State DPI Superintendent Tony Evers appears to be the favorite heading into the Democratic primary for governor on Tuesday, two Wisconsin political writers said.
John Nichols of The Capital Times and Christian Schneider of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel appeared Sunday on “UpFront with Mike Gousha,” produced in partnership with WisPolitics.com.
“Most of the evidence suggests Tony Evers is ahead,” Nichols said.
“There is some evidence that Kelda Roys has some movement and some traction,” Nichols said. “Perhaps we’ll see someone come close.”
“Evers is probably going to walk away with this thing, and I think he is the guy Scott Walker wants to run against,” said Schneider.
The pair also discussed the Republican U.S. Senate primary, which appears to be a close race between state Sen. Leah Vukmir, R-Brookfield, and Delafield businessman and Marine veteran Kevin Nicholson.
“This is a year where Nicholson is kind of the Trump candidate. He has kind of more the Trump credentials. Leah Vukmir has all the support of the establishment folks,” Schneider said.
“But this could be the year where it helps more to be an outsider, kind of be more on the Trump train,” he said.
Gousha asked Nichols which of the two Republicans U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, would rather face.
“I think probably Vukmir. I wouldn’t say that for sure,” Nichols said.
“But look, you have a billionaire-funded career politician in Leah Vukmir. And then you have a billionaire-funded newcomer in Nicholson,” Nichols said.
“My sense is that Tammy Baldwin looks at the two of them,” Nichols said, “and just says ‘I’ll take either.'”
In another segment, the two newest members of the state Senate – both Democrats who won their seats in special elections this year – said health care and jobs are the top issues resonating with voters.
Sen. Patty Schachtner, D-Somerset, and Sen. Caleb Frostman, D-Sturgeon Bay, both captured districts that had previously been held by Republicans.
Gousha asked them how they think they won their seats.
Schachtner said as medical examiner for St. Croix County, she had previously established a reputation as an active member of the community.
“I saw what our community needed as far as mental health, access to mental health, access to health care, addiction. Those were all things that affected our community and we knew we could do better,” Schachtner said.
Frostman said as he went door to door, he heard about healthcare, quality jobs and environmental issues.
“If folks put in 40 hours a week or more they should be making a decent living,band that’s just not the reality for a lot of people these days,” Frostman said.
Both lawmakers also said voters are tired of negativity.
“They want campaigns to be positive,” Frostman said. “Folks on both sides of the aisle are sick of the negativity and they want you to stay positive.”
Schachtner said she concentrated on issues that were relevant in her community, and remained positive in her campaign by focusing on “kindness and values.”
See more from the show:
http://www.wisn.com/upfront
