Wikler sees ‘burgeoning blue wave’, Loudenbeck says GOP ‘strong’

State Dem Party Chair Ben Wikler at a WisPolitics luncheon said Wisconsin is seeing a “burgeoning blue wave” that will hit the state in full force next year following Democrats’ painful November loss. 

The outgoing chair spoke at Thursday’s panel alongside former GOP state Rep. Amy Loudenbeck. Loudenbeck filled in for state GOP Chair Brian Schimming, who was sick and couldn’t attend. She and Wikler both voiced optimism about their parties’ futures despite recent losses. 

Wikler said many Dems “felt like the floor was disappearing under them and wanted to withdraw from politics and disengage” after President Donald Trump defeated former Vice President Kamala Harris. 

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Still, when it came time for the state Supreme Court election in April, “people came right back,” leading to Justice-elect Susan Crawford’s resounding win, Wikler said. 

“What we see right now in Wisconsin, I think, is a burgeoning blue wave that’s going to hit the state in 2026 with full force,” Wikler said. “And our state Democratic Party is closely working with our allies and partners and unions and grassroots organizations, with the candidate campaigns, is in phenomenal shape to help accelerate that wave and win a trifecta in 2026.” 

Wikler also said he’s working on writing a book about Wisconsin politics as he prepares to leave his current role. 

Loudenbeck, meanwhile, said the state of the Republican Party is “strong.” She’s serving on a special state GOP commission led by state Treasurer John Leiber formed after a string of statewide losses for Republican-backed candidates. Loudenbeck recently served as campaign manager for GOP-endorsed state superintendent candidate Brittany Kinser, who lost in April. 

Loudenbeck said the commission hopes to wrap up its findings by the end of next month, if not sooner. She said some of the work includes considering how county parties, candidates, and the state GOP can collaborate better, and hearing input from members about fundraising, messaging and organization. 

“So it’s not really an autopsy, it’s more of findings and recommendations … what can we do better,” Loudenbeck said. 

Wikler is not seeking reelection at the state Dem Party convention in the Wisconsin Dells next week. He’s endorsed former WisDems Executive Director Devin Remiker to replace him. Dem strategist Joe Zepecki and 3rd CD Chair William Garcia are also seeking the role.

Wikler said he reversed his decision not to endorse in the race after remaining neutral while running for DNC chair because Remiker would be “an extraordinary chair.” 

“I also knew that he’d been working behind the scenes and people would not know what a role he’s played in so many of our fights unless I said something,” Wikler said. “And just him saying it, I was the chair, people would think that he was taking credit for my work, which didn’t feel fair.” 

He credited Remiker with making the state Supreme Court race a referendum on Elon Musk, adding he’s making calls to delegates to support him. 

Loudenbeck said the anti-Musk sentiment also had an impact on Kinser’s unsuccessful bid against State Superintendent Jill Underly. 

“Her opponent ran a basement campaign and relied on the anger of the Wisconsin people and a mandate on Elon Musk, who’s someone who she’s literally never met,” Loudenbeck said. 

She noted Republicans don’t typically turn out as much in spring elections, but Democrats were able to capture Wisconsinites’ anger about Musk. She said she couldn’t necessarily point to one thing Republicans could have done differently in the spring election. 

“When I’m up in Eagle River and people are protesting in March, and they are people from Eagle River, they’re not bused from Madison, I mean … there were people all over,” Loudenbeck said. “I spoke for Brittany at a couple of events, but seeing people that were really, really angry and agitated and engaged in all corners of the state, not just here in Madison, I think that that was sort of an indicator that there was definitely something going on within the grassroots that we’ve not seen before.” 

Watch the video on WisconsinEye.