Blog
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Democratic Momentum Continues
Posted Aug 13 at 5 PM
The momentum for the Assembly Democrats going into the fall continues.
We beat the Republican majority in recruitment, both in terms of quantity and quality. We fielded Democrats in 92 of the 99 districts; the GOP are vetting candidates in 74 of the districts. We recruited top caliber candidates that target individual districts strengths, in terms of candidate's resume, geography and more. The GOP has at least two candidates in top open districts that did not live in the district earlier this year (one closes on their house in the district later this month).
Now the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign released a report on fund raising showing the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee and our candidates top in terms of both money raised and money on hand.
The train to victory has left the station. With a little over 80 days left until the election, Assembly Democrats are in a position take the majority in November.
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Wisconsin GOP Big Tent Caving In
Posted Jul 14 at 6 PM
Well, it took less than a week from the time Rep. Jeff Wood decided to leave the Republican Party for the GOP in the Assembly to go from this:
“Like many of the Assembly Republican caucus, Jeff has always been a very independent member. He’s just kind of made that official today. With that in mind, if Jeff gets re-elected, we’ll certainly work with him in the next session.” - Mike Huebsch to the Eau Claire Leader Telegram last week.
to this:
"Hey screw you!" (paraphrased for space - read the actual letter).
Yup, the "big tent" of the Republican Party in Wisconsin is about the size a single mountiain climber sleeps in on the side of a rock, not exactly an inclusive space for moderates and independents. "Moderates NOT allowed" says the sign on the tent flap.
Worse yet, the State Republican Party is asking Wood for their money back. Seriously. As only the GOP could do, they want all the money that INDIVIDUALS in their conduit gave to him back. Forget the fact that Wisconsin law says a conduit has to direct donations to whomever the giver says. It's not up to the big wigs at the GOP party headquarters to decide who gets what. But they are asking for their investment back. A money back guarantee? Yikes, how pathetic.
Look, I know this is a Democratic year. I know state polling shows a big lead (13 points) for people saying they will vote Democratic over Republican in the fall legislative elections. I know we out recruited the GOPpers, both in quantity AND more importantly in quality. But jeez, have some self respect...
Does Jeff have to give back the decoder ring too?
At the rate the Republican Party is going, the only place for a GOP moderate will be in a museum, between the dodo bird and the rotary telephone.
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Assembly Democrats Prospects Get "Rising" Rating From WisPolitics.com
Posted Jul 13 at 10 AM
The Assembly's prospects for the fall are bright, even according to non-partisan third party sources like WisPolitics.com.
In their weekly Stock Report of Wisconsin politics, the Assembly Democrats prospects got the Rising notation. Noted were the great recruitment that occured on behalf of the Democrats and Rep. Jeff Wood leaving the Republican Party.
The tidal wave seems to keep on coming, and the Democrats are surfing it just right.
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The GOP Sinking Ship
Posted Jul 08 at 2 PM
The Assembly Republicans have just suffered yet another hole in their continuously sinking ship. State Rep. Jeff Wood (Chippewa Falls) announced today his decision to leave the GOP party and run as an independent.
Wood, one of the most independent voices in the state legislature, has often grumbled about the GOP majority in the State Assembly. Their caucus has become extreme, rather than mainstream Republican, taking on battles against bringing in federal revenue to the state to pay for healthcare, battling the usage of birth control and much, much more.
In a scathing letter, Wood said he left the GOP because of the "abandonment of the principles the party stood for." He also said of Ronald Reagan, "I don't know that Reagan would recognize the current Republican Party."
"...Republicans put the country deeper in debt, and they continue to prove Benjamin Franklin wrong in attempting to buy us security by sacrificing liberty," he added.
The Democrats have always welcomed the independence of Jeff Wood, and we look forward to working with him. He has indicated an interest in caucusing with the Democrats.
With the Democrats only down 3 seats to gaining the majority, the Wood defection certainly helps bring that goal even closer. With the November elections just months away, Democrats are eager to take the majority.
Confidential message to Mike Huebsch: You might want to send the more extreme elements in your caucus to a few conferences this summer. With defections like Sue Jeskewitz, Terry Musser and now, Jeff Wood, your chances of holding onto the majority just got even slimmer. Maybe send them by bus; the more they're away, the better off you will be. MP
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Democrats go full blast to win Assembly, according to WI State Journal
Posted Jul 06 at 10 AM
Sunday's Wisconsin State Journal front page story is on how the Democrats are poised to win back the majority in the State Assembly.
With the filing deadline looming this Tuesday, the Assembly Democrats hope to field candidates in up to 93 of the state's 99 districts, more than any time in the last 24 years.
After Tuesday, look for regular updates here as we profile many of our contenders.
We're looking forward to a great November election!
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Filing Deadline To Run For The Assembly Coming Soon
Posted Jun 30 at 8 AM
The filing deadline to run for the State Assembly is next Tuesday, July 8th.
If you have ever wanted to run for state office before as a Democrat, there is no year like 2008. The Assembly Democrats are poised to pick up enough seats to take the majority, allowing us to share governance with the State Senate and Governor Doyle.
With Obama's significant efforts to register and turn out new voters, Wisconsin has never been in a position like it is to elect more Democrats in more districts than ever before.
A previous blog mentioned the districts we are still recruiting in...though a couple now have candidates. If you are even thinking about running, call the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee at 608-258-9225.
We look forward to a great 2008!
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8 Good Candidates Needed to Make a Full Slate
Posted Jun 17 at 11 AM
The Assembly Democrats are having an awesome year in recruiting candidates for the fall. Not only have we recruited "A" list candidates in the open GOP and top target seats, we have recruited a near record high of 91 candidates, the most in 24 years.
Our strategy is simple. Like Howard Dean's 50 State Strategy, we plan on being competitive in every district in the state. Every district will have a Democrat running, to talk about our party's values and bring out our vote.
We are 8 districts short of having a full slate of 99 districts with candidates. The last time we did this was 1964, over forty-four years ago.
Can YOU help us?
The districts we are still recruiting in are:
District 6 - GOP Incumbent Gary Tauchen: Parts of Oconto, Shawano and Outagamie Counties.
District 23 - GOP Incumbent Jim Ott: Mequon, Brown Deer, Thiensville, Bayside and surrounding area.
District 27 - GOP Incumbent Steve Kestell: Parts of Calumet, Sheboygan and Fond du Lac Counties.
District 33 - GOP Incumbent Scott Newcomer: From Hartland and Delafield south to just north of Mukwonago.
District 58 - GOP Incumbent Pat Strachota: West Bend, Addison, Slinger, Jackson and surrounding areas.
District 59 - GOP Incumbent Dan LeMahieu: The area between Port Washington and Sheboygan.
District 67 - GOP Incumbent Jeff Wood: Parts of Chippewa and Dunn Counties.
District 99 - GOP Incumbent Don Pridemore: Hartford and surrounding areas, to just north of Hartland.
Those are the final eight. If you live in or near one of those districts, OR know anyone who does, contact the Assembly Democrats. We can help provide everything anyone would need to get on the ballot and run a successful campaign.
This is going to be a phenomenal year for Democrats. The last poll showed a 13 point lead for Democrats over Republicans in our legislative seats. Wouldn't you like to be a part of turning the majority over to the Democrats?
Run for office!
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And the Survey Says....State Dems In Great Shape for '08
Posted Jun 15 at 4 PM
A brand new poll (Poll: Democrats have edge in Assembly races: Wisconsin State Journal, June 14) by UW-Madison 's political science department and WisPolitics.com scientifically shows what most of us have been hearing as we recruit candidates. The public in Wisconsin is ready for change with the Wisconsin State Assembly.
The poll showed that when asked if people were more willing to support a Democrat or a Republican for their legislative district, 49 percent said a Democrat and only 36 percent said a Republican. Another 12 percent weren't sure.
That is GREAT news for Democrats. Generically, the GOP brand is bad in Wisconsin. With a strong national ticket for the Democrats focused on a message of change, we are looking for a lot of new voters to come out to make changes from the statehouse to the whitehouse. And with the Democrats only 3 seats from taking the majority, that's great news.
Now the GOP will spin this. They'll claim that it doesn't say anything about a specific swing district. OK, I'll give them that. But it is a whole lot better to be in the position we are in than the position they are in. Now, that's a fact. A thirteen point difference can't make Mike Huebsch very happy. And it also can't bode well in all of those open swing districts the GOP has to defend.
Add to that the fact that our candidate recruitment in our target districts is far better than the lackluster GOP recruitment, and, well, the Republicans had better start to really worry. Bad polls. Poor recruitment. Lots of open seats. A Democratic front coming in.
I just wonder who the new minority leader will be for the GOP?
(We are up to 91 of the 99 districts having Democrats running in them, and we are hoping to recruit in every single district. This matches Howard Dean's 50 state strategy. Watch for a new blog post very soon with more information.....)
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Meet the GOP candidates: 92nd district
Posted May 29 at 11 PM
There is no question about the problems that the GOP majority in the Assembly has had in trying to recruit candidates this fall. When the ship is sinking, most smart people row away from the wreck.
To get an idea of the problem the GOP has, one need only to look at the 92nd Assembly district, where moderate Rep. Terry Musser was practically forced from his seat by the "red meat" conservatives in his caucus. So who is the "dream" candidate to replace Musser, according to the far right wing of the caucus? Well, Mike Huebsch's good buddy Dan Hellman.
So who is this great local recruit Hellman? Well, for one, he has to move INTO the district in order to run. That's right, he's technically a resident of GOP Speaker Mike Huebsch's district, but he's decided to run for Assembly in a district he used to live in. The GOP couldn't even find a current resident of the district to try to hold the Democratic-leaning seat.
And, it's not just that he's Mike Huebsch's constituent that is interesting. He was also Huebsch's partisan pick to serve on the much maligned former State Elections Board. As a parisan insider on the Board, he pretty much did was he was told by Huebsch, who apparently has now told him to move into another district to run for office. So much for an "independent voice" for the 92nd district.
The Democrats, on the other hand, are fielding two strong candidates. Sparta minister Curtis Miller and Black River Falls attorney and small business owner Mark Radcliffe will compete to replace Musser in the 92nd district. Both are strong candidates who, for one, actually live in the district.
More importantly, either candidate is strong enough to take the Democratic-leaning seat for the Democrats, just as Governor Jim Doyle and Senator Russ Feingold have in the past.
As the GOP majority swan dives off the sinking ship, the 92nd district is just one more example of why the Democrats are poised to take the majority this fall. Look for a pickup in this district.
(Oh, and by the way, if you have any real estate for sale in the 92nd district, give Dan Hellman a call. He needs to move in soon, and I'll bet he'll pay a good price to actually live in the district he's running in.)
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Another Dem-Leaning Swing GOP Open Seat
Posted May 21 at 7 PM
Republican Rep. Terry Musser of Black River Falls became the newest defection from the sinking GOP Assembly ship today.
Musser, a respected moderate, took shots at the GOP leadership on his way out, after they made a point of making his life miserable for sponsoring a bill to allow for emergency contraceptives for rape victims in hospital emergency rooms.
Musser's seat is a marginally Democratic seat which both Governor Jim Doyle and Sen. Russ Feingold won. The district itself is more Democratic, but the popular Musser made it hard for Democrats to win at the legislative level.
This is the third open seat so far for the GOP that the Democrats have an excellent chance of winning. The Democrats are only three seats from taking the majority.
Earlier this month, another moderate Republican, Rep. Sue Jeskewitz of Menomonee Falls, announced her intentions not to run for re-election.
It appears being a moderate is no longer tolerated in the continually dysfunctal GOP Assembly caucus.
The GOP record? Last state in the nation to pass a budget. Cancelling more session days than they worked, the fewest of any state in the nation. Inability to muster the votes to pass a budget they negotiated. No wonder good people like Musser and Jeskewitz are leaving the sinking GOP ship.
The Democratic prospects just got even better.
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Poll Shows Public Supports Legislative Democrats in 2008
Posted May 08 at 8 PM
The Wisconsin public supports Democrats in legislative races this fall almost 25% more than Republicans, according to a recent Badger Poll conducted by the University of Wisconsin Survey Center.
According the the poll, 44 percent of respondents said they trust the Democrats to do a better job of running state government compared to 34 percent for Republicans. That's nearly a quarter difference between the parties.
Clearly, the public has noticed that the last 14 years of having the GOP run the Assembly has not translated to more affordable healthcare, lower taxes or job creation.
In fact, this past session the GOP majority lead us to be the last state in the nation to finish our budget, only to still have a budget repair bill facing us this month.
And, the GOP majority cancelled more session days than they worked, racking up an unimpressive 25 session days in the 2007-2008 session, one of the lowest in the nation.
The poll numbers also show Democrats Russ Feingold, Herb Kohl and Jim Doyle all polling well with Wisconsinites. George W. Bush polled poorly.
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Assembly GOP Eating Their Own
Posted Apr 17 at 11 PM
You know you're in trouble when your allies are piling up against you.
Today, Wisconsin Right to Life attacked one of their own, Rep. Don Pridemore. The Republican was quick to repond, showing just how conservative he was, which somehow was not conservative enough for the right wing group.
While the Democrats are working united to take the majority, it is nice to see that the rumors of GOP disarray are right on. The word is that the GOP is behind in recruiting candidates, has internal battles slowing progress and members are already planning their futures in the minority.
Yummy. Enjoy the lunch boys and girls.
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Democrats Delivered on Reform
Posted Apr 14 at 10 PM
One of the signature issues for Assembly Democrats in the 2006 election cycle was the failure of the Assembly Republican majority to pass an ethics reform bill, especially in light of the scandals of their former leader Rep. Scott Jensen.
In fact, even the GOP chair of the Elections Committee lost his seat in 2006 over this issue.
Early this session, the legislature passed an ethics reform bill thanks to the continued prodding of Assembly Democrats, along with the electoral failures the GOP suffered the previous fall.
It seems the Democrats hard work payed off.
This session, however, little good has been accomplished. This is due to the GOP Assembly leadership failing to move an agenda forward, as well as their failure to even have the State Assembly meet to do the people's work.
In fact, this session the State Assembly cancelled more session days than we actually worked. Total session days for the 2007-2008 session: 25.
Think you could get a paycheck with that kind of track record?
Apparently the GOP majority in the Assembly does. Let's see what the public thinks this fall.
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Dems Prepared to Retake Green Bay's 90th District
Posted Apr 11 at 9 PM
Another Green Bay Assembly seat is poised to turn Democratic this fall.
Last fall, Jim Soletski retook the 88th Assembly district in Green Bay.
Now, Lou Ann Weix, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, announced she will challenge state Rep. Karl Van Roy, R-Howard, for his seat in the state Assembly.
Van Roy, a GOP back bencher, has been under fire for a number of votes this session, including his vote against the compassionate care for rape victims bill.
Imagine a health care professional running against an ultra conservative legislator who doesn't even support helping rape victims in our emergency rooms.
Watch for this race to be very competitive in November.
Things keep looking even better for the Assembly Democrats every single day!
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Run for the State Assembly
Posted Apr 09 at 9 PM
The 2008 election for the State Assembly will be the most aggressive ever run by the Democrats.
With the pickup of 8 Assembly seats in 2006, we are poised to pick up the final three seats needed to reclaim the majority in the State Assembly. Only three seats are needed to put the Democrats and the agenda of working families at the forefront in Wisconsin.
We currently have recruited candidates in 78 of the 99 districts in Wisconsin. We would like to have a candidate in every single district, as this will be a strong pickup year for the Democrats given the great prospects for Democrats in the Presidential election.
Why shouldn't YOU run for public office?
Look at the map of districts in Wisconsin. Determine where you live, who your representative is, and see if you think you have what it takes to serve in public office.
2008 promises to be a great year for Democrats. Run for office and be a part of the Democratic majority in 2009!
Contact Jim Smith at the ADCC for more information.
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Boyle Retires
Posted Apr 07 at 10 PM
Long-time Assembly Representative Frank Boyle (D-Superior) announced his retirement last Friday after 22 years of service to the people of Wisconsin.
Boyle served Wisconsin well for 22 years. He is one of the most articulate members of the legislature, and often served as a conscience of the chamber. As a co-founder of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, his leadership was recognized outside of the State Capitol as well.
The 73rd district is a Democratic stronghold and will send another Democrat to the State Capitol this fall.
The retirements that the Republicans are suffering in the Assembly - Rep. Gene Hahn of the 47th district and Rep. Steve Wieckert of the 57th district in particular- put the GOP majority in question. There is a Democratic primary right now in the 47th district, and Penny Bernard Schaber is the Democratic candidate in the 57th district. Both districts are swing districts where the GOP could lose two of the three seats the Democrats need to take the majority.
We all wish Frank well in his retirement.
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The Do-Nothing GOP State Assembly
Posted Apr 03 at 11 AM
Without question, the 2007-2008 legislative session was the least productive in recent history.
First, the do-nothing Republican majority in the State Assembly cancelled more legislative session days than we actually met, leaving just 25 work days for all of 2007 and 2008. With the exception of New Jersey, which has a different legislative session, no state in the nation worked less or got less done that the Wisconsin State Assembly. Imagine going to work only 18 days in 2007 and 7
in 2008 and getting a paycheck. Yet that is the work ethic of the current GOP majority.
Worse than our lack of work days was the lack of product for the session. The list of bills that went without action goes on and on, ranging in issues from healthcare to campaign finance reform to fair taxation and more. Kids with autism will continue to go without coverage. The Great Lakes compact will be stalled due to legislative inaction. Healthcare will still be an expensive and ellusive item for many working families. And special interests will still dominate the political landscape.
And don't forget the state budget. Due to Republican stalling, we were the last state in the nation to finish our state budget. Embarassing. Well, at least the Democrats were able to ax the GOP-proposed tax break for gold boullion....how's that for a legislative priority!
We can change the course of leadership for Wisconsin by electing a Democratic majority in the State Assembly. In just seven months, we will need to recruit Democratic candidates in every district in Wisconsin. If you have ever thought of running for public office, now is the time. Contact our ADCC office for more information.
Together, we will make Wisconsin the strong state is has always been. -
Wisconsin Assembly Democrats Ready for Victory!
Posted Apr 02 at 8 AM
Welcome to the first blog of the Wisconsin Assembly Democrats!
In the next several months, we will let the public know why it is imperative that Wisconsin change the leadership of the do-nothing State Assembly currently controlled by the Republicans.
We are only 3 seats away from taking the majority, to providing real change and real leadership in the legislature. We are only 3 seats away from addressing real issues like quality healthcare, fair taxation, a clean environment, real solutions to improving the economy, quality education at both the K-12 and secondary levels, campaign and ethics reform, and much, much more.
The Assembly Democrats in Wisconsin have the BEST chance in the NATION to win back the house, and add it to Democratic control of both the State Senate and the Governorship.
In future blogs we will talk about the issues that matter - really matter - to Wisconsin voters. We will address what really goes on at the State Capitol. And we will profile our candidates, the best slate we have run in at least 30 years.
Come back often. We promise to liven the debate this fall, providing real information that you can use to help promote a better Wisconsin. Thanks for visiting!
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison)
