Here are a few results I’ll be looking at tonight, in the August primary:
1. Governor’s Race. How do Walker, Burke (and even Hulsey, Burke’s eccentric challenger) fare in Whitewater? Statewide and locally, how many votes do they get in a summer primary?
2. The 15th Senate District Primary. For the Democrats, will it be a competitive Democrat (Ringhand or Scieszinski) or Sheridan (who is the only Democrat who would make this race competitive for the Republicans in November)?
3. Blackhawk Technical College Referendum. Four million a year in taxes, backed by business interests and the Gazette in Janesville.
(‘Business interests and the Gazette in Janesville’ are related in the way a screwdriver’s related to a screw.)
Some in Janesville, as I cited yesterday in a quote from Rock Netroots, worry that one should
[n]ever underestimate the power of Forward Janesville, Rock County five-o or their Janesville Gazette media flacks. They’re a big “connected” club with a political agenda and operatives in every part of local government.
I’m curious how the referendum fares, and whether the Gazette (so proud as a self-declared ‘mover and shaker’) can push a bad idea to success.
4. Democrats’ AG Race. Assemblyman Jon Richards, Jefferson County DA Susan Happ, and Dane County DA Ismael Ozanne are the candidates.
Republican Brad Schimel will be the GOP candidate in November.
Richards is favored tonight, but statewide in November it might be that Susan Happ (with more prosecutorial experience than Richards) would prove a stronger match against Schimel.