General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAre Wisconsin's voting machines rigged?
I mean we all knew that Scott Walker was going to get recalled, until he didn't.
Now we all know that the liberal candidate for SC justice is going to beat out the conservative candidate, until it didn't happen.
This election was a big deal and will affect politics in Wisconsin for a very long time.
Looking for someone from Wisconsin to explain to me what the hell is going on?
htuttle
(23,738 posts)Bettie
(16,111 posts)We've seen irregularities over and over.
I doubt everything these days.
Ellipsis
(9,124 posts)...and just because Walkers out of office doesn't mean his machine has disappeared.
watoos
(7,142 posts)Democrats are winning in other states. One just won in a Republican district in Pa.
We need paper ballots.
Ellipsis
(9,124 posts)If you're asking you don't know.
Spend some time looking at the demographics before you make a statement based off emotion.
Joe941
(2,848 posts)I don't know if that is uniform throughout the state or not.
Celerity
(43,422 posts)https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a26907820/scott-walker-gerrymandering-wisconsin-eric-holder/
Greybnk48
(10,168 posts)Our turnout was good (Outagamie county).
BlueWI
(1,736 posts)The Republican base is motivated nationally. Communication strategies for Democratic candidates have to modernize to motivate a higher percentage of the base.
Spring, off-year election. No coattails from a Senate or presidential race.
Rural areas in the Upper Midwest are leaning very strongly towards the GOP. This is a critical fact to keep in mind as we approach 2020. Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan, and WI are all affected by this.
Overconfidence. Yes, looking at the qualifications, it should be an easy Democratic win. But IMO, as a whole we as Dems assume too much and don't put enough of the work in to win 50/50 races. Whoever is able to volunteer, work with the county parties, host events, etc. should double up these efforts.
Vote suppression. We all have to know the relevant calendar and restrictions on voter registration and make sure our base knows these details.
In our blue island county (Eau Claire) the vote was 58% for our candidate. This used to be a more purple county, but an extremely active base keeps it leaning blue. Without sustaining and improving on organizing efforts we could backslide.
This is a bellweather for 2020! Time to put the work in!!
Joe941
(2,848 posts)BlueWI
(1,736 posts)But as I mentioned, the GOP has extremely strong support in the rural parts of the county. That's not just a Wisconsin problem, it's a national problem.
In the city elections, we knocked on 12,000 doors in a city of 65,000. Progressive candidates won 4 of 5 city council seats, including the first openly trans woman elected to office in WI history. So I am proud of these efforts, but it isn't enough. What if in every race, we knocked on 1 of 5 doors in the entire city, focusing on potential Democratic voters? It would make a difference.
What are you doing or plan to do to maximize your turnout and expand the local base, given the realities of GOP current support in rural areas?
Joe941
(2,848 posts)The election results were disappointing of course. Maybe I should be doing more...
BlueWI
(1,736 posts)For the spring election, I helped host two parties for City Council candidates, donated, and did some door knocking, for one weekend. Now we all have to help them maintain the support they received during the election.
This is more than I normally do. But given the legislative map in Wisconsin, we need to make some hay in 2020 of any year. I am tired of Republicans winning too many of the statewide races, and the stakes are getting higher.
Joe941
(2,848 posts)Poiuyt
(18,126 posts)Hoyt
(54,770 posts)lkinwi
(1,477 posts)Crappy turnout.😢
Luciferous
(6,084 posts)turnout was low in our area, but I also live in a very red county so I'm not surprised this area went for the nutjob.
BSdetect
(8,998 posts)Auto enrollments at 18
Paper ballots
Early voting.
Postal voting.
Same registration requirements.
No gerrymandering.
Sufficient polling booths.
Same voting hours on polling days.
Etc