The State of the State Senate
Written by Daniel on May 14, 2008 – 1:43 pm - Welcome, if you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed or subscribe to our email newsletter. Thanks for visiting!
Last week, La Crosse County Supervisor Tara Johnson announced her candidacy for the 32nd State Senate District, which encompasses the La Crosse area. The seat is currently held by freshman republican Senator Dan Kapanke, a local business owner. He was identified as the GOP’s most vulnerable incumbent by the State Senate Democratic Committee (SSDC) long ago. They set out on a significant recruiting effort to convince local Dem State Rep. Jen Schilling to make the run. They failed - Schilling introduced Johnson at her kickoff rally.
So as much as SSDC may be all up and excited for Johnson, just remember that their top recruit took a pass on the race.
I think Johnson’s candidacy makes the La Crosse seat the third targeted race for the State Senate this cycle. The Roessler open seat in Oshkosh will be number one, no doubt, particularly if SSDC gets a good recruit to run. Second will be the Alberta Darling - Sheldon Wasserman race here in northshore Milwaukee. And what was once number one, the La Crosse challenge to Kapanke, will be no. 3. Not that SSDC won’t have the cash to go around to all three.
Last 5 posts by Daniel- Steve Kagen's "Sleaze" Peddler - July 21st, 2008
- J. T. Dugan for ED-WI - July 16th, 2008
- Unfortunateness in the 8th - July 10th, 2008
- Good signs from new GB Bishop - July 9th, 2008
- DC Tourism Tips 1 and 2 - July 6th, 2008
Posted in Ministry of Strategery |
May 15th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
The Dem candidate in the 18th will be Jess King who is currently on the Oshkosh City Council.
So far 2 Republicans have their hat in the ring (officially anyway). One is a owner of 2 businesses in Fon du Lac and the other is a young guy recently out of the military.
May 16th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Schilling passed because she’s in a safe seat and will almost certainly be in the majority next session, for the first time in her legislative career. Her situation is different from her colleague’s in that Wasserman’s career in the private sector makes it such that it doesn’t matter if he wins or not. He’s not serving for the paycheck (maybe for the pension).
Sheldon’s got so much in the bank that the SSDC may well choose to focus on the Roessler seat. Sheldon’s a better chance at a pick-up. This is the first time in ages Darling’s had to work to keep her seat, and that district isn’t as Republican as it used to be.
If the Senate GOP gets out of those two losing just one, it should be happy with that result. Picking up Kapanke would be gravy for the Dems. And since no Senate Dems are vulnerable in the fall (Breske, Hansen, and Wirch will all be back), they’re in pretty good shape for next session.
May 17th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I’ll agree on most points, Supervisor. I’m a little more optimistic that the GOP will hold on to the Assembly majority. I’m also inclined to say that the Roessler open represents a better chance for the Dems than the Darling challenge - I am very hesitant to say any challenge is easier to win than an open seat. Both will be hard fought races, and I fear you’re right to say that the GOP challengers to incumbents are all moving uphill. If Tiffany could not beat Breske and Priebus could not beat Wirch in 2004, with all the money spent on GOP GOTV in WI, then there’s no way it’s going to happen in a tougher cycle like 2008.