be governor of Wisconsin.

[Telesquare]

https://twitter.com/lawindsor/status/1432766974354931719

[Progressive Pessimist]

https://twitter.com/lawindsor/status/1432766974354931719

It's an Antifa deepfake!

[Drew]

Former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch released a policy platform, sending a strong signal that she is going to run for Gov.  It of course includes a lot of GOP red meat like “cancel culture”, ban CRT, originalist judges, etc.  Though it also sprinkles in some ideas that have bipartisan appeal such as expanding telemedicine, expanding rural broadband, and eliminating gender-based taxes (I assume such as the tampon tax).

https://madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/election-matters/rebecca-kleefisch-takes-more-steps-toward-run-for-wisconsin-governor/article_3feb04be-9edf-5877-817d-7e08f722ecdd.html

[JMT]

https://twitter.com/WAOW/status/1432870892133093380?s=20

[Utah Neolib]

Giannis could be elected Governor if he ran right now. Don’t know why he would, but I’m sure it’d be his if he wants it.

Is he even an american citizen ?

Giannis is not a U.S. citizen (he has dual citizenship in Greece and Nigeria) so he is ineligible to be governor of Wisconsin.

But not Kansas, as I think Kansas doesn’t require you to be a US citizen to be governor

[Telesquare]

Giannis could be elected Governor if he ran right now. Don’t know why he would, but I’m sure it’d be his if he wants it.

Is he even an american citizen ?

Giannis is not a U.S. citizen (he has dual citizenship in Greece and Nigeria) so he is ineligible to be governor of Wisconsin.

But not Kansas, as I think Kansas doesn’t require you to be a US citizen to be governor

I think they changed the law after all the troll candidates in 2018.