1 00:00:18,709 --> 00:00:20,689 Do endorsements matter? 2 00:00:20,690 --> 00:00:22,629 This week we look at a few examples, 3 00:00:22,630 --> 00:00:23,989 including in heated primaries for 4 00:00:23,990 --> 00:00:25,289 the seventh congressional district 5 00:00:25,290 --> 00:00:27,109 and the governor's office. 6 00:00:27,110 --> 00:00:29,109 Plus the latest Republican party 7 00:00:29,110 --> 00:00:30,889 drama following the Supreme Court 8 00:00:30,890 --> 00:00:32,048 blowout. 9 00:00:32,049 --> 00:00:34,409 This is Inside Wisconsin Politics. 10 00:00:36,170 --> 00:00:37,609 I'm Sean Johnson here with my 11 00:00:37,610 --> 00:00:39,209 colleagues Anya Van Wagtendonck and 12 00:00:39,210 --> 00:00:40,809 Rich Kramer in Eau Claire. 13 00:00:40,810 --> 00:00:41,810 Hey gang. 14 00:00:43,350 --> 00:00:44,949 So part of the reason we wanted to 15 00:00:44,950 --> 00:00:46,949 talk about these races is that they 16 00:00:46,950 --> 00:00:48,309 are interesting, okay? 17 00:00:48,310 --> 00:00:49,449 If you haven't been following these 18 00:00:49,450 --> 00:00:50,849 primaries yet, and you'll be 19 00:00:50,850 --> 00:00:52,909 forgiven, it's April, but 20 00:00:52,910 --> 00:00:54,829 the races for the seventh 21 00:00:54,830 --> 00:00:55,889 congressional district, especially 22 00:00:55,890 --> 00:00:57,389 on the Republican side and the 23 00:00:57,390 --> 00:00:59,309 Democratic primary for governor are 24 00:00:59,310 --> 00:01:00,749 pretty dramatic. 25 00:01:00,750 --> 00:01:02,589 Let's start with the seventh though, 26 00:01:02,590 --> 00:01:04,049 Rich, because another reason we 27 00:01:04,050 --> 00:01:05,889 wanna follow these is that, 28 00:01:05,890 --> 00:01:07,709 they involve endorsements that 29 00:01:07,710 --> 00:01:09,449 seem like they could define the 30 00:01:09,450 --> 00:01:10,299 race. 31 00:01:10,300 --> 00:01:11,559 Tell us about what happened up in 32 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:13,199 the seventh, where you got kind of 33 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:14,400 the biggest endorsement of all. 34 00:01:16,980 --> 00:01:18,619 Yeah, truly. 35 00:01:18,620 --> 00:01:20,659 President Donald Trump, way back in 36 00:01:20,660 --> 00:01:22,499 January, endorsed one of 37 00:01:22,500 --> 00:01:24,439 the candidates running 38 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:26,339 for that seat, Michael 39 00:01:26,340 --> 00:01:28,159 Alfonso. Of course Michael Alphonso 40 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:29,999 is the son-in-law of U.S. 41 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,119 Transportation Secretary Sean 42 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:34,019 Duffy, who also had 43 00:01:34,020 --> 00:01:37,239 that congressional seat before. 44 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:39,079 So it definitely created a stir 45 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:40,959 within the GOP primary and I'm 46 00:01:40,960 --> 00:01:42,539 sure you'll be hearing a little bit 47 00:01:42,540 --> 00:01:44,289 about that endorsement in the 48 00:01:44,290 --> 00:01:45,290 general. 49 00:01:45,960 --> 00:01:47,939 And the reason we 50 00:01:47,940 --> 00:01:50,559 have an open race up there, Anya, 51 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:52,199 is because the current office 52 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:54,059 holder, Tom Tiffany, is running 53 00:01:54,060 --> 00:01:54,979 for governor. 54 00:01:54,980 --> 00:01:56,139 We're gonna get to that race in a 55 00:01:56,140 --> 00:01:57,399 bit. But first of all, with Tom 56 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:59,219 Tiffany as he transitioned to the 57 00:01:59,220 --> 00:02:01,179 governor's race, he also got that 58 00:02:01,180 --> 00:02:03,139 Trump endorsement. 59 00:02:03,140 --> 00:02:04,899 How has that played out in his race 60 00:02:04,900 --> 00:02:05,209 there? 61 00:02:05,210 --> 00:02:07,149 Yeah, I mean, if people go all 62 00:02:07,150 --> 00:02:09,309 the way back in time to 2025, 63 00:02:09,310 --> 00:02:11,309 there were briefly three Republican 64 00:02:11,310 --> 00:02:13,569 candidates for governor alongside 65 00:02:13,570 --> 00:02:14,509 Tom Tiffany. 66 00:02:14,510 --> 00:02:16,569 One dropped out after some negative 67 00:02:16,570 --> 00:02:17,649 reporting about some of the stuff 68 00:02:17,650 --> 00:02:19,089 he'd been following on social media. 69 00:02:19,090 --> 00:02:20,149 That was Bill Barion. 70 00:02:20,150 --> 00:02:21,469 But then Josh Schoeman, Washington 71 00:02:21,470 --> 00:02:23,089 County executive stayed in the race 72 00:02:23,090 --> 00:02:25,469 until the morning after 73 00:02:25,470 --> 00:02:26,809 Tom Tiffany got the Trump 74 00:02:26,810 --> 00:02:28,469 endorsement and he dropped out. 75 00:02:28,470 --> 00:02:30,349 And so it was a little bit of This 76 00:02:30,350 --> 00:02:32,489 nod to the fact that in a Republican 77 00:02:32,490 --> 00:02:34,709 primary, a nod from Trump. 78 00:02:34,710 --> 00:02:36,549 Can really be a sort of king-making 79 00:02:36,550 --> 00:02:38,409 move, at least in the primary, 80 00:02:38,410 --> 00:02:40,289 but then it can also lead to 81 00:02:40,290 --> 00:02:41,559 all kinds of stuff in the general. 82 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:43,499 It was really a 83 00:02:43,500 --> 00:02:45,299 cause effect situation there, right? 84 00:02:45,300 --> 00:02:47,079 Endorsement one day, he drops out 85 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:48,399 the next. 86 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:50,079 That has not been the case in the 87 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:51,079 seventh though, Rich. 88 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:52,499 I mean, I think that is the general 89 00:02:52,500 --> 00:02:54,959 playbook is that Trump endorses 90 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:56,779 and people sort 91 00:02:56,780 --> 00:02:57,999 of assume that in a Republican 92 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,919 primary, that seals it. 93 00:03:00,920 --> 00:03:02,479 That is not what's happening there. 94 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:04,239 And you kind of saw it firsthand 95 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:06,099 last night at a candidate 96 00:03:06,100 --> 00:03:07,479 forum in Mercer. 97 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:08,480 Tell us about that. 98 00:03:10,530 --> 00:03:12,489 Yeah, so this forum was 99 00:03:12,490 --> 00:03:14,709 hosted by the Iron County Republican 100 00:03:14,710 --> 00:03:16,749 Party. It was in a, a 101 00:03:16,750 --> 00:03:18,649 former gymnasium of a very old 102 00:03:18,650 --> 00:03:20,629 school. And it happened on the 103 00:03:20,630 --> 00:03:22,609 first 80 degree day that 104 00:03:22,610 --> 00:03:24,429 Mercer saw this year. 105 00:03:24,430 --> 00:03:26,349 So, um, it was a nice 106 00:03:26,350 --> 00:03:28,169 event, but the theme 107 00:03:28,170 --> 00:03:30,069 was, if I might summarize 108 00:03:30,070 --> 00:03:31,289 the candidates and some of the 109 00:03:31,290 --> 00:03:32,949 people I talked to in the audience, 110 00:03:32,950 --> 00:03:34,989 we support president Trump, 111 00:03:34,990 --> 00:03:36,809 but that doesn't mean we 112 00:03:36,810 --> 00:03:38,689 have to vote for who he 113 00:03:38,690 --> 00:03:40,389 tells us So... 114 00:03:40,390 --> 00:03:42,569 A lot of people up there and 115 00:03:42,570 --> 00:03:44,649 this was actually the first time 116 00:03:44,650 --> 00:03:45,650 that I saw 117 00:03:47,730 --> 00:03:49,609 candidates, Republican candidates, 118 00:03:49,610 --> 00:03:52,469 Kevin Hermaning and Jesse Eben, 119 00:03:52,470 --> 00:03:54,449 go negative against Alfonso. 120 00:03:54,450 --> 00:03:56,169 They were criticizing Alfonzo, who 121 00:03:56,170 --> 00:03:58,089 is 26 years 122 00:03:58,090 --> 00:04:00,409 old, for not having very 123 00:04:00,410 --> 00:04:02,309 much experience in 124 00:04:02,310 --> 00:04:04,229 politics or local government, etc., 125 00:04:04,230 --> 00:04:05,929 and they were portraying themselves 126 00:04:05,930 --> 00:04:07,069 as the choice. 127 00:04:09,460 --> 00:04:11,379 They also, there was discussion 128 00:04:11,380 --> 00:04:13,319 about, you know, does 129 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:15,679 Alfonso or Duffy feel like 130 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:17,759 this congressional seat 131 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:19,699 is something that he's entitled 132 00:04:19,700 --> 00:04:20,619 to. 133 00:04:20,620 --> 00:04:23,399 So it was really interesting. 134 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:25,219 People up there tiptoeing the line 135 00:04:25,220 --> 00:04:27,159 of still supporting the president, 136 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:29,059 who did very well in this district, 137 00:04:29,060 --> 00:04:31,459 which leans pretty Republican, 138 00:04:31,460 --> 00:04:33,919 but they just don't, 139 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:35,659 there's this independent streak 140 00:04:35,660 --> 00:04:37,499 where they don't like the idea of 141 00:04:37,500 --> 00:04:38,909 being told what to do. 142 00:04:38,910 --> 00:04:40,709 And I got to ask you about what they 143 00:04:40,710 --> 00:04:42,989 did on the stage there, too, 144 00:04:42,990 --> 00:04:44,889 because they had assigned seats for 145 00:04:44,890 --> 00:04:45,890 all the candidates, 146 00:04:46,870 --> 00:04:48,369 including Michael Alfonso. 147 00:04:51,330 --> 00:04:53,349 Yeah. And in fact, the only 148 00:04:53,350 --> 00:04:55,329 seat that had a 149 00:04:55,330 --> 00:04:57,269 sign on it was Michael Alfonso. 150 00:04:57,270 --> 00:04:58,709 So you had the three of the 151 00:04:58,710 --> 00:05:00,189 Republican candidates were on the 152 00:05:00,190 --> 00:05:02,289 stage. That's Nina Baum, 153 00:05:02,290 --> 00:05:04,189 Jesse Eben, and Kevin Hermaning. 154 00:05:04,190 --> 00:05:05,949 And then there was an empty chair 155 00:05:05,950 --> 00:05:07,929 with Michael 156 00:05:07,930 --> 00:05:09,649 Alphonso's name on a piece of paper 157 00:05:09,650 --> 00:05:10,929 taped to it. 158 00:05:10,930 --> 00:05:12,789 And even during the 159 00:05:12,790 --> 00:05:15,429 debate, Kevin Hermining 160 00:05:15,430 --> 00:05:17,349 stretches arm out and 161 00:05:17,350 --> 00:05:18,329 kind of. 162 00:05:18,330 --> 00:05:19,909 Put it on the chair, had a big 163 00:05:19,910 --> 00:05:22,629 smile. His campaign person 164 00:05:22,630 --> 00:05:24,889 took a picture that made it on 165 00:05:24,890 --> 00:05:27,229 social media pretty quickly. 166 00:05:27,230 --> 00:05:28,869 So there was that, but even before 167 00:05:28,870 --> 00:05:30,409 the debate, one of the interesting 168 00:05:30,410 --> 00:05:32,289 things that kind of got me 169 00:05:32,290 --> 00:05:34,389 interested in going up there was 170 00:05:34,390 --> 00:05:36,749 this Republican party, 171 00:05:36,750 --> 00:05:38,749 their Facebook page was essentially 172 00:05:38,750 --> 00:05:40,869 goading or kind of making 173 00:05:40,870 --> 00:05:42,689 a little bit of fun of Alfonso's 174 00:05:42,690 --> 00:05:45,529 campaign for not responding. 175 00:05:45,530 --> 00:05:47,909 The GOP chair up there told me that 176 00:05:47,910 --> 00:05:49,529 People he knows with the Michael 177 00:05:49,530 --> 00:05:51,349 Alfonso campaign told him that the 178 00:05:51,350 --> 00:05:52,809 Trump-endorsed candidate doesn't 179 00:05:52,810 --> 00:05:54,489 need to debate. 180 00:05:54,490 --> 00:05:56,849 And people in the audience say that 181 00:05:56,850 --> 00:05:58,369 they told me that's just not the 182 00:05:58,370 --> 00:06:00,209 case. Like this is 183 00:06:00,210 --> 00:06:01,789 important. You've got to get out in 184 00:06:01,790 --> 00:06:04,209 this district and meet people one 185 00:06:04,210 --> 00:06:05,069 by one. 186 00:06:05,070 --> 00:06:07,009 And that's, that's what it takes to 187 00:06:07,010 --> 00:06:07,859 win. 188 00:06:07,860 --> 00:06:09,519 So you have the candidates who are 189 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:11,459 in that race saying, 190 00:06:11,460 --> 00:06:12,959 you can't tell us what to do. 191 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:14,919 We're still running up here, Anya, 192 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,019 although one of the candidates who 193 00:06:17,020 --> 00:06:18,959 Rich has done some reporting on did 194 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:21,199 drop out this week. 195 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:22,999 Tell us about that Paul Waskran left 196 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:23,429 the race. 197 00:06:23,430 --> 00:06:25,289 Yeah, so Paul Waskran is a 198 00:06:25,290 --> 00:06:26,409 successful business person. 199 00:06:26,410 --> 00:06:28,129 He had a largely self-funded 200 00:06:28,130 --> 00:06:29,129 campaign. 201 00:06:29,130 --> 00:06:30,229 And so him dropping out is kind of 202 00:06:30,230 --> 00:06:32,069 the first big dropout 203 00:06:32,070 --> 00:06:33,029 of the race. 204 00:06:33,030 --> 00:06:34,089 And that's one of the things we kind 205 00:06:34,090 --> 00:06:35,669 of look to going into a primary, 206 00:06:35,670 --> 00:06:37,209 especially in these crowded fields, 207 00:06:37,210 --> 00:06:38,789 is when will people start dropping 208 00:06:38,790 --> 00:06:40,649 out? So this is kind the first one. 209 00:06:40,650 --> 00:06:42,209 He had raised quite a bit of money 210 00:06:42,210 --> 00:06:43,629 from himself, as I mentioned, but 211 00:06:43,630 --> 00:06:45,409 very little in terms of independent 212 00:06:45,410 --> 00:06:46,329 donors. 213 00:06:46,330 --> 00:06:47,709 And then by contrast, you have 214 00:06:47,710 --> 00:06:49,599 Alfonso, who has received quite a 215 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:51,499 bit of money from this kind of DC 216 00:06:51,500 --> 00:06:52,979 connected past that he's on. 217 00:06:52,980 --> 00:06:54,819 You know, one thing that 218 00:06:54,820 --> 00:06:56,839 when Rich covered the empty 219 00:06:56,840 --> 00:06:58,759 chair, Alfonso was posting at the 220 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:00,459 same time on Facebook photos of him 221 00:07:00,460 --> 00:07:02,299 with Republican congresspeople 222 00:07:02,300 --> 00:07:03,079 in DC. 223 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:04,999 So he has these big connections. 224 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:06,199 And so I think it was a little bit 225 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:07,839 of a signal that even people with 226 00:07:07,840 --> 00:07:09,839 deep pockets are not 227 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:11,739 necessarily feeling up to the 228 00:07:11,740 --> 00:07:12,969 challenge. He also said that he 229 00:07:12,970 --> 00:07:14,429 didn't want to, Wasgren said that, 230 00:07:14,430 --> 00:07:15,849 he didn't want to kind of contribute 231 00:07:15,850 --> 00:07:17,449 to a bloody primary, that that could 232 00:07:17,450 --> 00:07:19,069 only empower Democrats. 233 00:07:19,070 --> 00:07:20,049 And so I think we're gonna see a 234 00:07:20,050 --> 00:07:21,989 little bit of that, you know, bowing 235 00:07:21,990 --> 00:07:23,709 out in order to maintain the good of 236 00:07:23,710 --> 00:07:24,710 the party. 237 00:07:27,420 --> 00:07:29,439 Yeah, if I could just chime in 238 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:30,440 on that. 239 00:07:31,420 --> 00:07:33,379 So the other thing is that 240 00:07:33,380 --> 00:07:35,159 there's this political action 241 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:37,079 committee that has been raising 242 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:38,859 money. It's based in Alabama. 243 00:07:38,860 --> 00:07:40,499 It's brand new. 244 00:07:40,500 --> 00:07:42,219 And it's been getting some of that 245 00:07:42,220 --> 00:07:43,839 money, a million dollars, from Sean 246 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:45,059 Duffy's former congressional 247 00:07:45,060 --> 00:07:46,139 campaign. 248 00:07:46,140 --> 00:07:47,599 And so they've essentially been 249 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:49,439 doing a lot of ads, a lot 250 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:50,919 work for Alfonso. 251 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:52,739 Therefore, he hasn't had to spend as 252 00:07:52,740 --> 00:07:54,279 much of the money that he's actually 253 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:56,359 raised. And with regard 254 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:57,609 to Wasgren... 255 00:07:57,610 --> 00:07:59,529 What you notice, Sean, on 256 00:07:59,530 --> 00:08:01,349 that last finance report that 257 00:08:01,350 --> 00:08:03,229 we looked at when I was reporting on 258 00:08:03,230 --> 00:08:05,549 it, there was some interesting 259 00:08:05,550 --> 00:08:06,949 loan information. 260 00:08:06,950 --> 00:08:08,139 You wanna talk about that? 261 00:08:08,140 --> 00:08:09,839 Oh, yeah, I mean, well, I think the 262 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:11,659 thing that got his attention 263 00:08:11,660 --> 00:08:13,199 for Paul Waskran when he jumped into 264 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,479 the race was, as you mentioned, 265 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:16,599 an ability to sell fun. 266 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:18,239 So he loaned himself a million bucks 267 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:19,859 there to start out. 268 00:08:19,860 --> 00:08:22,059 He had repaid a lot of that in 269 00:08:22,060 --> 00:08:24,119 the in the last report. 270 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:25,939 So I think it is a 271 00:08:25,940 --> 00:08:27,339 situation where you put the money in 272 00:08:27,340 --> 00:08:29,319 there to send a message, he decided 273 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:31,159 it was not well received and took 274 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:32,879 the money back and got on out of 275 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:33,880 there. 276 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:36,739 Rich, I guess one thing we gotta 277 00:08:36,740 --> 00:08:37,519 ask here. 278 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:39,158 This is a very Republican district. 279 00:08:39,159 --> 00:08:40,158 And so we are talking about this 280 00:08:40,159 --> 00:08:42,319 Republican primary, but 281 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:44,439 is this a situation 282 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,059 where, because of this infighting 283 00:08:47,060 --> 00:08:48,819 uneasiness among Republicans up 284 00:08:48,820 --> 00:08:50,839 there, is this door open for 285 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:51,840 Democrats? 286 00:08:53,970 --> 00:08:55,849 I've heard that it is and I've 287 00:08:55,850 --> 00:08:56,729 heard that. It isn't. 288 00:08:56,730 --> 00:08:59,289 So this is a district that 289 00:08:59,290 --> 00:09:01,349 has 10 tended to be 290 00:09:01,350 --> 00:09:03,449 more and more Republican since, 291 00:09:03,450 --> 00:09:04,269 say, 2010. 292 00:09:04,270 --> 00:09:06,089 We have to also remember that 293 00:09:06,090 --> 00:09:07,969 former Democratic Congressman Dable, 294 00:09:07,970 --> 00:09:09,889 we represented that 295 00:09:09,890 --> 00:09:12,189 the seventh for many, many years. 296 00:09:12,190 --> 00:09:14,149 But, of course, with the Tea Party 297 00:09:14,150 --> 00:09:16,349 wave, Sharon Duffy 298 00:09:16,350 --> 00:09:18,409 got in and it 299 00:09:18,410 --> 00:09:19,929 stayed Republican since. 300 00:09:19,930 --> 00:09:21,549 Of course, the map also changed. 301 00:09:21,550 --> 00:09:23,439 But just what I've been told by 302 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:25,739 Joe Hendrick, who's kind of like the 303 00:09:25,740 --> 00:09:27,939 maps and elections data 304 00:09:27,940 --> 00:09:30,179 guru for the Republicans, 305 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:33,419 is that it is 306 00:09:33,420 --> 00:09:34,919 Republican. It would be an uphill 307 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:37,019 battle for any Democrat, 308 00:09:37,020 --> 00:09:38,859 but it's 309 00:09:38,860 --> 00:09:39,659 not impossible. 310 00:09:39,660 --> 00:09:41,679 And he said if the GOP picks the 311 00:09:41,680 --> 00:09:43,919 wrong candidate in the primary and 312 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:45,739 it's a wave year, which he 313 00:09:45,740 --> 00:09:47,559 said it seems to be looking like it 314 00:09:47,560 --> 00:09:49,439 might be, It's possible 315 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:51,309 for this to flip back to... 316 00:09:51,310 --> 00:09:53,709 Democratic hands. 317 00:09:53,710 --> 00:09:55,829 Whether that happens or not, 318 00:09:55,830 --> 00:09:57,809 Hendrick said it's unlikely, but 319 00:09:57,810 --> 00:09:58,810 it's not off the table. 320 00:09:59,970 --> 00:10:01,469 So let's turn to the Democratic 321 00:10:01,470 --> 00:10:03,349 primary for governor here, 322 00:10:03,350 --> 00:10:05,369 where we have seven candidates 323 00:10:05,370 --> 00:10:07,429 running and it is at 324 00:10:07,430 --> 00:10:09,309 this stage not getting a 325 00:10:09,310 --> 00:10:10,669 ton of attention statewide. 326 00:10:10,670 --> 00:10:11,729 I mean, we did just have a Supreme 327 00:10:11,730 --> 00:10:13,349 Court race that ate up some of that. 328 00:10:13,350 --> 00:10:15,089 There's a little national news right 329 00:10:15,090 --> 00:10:17,669 now that has people's attention. 330 00:10:17,670 --> 00:10:19,509 But Anya, in that race, it 331 00:10:19,510 --> 00:10:21,249 feels like you could be talking 332 00:10:21,250 --> 00:10:22,909 about endorsements every week in a 333 00:10:22,910 --> 00:10:24,729 way about how that might affect 334 00:10:24,730 --> 00:10:25,789 the race. 335 00:10:25,790 --> 00:10:27,489 What's one that caught our eye this 336 00:10:27,490 --> 00:10:27,849 week? 337 00:10:27,850 --> 00:10:29,209 Yeah, I mean, so there have been all 338 00:10:29,210 --> 00:10:30,909 of these kind of smaller or more 339 00:10:30,910 --> 00:10:32,269 local endorsements that have been 340 00:10:32,270 --> 00:10:33,189 coming through. 341 00:10:33,190 --> 00:10:35,069 So local firefighters unions or this 342 00:10:35,070 --> 00:10:36,849 kind of thing. But then this week 343 00:10:36,850 --> 00:10:38,629 was the first at least that I've 344 00:10:38,630 --> 00:10:40,489 noticed sort of national figure to 345 00:10:40,490 --> 00:10:41,929 back a candidate. 346 00:10:41,930 --> 00:10:43,829 So Ilhan Omar of Minnesota backed 347 00:10:43,830 --> 00:10:45,869 Francesca Hong, who is a 348 00:10:45,870 --> 00:10:47,649 Democratic representative from 349 00:10:47,650 --> 00:10:49,309 Madison. She aligns the Democratic 350 00:10:49,310 --> 00:10:51,009 socialist sort of platform. 351 00:10:51,010 --> 00:10:52,969 And so she's one of the further left 352 00:10:52,970 --> 00:10:54,589 candidates, obviously getting the 353 00:10:54,590 --> 00:10:56,529 backing of a further left member of 354 00:10:56,530 --> 00:10:58,199 Congress. And this really caught our 355 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:00,239 attention for sort of a double-edged 356 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:01,739 reason, right? That can really 357 00:11:01,740 --> 00:11:03,719 signal where Hong stands here 358 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:04,599 in Wisconsin. 359 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:06,719 But of course, Ilhan Omar has 360 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:08,199 plenty of people who don't care for 361 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:10,239 her in the Republican 362 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:11,499 and sort of conservative side of 363 00:11:11,500 --> 00:11:13,299 things. And so looking towards a 364 00:11:13,300 --> 00:11:14,999 general election, I'm curious what 365 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:16,279 it'll mean to have some of these 366 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:17,979 more divisive endorsements. 367 00:11:17,980 --> 00:11:19,639 But right now, it's also really 368 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:21,539 interesting for a big national 369 00:11:21,540 --> 00:11:23,239 figure with a lot of media 370 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:24,859 attention, social media attention to 371 00:11:24,860 --> 00:11:26,299 be throwing her weight behind. 372 00:11:26,300 --> 00:11:27,879 A candidate in the Wisconsin 373 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:29,259 governor's election. 374 00:11:29,260 --> 00:11:31,379 Yeah, to me, I think if you're 375 00:11:31,380 --> 00:11:33,159 a voter out there who's barely 376 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:34,619 paying attention to these races at 377 00:11:34,620 --> 00:11:36,619 this point and you have this, 378 00:11:36,620 --> 00:11:38,479 you know, 379 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:39,919 overwhelming list of choices and for 380 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:41,939 any essentially, they're probably 381 00:11:41,940 --> 00:11:43,879 looking for clues on if they 382 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:45,639 want to go for a very liberal 383 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:47,479 candidate. This is a way of sending 384 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:49,279 that message that representative 385 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:50,719 Hong is that candidate, you know, 386 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:51,919 you don't earn an endorsement like 387 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:53,739 that without being a 388 00:11:53,740 --> 00:11:54,559 candidate like that. 389 00:11:54,560 --> 00:11:56,499 So it is a way to send a little 390 00:11:56,500 --> 00:11:58,059 cue kind of early going. 391 00:11:58,060 --> 00:11:59,139 Right. There's not a lot of 392 00:11:59,140 --> 00:12:01,099 differentiation on policy issues. 393 00:12:01,100 --> 00:12:02,339 There's some differentiation on sort 394 00:12:02,340 --> 00:12:03,899 of the specifics of things. 395 00:12:03,900 --> 00:12:05,239 But basically every Democratic 396 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:07,319 candidate supports abortion rights, 397 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:08,319 supports, you know, expanding 398 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:09,559 Medicaid. Like there are all of 399 00:12:09,560 --> 00:12:10,899 these kind of signals there. 400 00:12:10,900 --> 00:12:12,919 And so an endorsement can offer a 401 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:15,099 more specific kind of endorsement. 402 00:12:15,100 --> 00:12:16,919 I'm sorry, a signal 403 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:19,039 around values and also, again, 404 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:20,399 invite some of the media attention 405 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:21,299 that can come with that. 406 00:12:21,300 --> 00:12:23,119 So it's one thing to say, oh, I 407 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:24,559 have the support of this local union 408 00:12:24,560 --> 00:12:25,899 in my community. And what does that 409 00:12:25,900 --> 00:12:27,059 say about my support for workers 410 00:12:27,060 --> 00:12:29,109 rights? It's another thing if, 411 00:12:29,110 --> 00:12:31,089 you know, Mom Donnie 412 00:12:31,090 --> 00:12:32,669 comes in and backs you, right, a 413 00:12:32,670 --> 00:12:34,849 sort of nationally famous figure 414 00:12:34,850 --> 00:12:36,349 where people have already kind of 415 00:12:36,350 --> 00:12:37,669 done the work to understand who that 416 00:12:37,670 --> 00:12:39,349 person is and so then they can apply 417 00:12:39,350 --> 00:12:40,749 it to the candidates here. 418 00:12:49,230 --> 00:12:50,350 We can't hear you, Rich. 419 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:00,299 So Anya, I guess a 420 00:13:00,300 --> 00:13:01,539 question that I have when it comes 421 00:13:01,540 --> 00:13:03,359 to endorsements like this on 422 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:05,299 the Democratic side, is there 423 00:13:05,300 --> 00:13:07,679 an equivalent to the Donald Trump 424 00:13:07,680 --> 00:13:09,699 endorsement where if this person 425 00:13:09,700 --> 00:13:11,539 comes in, you know, 426 00:13:11,540 --> 00:13:13,359 it's kind of all over in a primary. 427 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:15,239 I mean, put simply, no, Trump 428 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:16,759 is really the standard bearer for 429 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:18,219 the Republican Party and has been 430 00:13:18,220 --> 00:13:19,419 for a decade. 431 00:13:19,420 --> 00:13:20,679 Democrats just don't have that 432 00:13:20,680 --> 00:13:22,499 equivalent person, in part because, 433 00:13:22,500 --> 00:13:23,719 you know, you do have some of this 434 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:25,159 division between more centrist 435 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:26,519 Democrats and more left wing 436 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:27,479 Democrats. 437 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:28,959 And so again, somebody like Ilhan 438 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:30,779 Omar is going to really appeal to 439 00:13:30,780 --> 00:13:32,759 people who are kind of already in 440 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:35,179 the Francesca Hong camp, would 441 00:13:35,180 --> 00:13:36,899 not necessarily appeal to more sort 442 00:13:36,900 --> 00:13:38,639 moderate or business-minded 443 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:39,549 Democrat. 444 00:13:39,550 --> 00:13:41,469 And then there are people, 445 00:13:41,470 --> 00:13:42,549 Kamala Harris or somebody similar 446 00:13:42,550 --> 00:13:44,009 who might appeal more to those kind 447 00:13:44,010 --> 00:13:45,809 of centrist folks, but there's not 448 00:13:45,810 --> 00:13:47,689 really a uniting figure in 449 00:13:47,690 --> 00:13:49,569 the same way that Donald Trump is. 450 00:13:49,570 --> 00:13:51,509 You could imagine if, let's say 451 00:13:51,510 --> 00:13:53,209 former President Obama were to jump 452 00:13:53,210 --> 00:13:54,409 in with an endorsement in that 453 00:13:54,410 --> 00:13:55,709 primary, which seems unlikely, but 454 00:13:55,710 --> 00:13:56,789 you never know. 455 00:13:56,790 --> 00:13:58,129 That might turn some heads. 456 00:13:58,130 --> 00:13:59,949 I think one difference is that 457 00:13:59,950 --> 00:14:02,549 President Trump has sort of 458 00:14:02,550 --> 00:14:04,509 gone after people who don't fall in 459 00:14:04,510 --> 00:14:06,129 line in a way that I don't know that 460 00:14:06,130 --> 00:14:07,750 President Obama would or could. 461 00:14:09,249 --> 00:14:10,889 Trump brags about it, frankly. 462 00:14:10,890 --> 00:14:13,329 I mean, he is not afraid to enforce 463 00:14:13,330 --> 00:14:15,209 his endorsements. 464 00:14:15,210 --> 00:14:16,209 And so I don't know that you have 465 00:14:16,210 --> 00:14:17,129 something like that on the 466 00:14:17,130 --> 00:14:17,989 Democratic side. 467 00:14:17,990 --> 00:14:19,729 Well, and you also don't have Tony 468 00:14:19,730 --> 00:14:21,489 Evers weighing in on who would be a 469 00:14:21,490 --> 00:14:23,589 good sort of recipient 470 00:14:23,590 --> 00:14:25,149 of the torch that he wants to pass. 471 00:14:25,150 --> 00:14:27,029 In fact, I have asked him several 472 00:14:27,030 --> 00:14:29,129 times if he's going to endorse and 473 00:14:29,130 --> 00:14:30,569 he shoots that question down every 474 00:14:30,570 --> 00:14:31,949 time. So it looks like he's really 475 00:14:31,950 --> 00:14:33,189 not playing favorites. 476 00:14:33,190 --> 00:14:34,889 And so that's, again, another lack 477 00:14:34,890 --> 00:14:35,809 of a signal, right? 478 00:14:35,810 --> 00:14:37,389 If if there's nobody to kind of 479 00:14:37,390 --> 00:14:39,069 carry forward the specific Evers 480 00:14:39,070 --> 00:14:41,109 legacy, then who is the person 481 00:14:41,110 --> 00:14:42,749 who can do what he did, which is win 482 00:14:42,750 --> 00:14:44,009 pretty narrowly against a 483 00:14:44,010 --> 00:14:44,849 Republican? 484 00:14:44,850 --> 00:14:47,309 Yeah, I want to just like reinforce 485 00:14:47,310 --> 00:14:48,849 that that is a perfectly reasonable 486 00:14:48,850 --> 00:14:50,169 question and you should keep asking 487 00:14:50,170 --> 00:14:51,549 it. And I think in a different year 488 00:14:51,550 --> 00:14:53,029 and different circumstances, he'd 489 00:14:53,030 --> 00:14:53,929 have somebody. 490 00:14:53,930 --> 00:14:55,829 But in this race, he doesn't 491 00:14:55,830 --> 00:14:57,369 want to go there for whatever 492 00:14:57,370 --> 00:14:58,569 reason. 493 00:14:58,570 --> 00:15:00,429 So I guess it is an open 494 00:15:00,430 --> 00:15:01,909 question that we can ask every 495 00:15:01,910 --> 00:15:03,909 single campaign, but I don't care. 496 00:15:03,910 --> 00:15:04,889 I want ask it again. 497 00:15:04,890 --> 00:15:06,649 Do endorsements matter? 498 00:15:06,650 --> 00:15:08,490 Do they matter for voters? 499 00:15:09,850 --> 00:15:11,809 To me, I think the answer 500 00:15:11,810 --> 00:15:14,229 is. Absolutely, yes, given the 501 00:15:14,230 --> 00:15:15,549 given the circumstances. 502 00:15:16,850 --> 00:15:18,349 One, I think that where you see it 503 00:15:18,350 --> 00:15:20,189 definitely mattering is in our 504 00:15:20,190 --> 00:15:21,209 upcoming court race. 505 00:15:21,210 --> 00:15:22,109 I don't know if you've paid 506 00:15:22,110 --> 00:15:23,569 attention to this one yet. 507 00:15:23,570 --> 00:15:24,389 I mean, I know you have you've 508 00:15:24,390 --> 00:15:26,449 written about it, but you 509 00:15:26,450 --> 00:15:28,289 did not have candidates 510 00:15:28,290 --> 00:15:29,949 endorse. 511 00:15:29,950 --> 00:15:31,149 You did not have the liberal 512 00:15:31,150 --> 00:15:33,009 justices endorse in that race 513 00:15:33,010 --> 00:15:35,109 yet. So in the 2024 Supreme 514 00:15:35,110 --> 00:15:36,769 Court race, you had the four sitting 515 00:15:36,770 --> 00:15:38,849 liberal justices endorsed Susan 516 00:15:38,850 --> 00:15:41,469 Crawford early on in 2025. 517 00:15:41,470 --> 00:15:43,809 You had them endorse Chris Taylor. 518 00:15:43,810 --> 00:15:45,429 You've had a candidate jump into the 519 00:15:45,430 --> 00:15:47,329 race, this race already, Anya, that 520 00:15:47,330 --> 00:15:49,209 you've written about, 521 00:15:49,210 --> 00:15:50,909 Lindsay Burnett. 522 00:15:50,910 --> 00:15:52,289 She did not immediately get that 523 00:15:52,290 --> 00:15:53,269 endorsement. 524 00:15:53,270 --> 00:15:54,889 And so now you have maybe Judge 525 00:15:54,890 --> 00:15:56,789 Pedro Colon in Milwaukee 526 00:15:56,790 --> 00:15:58,169 could be running. 527 00:15:58,170 --> 00:16:00,209 So the lack of endorsement may be 528 00:16:00,210 --> 00:16:02,289 spawning a little liberal primary 529 00:16:02,290 --> 00:16:02,989 on that side. 530 00:16:02,990 --> 00:16:04,809 Yeah, again, and especially with the 531 00:16:04,810 --> 00:16:06,189 courts, right? There can be a little 532 00:16:06,190 --> 00:16:07,689 bit of that, you know, kingmaking 533 00:16:07,690 --> 00:16:08,769 approach again. 534 00:16:08,770 --> 00:16:10,269 So I think it is when you have a 535 00:16:10,270 --> 00:16:11,789 crowded field that the endorsements 536 00:16:11,790 --> 00:16:12,869 really matter. 537 00:16:12,870 --> 00:16:14,549 But we live in also such polarized 538 00:16:14,550 --> 00:16:16,709 times that going into a general 539 00:16:16,710 --> 00:16:18,549 election, there are going to be 540 00:16:18,550 --> 00:16:20,429 very few surprising endorsements. 541 00:16:20,430 --> 00:16:21,709 So the people that I've talked to 542 00:16:21,710 --> 00:16:23,609 about the politics of 543 00:16:23,610 --> 00:16:24,849 endorsements have said, you know 544 00:16:24,850 --> 00:16:26,169 surprising endorsement really 545 00:16:26,170 --> 00:16:28,309 matter. Less surprising ones matter 546 00:16:28,310 --> 00:16:30,389 less because, you know, of course. 547 00:16:30,390 --> 00:16:32,369 Democratic royalty is going to back 548 00:16:32,370 --> 00:16:34,129 Democrats and Republican royalty is 549 00:16:34,130 --> 00:16:35,809 going to be back Republicans in 550 00:16:35,810 --> 00:16:36,698 general. 551 00:16:36,699 --> 00:16:38,359 Before we wrap up here, I feel like 552 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:40,339 we got to talk about the 553 00:16:40,340 --> 00:16:41,999 kind of aftermath of the 2026 554 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:43,919 Supreme Court race, though, in 555 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:45,359 just about a minute here. 556 00:16:46,420 --> 00:16:48,479 There was some talk that the 557 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:50,919 state party chair, Brian Schimming, 558 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:52,439 could lose his job over that race. 559 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:54,899 Some people wanted him out. 560 00:16:54,900 --> 00:16:55,900 What's the update on that? 561 00:16:58,070 --> 00:16:59,929 He's still in the 562 00:16:59,930 --> 00:17:01,969 the party web page still shows 563 00:17:01,970 --> 00:17:03,729 him as chairman, they had an 564 00:17:03,730 --> 00:17:04,529 executive committee. 565 00:17:04,530 --> 00:17:06,529 So that's the group of people 566 00:17:06,530 --> 00:17:08,429 that could have fired him 567 00:17:08,430 --> 00:17:09,949 and they apparently did not. 568 00:17:09,950 --> 00:17:12,229 But the twist is, 569 00:17:12,230 --> 00:17:13,769 people I talked to that are on the 570 00:17:13,770 --> 00:17:15,449 committee said we can't tell you 571 00:17:15,450 --> 00:17:17,449 what happened there because we 572 00:17:17,450 --> 00:17:19,649 signed non disclosure agreements. 573 00:17:19,650 --> 00:17:21,649 Those agreements were put in effect 574 00:17:21,650 --> 00:17:24,269 in December. 575 00:17:24,270 --> 00:17:26,279 And just for context. 576 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:28,279 After the 2025 loss 577 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:30,119 that Republicans 578 00:17:30,120 --> 00:17:31,779 had, that was the Schimel and Susan 579 00:17:31,780 --> 00:17:33,599 Crawford race, there were 580 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:35,679 calls for Brian Schiming 581 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:37,959 to be fired or 582 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:40,559 resign. So kind of the same thing. 583 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:42,779 And shortly after that, 584 00:17:42,780 --> 00:17:45,439 the executive committee passed some 585 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:47,539 new rules to 586 00:17:47,540 --> 00:17:48,759 kind of clamp down on people 587 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:50,899 complaining publicly about GOP 588 00:17:50,900 --> 00:17:51,900 party leadership. 589 00:17:53,850 --> 00:17:55,749 This is shimming is still 590 00:17:55,750 --> 00:17:57,489 in place and there's a new rule 591 00:17:57,490 --> 00:17:59,319 where you have to sign an NDA. 592 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:01,039 So this powerful executive committee 593 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:03,259 for the party makes decisions 594 00:18:03,260 --> 00:18:05,019 like this. 595 00:18:05,020 --> 00:18:06,918 And you talk to one of the members 596 00:18:06,919 --> 00:18:08,499 and he didn't really tell you about 597 00:18:08,500 --> 00:18:09,659 what went on, but he said, 598 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:11,680 check the website. 599 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:14,619 Yeah, check the website. 600 00:18:14,620 --> 00:18:15,049 That's right. 601 00:18:15,050 --> 00:18:16,369 And there's Brian Schimming's name 602 00:18:16,370 --> 00:18:17,370 as chair. 603 00:18:18,510 --> 00:18:20,189 Well, we'll continue to follow that 604 00:18:20,190 --> 00:18:21,669 one and all these endorsements 605 00:18:21,670 --> 00:18:23,629 that'll do it for this week. 606 00:18:23,630 --> 00:18:25,429 That's all the time we have. 607 00:18:25,430 --> 00:18:27,089 Our colleague Zach Schultz will be 608 00:18:27,090 --> 00:18:27,869 back next week. 609 00:18:27,870 --> 00:18:29,169 Thanks for joining us. 610 00:18:29,170 --> 00:18:30,889 This has been Inside Wisconsin 611 00:18:30,890 --> 00:18:32,889 Politics. Be sure to follow us on 612 00:18:32,890 --> 00:18:34,789 pbswisconsin.org, 613 00:18:34,790 --> 00:18:36,649 wpr.org YouTube or 614 00:18:36,650 --> 00:18:37,750 wherever you get your podcasts. 615 00:19:00,810 --> 00:19:02,309 They've been they've been wrestling 616 00:19:02,310 --> 00:19:03,549 with it man for days 617 00:19:05,790 --> 00:19:08,349 Sorry, I had a 618 00:19:08,350 --> 00:19:10,429 banger answer and you 619 00:19:10,430 --> 00:19:11,430 guys can't use it 620 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:13,499 You had other banger. 621 00:19:13,500 --> 00:19:14,500 Did you deliver?