There are a few aspects of the referendum campaign that stand out. Here are five notable characteristics of the local campaign: 1. No organized opposition. There’s no organized opposition to the budget referendum. None at all. There is a district campaign on the referendum’s behalf and a tandem Whitewater YES effort among some residents, but…
Elections
Elections, School District
Whitewater Educational Referendum Post 1: Overall Politics
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
This is the first of three posts on the Whitewater Educational Referendum. In this post, I’ll look at the overall political climate for the referendum, one week out from the election. There are three key considerations for the referendum, but only two of them are commonly discussed. 1. The gubernatorial election looks to be close.…
Elections, Gubernatorial Race 2014, Politics, Poll
The Marquette Poll for 10.1.14
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
The latest Marquette Law School Poll is out today, with just over a month before the gubernatorial election. The last poll was 9.17.14. The 10.1.14 poll has Walker 50, Burke 45 with likely voters, and 46-45 to Walker’s favor among registered voters. The race is now just outside the poll’s statistical margin of error. I’ve…
Elections, Politics
On Vetting Candidates: Be Sure to Check “Social Media.” You Know, on the Inter-Webs
by JOHN ADAMS • • 1 Comment
In Wisconsin’s 44th Assembly contest, nineteen-year-old GOP candidate Jacob Dorsey has withdrawn following discovery of his numerous racist and bigoted posts on social media. The episode is now a national story. (Bashing blacks, gays, even Abraham Lincoln…Dorsey kept busy. One additional, much smaller matter: he even suggested in a tweet that Utah was his favorite…
Elections
August 12 Primary Results
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
A few remarks on last night’s results; those results are, of course, as yet unofficial. 1. Governor’s Race. In the city, Burke received 462, to Walker’s 288. Neither candidate had meaningful opposition (Brett Hulsey was inconsequential, really). Summer, no real opposition, campus mostly empty, but Burke takes over 61% of the top-candidate vote. It’s a…
Elections, Politics
August 12 Primary Questions
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
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…
15th Senate District, Campaign Ads, Elections, Politics
When Even Other Democrats Complain About a Democratic Candidate
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Mike Sheridan’s running in the 15th District Senate primary against two other Democrats, as Sen. Cullen is retiring. It’s not common for others within one’s party to be so critical of a candidate against whom they’re not running, but former colleagues of Mr. Sheridan (when he was in the Assembly) have strong criticisms of his…
Elections, Politics, State Government
The Importance of Skills
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Over at the Gazette, there’s a letter to the editor that touts Mike Sheridan, candidate for the 15th Senate District, as skillful: Your Views: Mike Sheridan has skills, ability to serve state Senate district (subscription req’d). I’ve written about Sheridan’s public career before; for those readers who are Democrats, and will vote in the primary,…
43rd Assembly District, Elections
The Republicans’ Contested 43rd Assembly District Primary
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Earlier this month, I posted interviews with the three Democrats running for the 15th Senate District. See, The Democrats’ Contested 15th Senate District Primary. In this post, embedded below, are Wisconsin Eye interviews with the two Republicans running in the contested 43rd Assembly primary. Herschel Brodkey: Leon Hebert:
Elections, Wisconsin
The Voters’ 411 Guide
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
We’ve a statewide primary ahead on August 12th, and a general election for state & county offices and Congressional seats on November 4th. There’s a non-partisan online guide available at Vote411.org where voters can get election information for their respective addresses: Enter your address to find your polling place, build your ballot with our online…
15th Senate District, Elections
The Democrats’ Contested 15th Senate District Primary
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
I’m a libertarian, but for Democrats (or anyone who may vote that party in August) there’s a contested primary for retiring Sen. Cullen’s 15th Senatorial District seat. From Wisconsin Eye, here are interviews with each of the three candidates, listed in alphabetical order: Janis Ringhand: Austin Scieszinski: Mike Sheridan:
Elections, Politics
Nass Runs for 11th Senate District
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Of course he’s running: Longtime GOP state Rep. Steve Nass will run for the open 11th Senate District, an aide tells WisPolitics.com. Nass is jumping into the race for the 11th SD after Sen. Neal Kedzie, R-Elkhorn, announced yesterday he would not seek re-election to the heavily GOP seat in southern Wisconsin. A reminder to…
Elections, Politics, State Government
Low Comedy in 3, 2, 1…
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Democrats have three choices for the 15th District Senate Primary: Evansville’s Assembly Rep. Janis Ringhand, Janesville-native Austin Scieszinski, or former Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan. One sometimes encounters a politician who simply refuses to remain a former politician, and when one encounters such a person, that discovery probably sounds like Mike Sheridan. (He’s reportedly walking about,…