IT'S
FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A "HERE & "
2022 ELECTION SPECIAL.
>> GOOD EVENING.
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ.
TONIGHT.
JUST AHEAD OF "HERE & NOW," WE
BRING YOU A SPECIAL PROGRAM
HIGHLIGHTING THE BIGGEST
STATEWIDE RACES IN WISCONSIN.
WE'RE ON THE TRAIL WITH THE
CANDIDATES FOR THE U-S SENATE.
WE'LL LOOK AT HOW EDUCATION IS
SHAPING THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR.
WHY THE RACE FOR ATTORNEY
GENERAL IS ABOUT MORE THAN
JUST LAW AND ORDER.
AND WE HAVE A REPORT FROM
MILWAUKEE PBS ON VOTING TRENDS
IN SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN.
FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY THE
FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND
FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.
IN JUST 11 DAYS, VOTERS WILL
GO TO THE POLLS AND DECIDE
WHAT THE FUTURE OF WISCONSIN
GOVERNMENT WILL LOOK LIKE.
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
SAYS HE HAS SPENT THE LAST
FOUR YEARS PLAYING
GOALIE.
VETOING HUNREDS OF BILLS
PASSED BY A
REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED
LEGISLATURE.
IF HE WINS RE-ELECTION, HE CAN
EXPECT MORE OF THE SAME IN HIS
SECOND TERM, AS THE
LEGISLATURE IS ALL BUT ASSURED
TO REMAIN IN REPUBLICAN HANDS.
IF REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER TIM
MICHELS WINS, YOU CAN EXPECT A
VERY DIFFERENT
SCENARIO.
AND HE HAS PROMISED TO, QUOTE,
"TRANSFORM WISCONSIN FOR
GENERATIONS TO COME."
THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION
IS AT STAKE IN THIS ELECTION,
AS THE CANDIDATES HAVE
VERY DIFFERENT VISIONS FOR HOW
OUR SCHOOLS SHOULD OPERATE.
>> WE ARE GOING TO START THE
CRT AND GET BACK TO THE
ABCs.
REPUBLICAN TIM MICHELS'
EDUCATION PLAN CAN BE REDUCED
DOWN TO ONE LINE.
AND HE SAYS IT IN EVERY
SPEECH.
WE ARE GOING TO STOP THE CRT
AND GET BACK TO THE ABCS WE'LL
STOP THE CRT AND GET BACK TO
THE ABCs.
>> GOVERNOR?
>> CRT ARE NOT TAUGHT IN
SCHOOLS AND ABCs ARE.
MOST PARENTS TEACH ABCS AT
HOME.
CRT IS SHORT FOR CRITICAL RACE
THEORY, A COLLEGE-LEVEL
POLITICAL THEORY THAT USES
RACE AS A LENS TO EXAMINE
HISTORY.
BUT IN POLITICAL DICOURSE,
CRT HAS BECOME PART OF THE
ONGOING CULTURE WARS THAT
DRIVE REPUBLICAN TURNOUT AT
THE POLLS.
NOW IT'S ALL ABOUT THE
ACRONYMS.
LGBTQ AND CRT AND BLM.
WHEN YOU START PICKING PEOPLE
OUT, WHETHER IT'S BLACK KIDS
BROWN KIDS, LGBTQ KIDS,
WOKENESS.
ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU DIVIDED
EVERYBODY.
AND NOW PEOPLE CAN GET EXCITED
AND UPSET AND ANGRY.
THAT DOES NOTHING FOR A
CONVERSATION.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEBODY
THAT HAS NEVER WALKED
THROUGH A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN
THEIR LIFE.
DEMOCRAT TONY EVERS IS
COMFORTABLE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
EVEN IF THE KIDS EXCUSE HIM
FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.
YOU LOOK LIKE SOMEBODY I KNOW.
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN
ME ON TV.
YOU LOOK LIKE JOE BIDEN.
JOE BIDEN?
WELL, THAT'S A COMPLIMENT.
>> PRIOR TO BECOMING GOVERNOR,
EVERS SPENT HIS ENTIRE CAREER
IN EDUCATION, AS A TEACHER,
ADMINISTRATOR, AND AS THE
STATE SUPERINTENDENT.
HE WANTS TO REINVEST MORE
MONEY INTO PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
PROPOSING $2 BILLION IN
ADDITIONAL SPENDING IN THE
NEXT BUDGET.
>> WE NEED MORE RESOURCES FOR
THEM.
NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
>> TIM MICHELS DID NOT AGREE
TO AN INTERVIEW FOR THIS
STORY, BUT HAS MADE HIS
POSITIONS CLEAR IN NUMEROUS
SPEECHES AND DEBATES.
>> OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS
BROKEN IN WISCONSIN.
>> THE PROBLEM IS WE'RE
ALREADY THROWING SO MUCH MONEY
AT EDUCATION.
THAT'S BEEN THE FIX FOR THE
LAST 10, 20, 30 YEARS.
MORE MONEY AT EDUCATION, AND
IT'S NOT WORKING.
THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY.
WE'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
>> HIS SOLUTION IS WHAT HE
CALLS UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE.
>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
EDUCATION REFORM.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO
DO?
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE.
>> HIS WEBSITE IS LIGHT ON
SPECIFICS, BUT THE POLICY
WOULD LIKELY LIFT THE
ENROLLMENT AND INCOME CAPS ON
THE CURRENT VOUCHER PROGRAMS.
ALLOWING WEALTHY FAMILIES TO
USE TAX DOLLARS TO PAY PRIVATE
SCHOOL TUITION.
EVERS SAYS THE PROBLEM IS WHEN
VOUCHER DOLLARS LEAVE THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THEY STILL HAVE TO PAY THE
LIGHT BILL.
AND THEY ARE REQUIRED TO RAISE
PROPERTY TAXES TO MAKE UP THE
DIFFERENCE.
>> THIS WILL BE LIKE A HALF
BILLION DOLLAR PROPERTY TAX
INCREASE.
>> MICHELS SAYS HIS PLAN IS
NEEDED BY POINTING TO A
HANDFUL OF MILWAUKEE SCHOOLS
IN BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
SAW READING SCORES CRASH
DURING COVID.
>> BABY KEWONN AND THOUSANDS
OF YOUNG BABIES LIKE KEWONN,
AND BABY GIRLS, HAVE ZERO
CHANCE AT BEING SUCCESSFUL IN
LIFE UNLESS UNLESS WE
CHANGE EDUCATION.
THAT'S WHY IT'S THE FOUNDATION
OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO
DO.
WE'RE GOING TO GET UNIVERSAL
SCHOOL CHOICE, AND WE'RE GOING
TO HELP GET MILWAUKEE HEADED
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
>> THE PROBLEM WITH HIS
ARGUMENT IS MILWAUKEE HAS HAD
A VOUCHER PROGRAM FOR THREE
DECADES.
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE WON'T
CHANGE THE SITUATION THERE AT
ALL.
ATTACKING SCHOOLS MAY BE GOOD
POLITICS, BUT EVERS SAYS IT'S
DANGEROUS POLICY.
>> WHAT DOES THAT DO TO OUR
INSTITUTIONS IN THE MEANTIME?
IT DESTROYS THEM.
SO IT'S POLITICS AT ITS WORST.
>> AND THE POLITICS MAY TURN
INTO POLICY.
EVERS VETOED A REPUBLICAN BILL
LAST YEAR THAT WOULD HAVE
ALLOWED PARENTS TO SUE THEIR
LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS OVER
THINGS LIKE THE USE OF NAMES
AND PRONOUNS FOR TRANSGENDER
KIDS.
MICHELS WOULD SIGN IT.
>> IF MY OPPONENT IS GOVERNOR,
ALL 128 BILLS THAT I DID VETO
OVER THE LAST THREE AND A HALF
YEARS WILL BECOME THE LAW OF
THE LAND IMPACTING VOTING
RIGHTS, IMPACTING REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH, IMPACTING OUR PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, YOU NAME IT.
WISCONSIN WILL BE A DIFFERENT
PLACE.
>> WE KNOW THEY'RE
INDOCTRINATING OUR CHILDREN.
>> IN HIS SPEECHES TO MORE
CONSERVATIVE AUDIENCES,
MICHELS' RHETORIC BECOMES MORE
INFLAMED.
>> THAT IS A CULTURAL SHIFT
THAT THE LEFT WANTS.
IT'S PART OF THEIR DESTROYING
AMERICA.
>> AT ONE SPEECH, MICHELS
LINKED PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH A
NUMBER OF MOVEMENTS CONNECTED
TO BLACK AMERICA.
>> WE BELIEVE THIS COUNTRY IS
ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE TOWARDS
SOCIALISM.
IT'S BEING CLOAKED BEHIND CRT
AND BLM AND DEFUND THE POLICE.
>> IT'S ALL DOG WHISTLE
POLITICS.
>> TO EVERS, THE RACIST
UNDERTONES SHOULD NOT BE
IGNORED.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF HARM
THAT'S DONE BY DIVIDING
PEOPLE, DIVIDING PEOPLE AND
DIVIDING PEOPLE.
THAT'S HOW TRUMP DOES IT.
THAT'S HOW MY OPPONENT DOES
IT.
>> AT THAT SAME EVENT, FLORIDA
GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS PRAISED
MICHELS.
>> I REALLY BELIEVE EVERYTHING
WE'VE DONE IN FLORIDA YOU WILL
BE ABLE TO DO IN WISCONSIN AND
THEN SOME.
[CHEERING]
>> EARLIER THIS YEAR DESANTIS
SIGNED A BILL CRITICS CALLED
THE "DON'T SAY GAY" BILL,
WHICH PREVENTS ELEMENTARY
TEACHERS FROM TALKING ABOUT
SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER
IDENTITY WITH STUDENTS.
>> WE DON'T NEED RON DESANTIS
TO COME TO WISCONSIN AND TELL
US HOW TO DO THINGS.
>> EVERS SAYS THE POLITICS OF
DESANTIS AND MICHELS AREN'T
GOOD FOR WISCONSIN SCHOOLS.
>> I READ THAT HE SAID, IF MY
OPPONENT'S ELECTED, WE CAN BE
LIKE FLORIDA. WELL,
WHOOP-DE-DO?
EXACTLY WHO THINKS THAT'S A
GOOD IDEA?
>> SO HOW DOES MICHELS WANT
STUDENTS EDUCATED ON ISSUES OF
RACE AND GENDER?
>> WE'RE GOING TO LET PARENTS
DECIDE, NOT A COUPLE OF WOKE
EDUCRATS, THAT ARE SAYING
‘THIS IS WHAT IT IS NOW, WE'RE
GOING TO START TEACHING THIS,'
THAT THIS IS BAD AND THIS IS
GOOD.
>> OBVIOUSLY, HE BELIEVES THAT
THAT THERE'S THIS LIBERAL
CABAL AND EVERY SCHOOL
DISTRICT IN THE STATE THAT IS
WOKE, WHATEVER THAT MEANS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE KIDS SEE
THEMSELVES REPRESENT PPED IN
THE HISTORY THAT WE TEACH.
>> STATE SUPERINTENDENT JILL
UNDERLY WROTE AN EDITORIAL
THIS YEAR SAYING "CRITICAL
RACE THEORY IS NOT A SUBJECT
BEING TAUGHT IN K-12 SCHOOLS."
BUT SHE SAYS, "IF WHAT YOU'RE
ACTUALLY ASKING IS, ARE WE
TEACHING STUDENTS ABOUT
RACE AND RACISM?”
THEN THE ANSWER IS AND SHOULD
BE YES.
AND THAT'S WHAT HAS MICHELS
UPSET.
>> I DISAGREE WITH THE
STATEMENT FREDERICA THAT
EVERYTHING IS BEING TAUGHT
PROPERLY RIGHT NOW.
PARENTS HAVE COME TO ME AND
SHOWN ME THE STUFF THAT'S
BEING TAUGHT TO THEIR KIDS IN
SCHOOL AND THEY'RE OUTRAGED
AND THEY DON'T LIKE IT.
>> EVERS SAYS MICHELS IS
TRYING TO USE THAT CONFUSION
AND OUTRAGE TO GET ELECTED.
>> IT BOTHERS ME BECAUSE
PEOPLE CAN'T DEFINE IT.
AND THEN WHEN PEOPLE GET ANGRY
WITH EACH OTHER, IT'S JUST THE
WAY IT'S DIVIDING PEOPLE.
AND THERE IS POLITICAL SENSE
AND DIVIDING PEOPLE.
IF YOU DIVIDE PEOPLE, THEN
YOU'RE GOING TO BE AND YOU
DIVIDE THEM IN SUCH A WAY THAT
51% OF THEM BELIEVE YOU.
YOU GET ELECTED.
>> THE RACE FOR A SEAT IN THE
U.S. SENATE BETWEEN INCUMBENT
RON JOHNSON AND CHALLENGER
MANDELA BARNES MAY DECIDE
WHICH PARTY CONTROLS THE
CHAMBER.
HERE & NOW REPORTER STEVEN
POTTER HAS THIS REPORT ON THE
CONTEST BETWEEN WISCONSIN'S
SENIOR SENATOR AND THE LT.
GOVERNOR.
>> THE COST OF EVERYTHING IS
UP.
NUMEROUS POLLS SHOW INFLATION
IS THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN
AMONG VOTERS.
DOVER NOT BELIEVE THE LIES.
>> POLITICAL CANDIDATES,
INCLUDING REPUBLICAN RON
JOHNSON AND DEMOCRAT MANDELA
BARNES, WHO ARE COMPETING FOR
A SEAT IN THE U.S. SENATE,
WANT WISCONSIN VOTERS TO KNOW
THEY'RE LISTENING.
>> ALL ACROSS THE STATE,
PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED.
THEY'VE BEEN CONCERNED WITH
RISING COSTS.
>> THEY'D LIKE SOME RELIEF
FROM INFLATION.
>> BARNES IS CURRENTLY SERVING
AS THE STATE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR AND JOHNSON IS
SEEKING HIS THIRD TERM IN THE
SENATE.
THEY HAVE VERY DIFFERENT
PLANS FOR ADDRESSING
INFLATION.
>> SENATOR JOHNSON SAYS THE
PROBLEM IS HIGH GOVERNMENT
SPENDING.
>> STOP SPENDING SO MUCH
MONEY.
YOU KNOW, INFLATION'S
PRETTY EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
CAUSED IT.
IT'S MASSIVE DEFICIT SPENDING.
IT'S PRINTING DOLLARS.
YOU HAVE WAY TOO MANY DOLLARS
CHASING TOO FEW GOODS.
>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BARNES
SAYS SOME TARGETED TAX CHANGES
ARE NEEDED.
>> WE NEED A MIDDLE CLASS TAX
CUT.
AND WE CAN ACHIEVE
THIS BY MAKING SURE THAT THE
WEALTHIEST AMONG US PAY THEIR
FAIR SHARE.
THAT'S HOW WE GET TO A PLACE
WHERE FAMILIES CAN HAVE A
LITTLE MORE ECONOMIC SECURITY.
>> UW-MADISON POLITICAL
SCIENTIST ELEANOR POWELL SAYS
THE PAIN THAT PEOPLE ARE
FEELING FINANCIALLY MIGHT
MOTIVATE THOSE WHO DON'T
USUALLY VOTE IN MIDTERM
ELECTIONS.
>> BETWEEN THE PANDEMIC, THE
ECONOMY AND INFLATION, A LOT
OF PEOPLE ARE REALLY HURTING,
AND THAT COULD BRING OUT A LOT
OF SORT OF MORE DISCONTENTED
VOTERS.
>> BUT THERE'S ANOTHER ISSUE
THAT POWELL SAYS IS
HIGHLY-MOTIVATING IN THE
CONTEST BETWEEN BARNES AND
JOHNSON.
AND THAT'S ABORTION.
>> PARTICULARLY WOMEN AND
YOUNGER VOTERS, ARE REALLY
UPSET BY THE OVERTURNING OF
ROE VERSUS WADE AND SORT OF
ABORTION POLITICS, WHICH HAVE
BEEN PARTICULARLY
CONSEQUENTIAL HERE IN
WISCONSIN, BECAUSE WE
HAD THIS SORT OF PREEXISTING
BAN DATING BACK TO THE 1800S
ON THE BOOKS.
AND SO THIS HAS MOBILIZED A
LOT OF ENERGY ON THE LEFT.
AND IT'S NOT REALLY
ENTHUSIASM.
>> IT'S REALLY
ANGER AND MOBILIZATION.
>> BARNES IS CALLING FOR A NEW
FEDERAL LAW ALLOWING ACCESS TO
ABORTION.
TO ACHIEVE THIS, HE WANTS TO
END TO THE FILIBUSTER IN THE
SENATE.
THE FILIBUSTER IS A TACTIC
USED TO PREVENT A BILL FROM
PASSING BY STALLING IT WITH
PROLONGED DEBATE.
>> THE REALITY IS WE NEED TO
END THE FILIBUSTER TO CODIFY
THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE INTO LAW
ONCE AND FOR ALL.
AND WE CAN DO THIS IF WE FLIP
WISCONSIN AND ADD ONE MORE
SEAT TO THE 50-50, QUOTE,
UNQUOTE, MAJORITY THAT
WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
>> JOHNSON, WHO OPPOSES
ABORTION EXCEPT IN CASES OF
RAPE, INCEST, OR IF THE
LIFE OF THE MOTHER IS AT RISK,
SAYS INDIVIDUAL STATES SHOULD
USE REFERENDUMS TO DECIDE IF
ABORTION SHOULD BE ALLOWED.
>> AND IN 50 STATES, PEOPLE
USE THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS TO
ANSWER THIS QUESTION.
HERE'S THE FUNDAMENTAL
QUESTION OF THIS PROFOUND
MORAL ISSUE.
AT WHAT POINT DOES SOCIETY
HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO
PROTECT LIFE?
YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU BALANCE
THE RIGHTS OF A WOMAN VERSUS A
RIGHT -- THE RIGHTS OF
AN UNBORN CHILD?
UNLIKE OTHER STATES WISCONSIN
DOES NOT ALLOW DIRECT
REFERENDUMS.
>> SENATOR JOHNSON, YOU KNOW,
SPEAKS VERY WELL TO THE
REPUBLICAN.
THE SORT OF TRUMP WING OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BARNES
IS YOUNG.
HE SORT OF REPRESENTS A SORT
OF NEW GENERATION IN AMERICAN
POLITICS.
SO HE REALLY, YOU
KNOW, IS TRYING TO SPEAK TO
YOUNGER VOTERS, VOTERS OF
COLOR, VOTERS WHO OFTEN FEEL
THAT THEIR INTERESTS AREN'T
BEING WELL REPRESENTED IN
WASHINGTON.
>> BARNES AND JOHNSON TOOK
VERY DIFFERENT PATHS INTO
POLITICS.
MANDELA BARNES WAS BORN AND
RAISED IN MILWAUKEE AND IS
VERY PROUD OF HIS
WORKING-CLASS ROOTS.
>> MY MOM WAS A TEACHER AND MY
DAD WORKED THIRD SHIFT.
>> AFTER WORKING IN COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING, HE RAN FOR OFFICE
AT THE AGE OF 25, WINNING A
SEAT REPRESENTING MILWAUKEE'S
NORTH SIDE IN THE STATE
ASSEMBLY.
>> AFTER TWO TERMS THERE,
BARNES RAN UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR
THE STATE SENATE
IN 2016, BEFORE WINNING
ELECTION AS LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR IN 2018 WITH
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS.
>> IN HIS RUN FOR THE U.S.
SENATE, BARNES SAYS HIS GOAL
IS TO HELP MIDDLE-CLASS
AMERICANS.
>> AS I LOOK AROUND THE STATE,
TIMES ARE GETTING TOUGHER FOR
PEOPLE.
THINGS ARE MORE DIFFICULT.
IT'S HARDER AND HARDER TO GET
AHEAD.
ACCESS TO THE MIDDLE CLASS HAS
BEEN DENIED TO SO MANY PEOPLE.
>> ON THE OTHER SIDE, RON
JOHNSON, WHO LIVES IN OSHKOSH,
IS EQUALLY AS PROUD OF HIS
WORKING-CLASS BACKGROUND.
>> AS A YOUNG MAN, HE SHOVELED
DRIVEWAYS, MOWED LAWNS,
DELIVERED PAPERS.
>> AFTER A SUCCESSFUL CAREER
IN PLASTICS MANUFACTURING,
JOHNSON FIRST RAN FOR U.S
SENATE IN 2010, BEATING
LONGTIME DEMOCRATIC SENATOR
RUSS FEINGOLD.
HE BEAT FEINGOLD AGAIN IN
2016.
>> IN THE SENATE, JOHNSON HAS
SERVED ON THE HOMELAND
SECURITY AND BUDGET
COMMITTEES.
>> IN 2016, YOU SAID THAT YOU
WOULD ONLY RUN FOR
TWO TERMS.
IN JANUARY, YOU DECIDED YOU
WOULD RUN AGAIN.
WHAT MADE YOU CHANGE YOUR
MIND?
>> OUR NATION IS COMING APART.
TRUST ME, IT WAS MY PREFERENCE
AND MY WIFE'S VERY STRONG
PREFERENCE TO SERVE OUT THAT
SECOND TERM AND JUST RETURN TO
A PRIVATE LIFE.
I THINK I'M IN A POSITION
WHERE I'VE HAD A GREAT DEAL OF
SUCCESS AS A U.S. SENATOR.
I'VE HELPED IMPROVE THINGS.
>> WHILE BOTH CANDIDATES ARE
TRYING TO STAY ON MESSAGE WITH
WHAT THEY CAN OFFER VOTERS IF
ELECTED, JOHNSON AND BARNES
ALSO HAVE PLENTY OF CRITICISM
FOR EACH OTHER.
>> HE IS A RADICAL LEFTIST.
I KNOW HE'S TRYING TO HIDE
THAT FROM WISCONSINITES.
>> THIS IS ABOUT AN
OUT-OF-TOUCH POLITICIAN WHO
HAS FAILED TO DELIVER FOR
WISCONSIN.
HE'S PUT HIMSELF AHEAD OF ALL
OF US EVERY CHANCE.
>> BUT THE CANDIDATES AREN'T
THE ONLY ONES GETTING INTO THE
MUDSLINGING.
OUTSIDE GROUPS ARE RUNNING
THEIR OWN POLITICAL ATTACK
ADS.
>> RON JOHNSON USED HIS OFFICE
TO SCOOP UP MILLIONS FOR
HIMSELF.
>> MANDELA BARNES SUPPORTS
DEFUNDING THE POLICE.
>> POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR
ELEANOR POWELL SAYS VOTERS
SHOULD BE VERY LEERY OF ANY
ADVERTISING THEY SEE OR THINGS
MAILED TO THEIR HOMES.
>> POLITICAL ADS ARE IN THIS
REALLY FUNNY EXEMPT CATEGORY
WHERE PEOPLE CAN SAY WHATEVER
THEY WANT AND THERE'S NO
OBLIGATION FOR ANYTHING TO BE
FACTUAL.
BUYERS SHOULD BEWARE.
VIEWERS SHOULD BEWARE THAT
JUST BECAUSE IT'S ON TV DOES
NOT MEAN IT'S TRUE.
>> WE KNEW THE OTHER SIDE
WOULD MAKE UP LIES ABOUT ME TO
SCARE YOU.
>> YOU'VE SEEN THE ADS
ATTACKING ME.
THEY'RE ALL LIES.
>> STILL, BOTH CANDIDATES DO
HAVE THEIR CONTROVERSIES.
>> JOHNSON HAS COME UNDER FIRE
FOR SPREADING MISINFORMATION
ABOUT COVID-19 AND A PLAN TO
GIVE THEN-VICE PRESIDENT MIKE
PENCE A FAKE SLATE OF
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.
>> BARNES HAS TAKEN HEAT FOR
PAYING HIS PROPERTY TAXES LATE
AND FOR THE HIGH COST OF HIS
STATE SECURITY DETAIL.
>> CURRENTLY, THE POLITICAL
MAKE-UP OF THE U.S. SENATE
STANDS AT 50 DEMOCRATS, 48
REPUBLICANS, AND 2 INDEPENDENT
SENATORS WHO LEAN LEFT.
GIVEN THAT CLOSE SPLIT, POWELL
SAYS ELECTION RESULTS IN THIS
STATE ARE KEY.
>> THE CONTROL OF THE SENATE
HINGES ON A SORT OF RAZOR-THIN
MAJORITY RIGHT NOW.
HERE ANOTHER WISCONSIN, WE
HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
DETERMINE WHO CONTROLS THE
SENATE.
WISCONSIN COULD BE THE
BALLGAME HERE.
>> IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE
OUTCOME OF THIS RACE, YOU
SHOULD SHOW UP ON ELECTION DAY
BECAUSE WE REALLY DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN.
>> WE TURN NOW TO AN ELECTION
THAT CAN GET OVERSHADOWED BY
THE RACES FOR GOVERNOR
AND U.S. SENATE.
WISCONSIN'S ATTORNEY GENERAL
IS OFTEN CALLED THE STATE'S
TOP COP.
AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE
NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR BOTH THE
INCUMBENT, DEMOCRAT JOSH KAUL,
AND THE CHALLENGER, REPUBLICAN
ERIC TONEY.
BUT WHICH PARTY CONTROLS THE
OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS
A MUCH BIGGER IMPACT ON
OTHER HOT-BUTTON ISSUES LIKE
ABORTION AND ELECTIONS.
>> I THINK PUBLIC SAFETY IS
THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
IT'S BEEN MY TOP PRIORITY
SINCE I TOOK OFFICE, AND IT
CONTINUES TO BE.
>> JOSH KAUL HAS DECIDED
THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE HIS TOP
PRIORITY.
POLITICS HAS BEEN HIS TOP
PRIORITY.
AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED A
PROSECUTOR AND NOT A
POLITICIAN AS OUR TOP COP.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LEADS
WISCONSIN'S DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE.
AND WHILE THAT MAY SOUND
IMPOSING, DOJ IS TYPICALLY NOT
ON THE FRONTLINE OF THE FIGHT
AGAINST CRIME.
THEY OFTEN PLAY A SUPPORT
ROLE, STEPPING IN TO ASSIST
LOCAL POLICE AND COUNTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS WHEN
NEEDED.
>> WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS FOCUS
ON MILWAUKEE COUNTY.
ERIC TONEY WANTS A MORE DIRECT
ROLE.
IF ELECTED, HE PLANS TO ASK
THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE
AUTHORITY TO STEP IN AND
PROSECUTE ANY CASE IN
MILWAUKEE.
>> IT'S EVIDENT THAT WE NEED
MORE RESOURCES AND TO HAVE THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE
ASSIST WITH THAT ON THAT TYPE
OF VIOLENT CRIME.
>> JOSH KAUL SAYS IF THE
LEGISLATURE IS GIVING MORE
AUTHORITY TO THE DOJ, IT
SHOULD APPLY STATEWIDE.
BUT HE ALSO CAN'T THINK OF
CASES WHERE THE MILWAUKEE
COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS
CHOOSING NOT TO PROSECUTE
VIOLENT CRIMINALS.
>> I CAN'T THINK OF EXAMPLES
WHERE, YOU KNOW, DA'S THINK
THAT THERE IS A PROSECUTION
THAT SHOULD BE BROUGHT AND
THEY'RE CHOOSING NOT TO.
FOR THE RECORD, TONEY CAN'T
LIST ANY EXAMPLES OF THAT
EITHER.
BUT HE KNOWS MILWAUKEE HAS A
BUDGET SHORTFALL.
>> THE MAYOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL
THIS YEAR IS FOR LESS POLICE
OFFICERS THAN THE YEAR BEFORE.
AND SO OUR DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE CAN BE A RESOURCE TO
AUGMENT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN
MILWAUKEE WITH DCI AGENTS AND
PROSECUTORS TO ADD MORE TO OUR
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
>> KAUL SAYS THE WAY TO FIGHT
CRIME IS FOR THE LEGISLATURE
TO FULLY FUND SHARED REVENUE
TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, SO THE
CITY OF MILWAUKEE CAN AFFORD
MORE OFFICERS.
>> WHAT WE REALLY NEED,
THOUGH, IS NOT JUST A SHIFT IN
AUTHORITY.
WE NEED TO GET RESOURCES TO
OUR COMMUNITIES.
TONEY SAYS REPUBLICANS IN THE
LEGISLATURE ARE MORE LIKELY TO
FUND HIS DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE THAN INCREASE SHARED
REVENUE TO MILWAUKEE.
>> WHAT WE NEED IS SOMEONE THE
LEGISLATURE TRUSTS TO PARTNER
WITH TO DEPLOY THOSE RESOURCES
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
KAUL SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO
HAVE AN ATTORNEY GENERAL
WILLING TO STAND UP TO
REPUBLICANS IN THE
LEGISLATURE.
ESPECIALLY ON ELECTION ISSUES.
>> THIS IS A CLEAR CONTRAST IN
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE.
IF YOU WANT A CANDIDATE WHO
YOU CAN COUNT ON TO PROTECT
DEMOCRACY, I THINK MY TRACK
RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF AND
MY OPPONENT'S TRACK RECORD
SPEAKS FOR ITSELF IN A VERY
DIFFERENT WAY.
>> KAUL REPRESENTED THE STATE
IN NUMEROUS LAWSUITS FILED
BEFORE AND AFTER THE 2020
ELECTION.
AND SAYS A REPUBLICAN COULDN'T
BE TRUSTED TO DO THE SAME.
>> THAT'S A REAL CONCERN THAT
I HAVE, IS THAT IF THERE IS
REPUBLICAN CONTROL, THAT THEY
WOULD OVERRULE THE WILL OF THE
PEOPLE.
AND I'M WORRIED THAT IF ERIC
TONEY WERE A.G., THAT HE WOULD
POTENTIALLY SUGGEST THAT, YOU
KNOW, FALSELY THAT LAWS WERE
BROKEN, OR THAT THERE WAS
FRAUD.
AND AGAIN, HE HAS SUGGESTED
THAT LAWS WERE BROKEN IN 2020,
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS HAS
BEEN LITIGATED IN CASE AFTER
CASE AFTER CASE.
>> THAT'S INCREDIBLY
DISINGENUOUS AND DISHONEST OF
OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL TO
MAKE STATEMENT LIKE THAT.
ERIC TONEY IS ONE OF THE FEW
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES THIS
ELECTION CYCLE TO CLEARLY
STATE DONALD TRUMP LOST
WISCONSIN IN 2020, AND THAT
THERE WAS NO WIDESPREAD VOTER
FRAUD.
>> I'VE BEEN THE MOST VOCAL
STATEWIDE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE
SAYING WE CANNOT DECERTIFY THE
ELECTION, THAT IT'S NOT
LAWFUL, THAT THERE WAS NOT A
LEVEL OF FRAUD THAT WOULD HAVE
OVERTURNED THE RESULTS OF THE
2020 ELECTION.
>> THAT DOESN'T MEAN TONEY AND
KAUL AGREE ON ELECTION ISSUES.
TONEY SAYS THE MEMBERS OF THE
WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION
COULD HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED FOR
THE GUIDANCE THEY ISSUED TO
LOCAL CLERKS.
>> WEC EXCEEDED THEIR LAWFUL
AUTHORITY AND DIRECTING THESE
CLERKS TO EFFECTIVELY BREAK
WISCONSIN LAW.
>> KAUL SAYS NO MATTER TONEY'S
PRIOR STATEMENTS, HE WOULDN'T
TRUST HIM IN 2024.
>> WHAT WE'VE SEEN, THOUGH, IS
ON ISSUE AFTER ISSUE,
REPUBLICANS IN WISCONSIN HAVE
BEEN UNWILLING TO STAND UP TO
DONALD TRUMP.
TONEY SAYS IN 2024 HE WILL
FOLLOW THE LAW.
>> I WILL ENFORCE THE RULE OF
LAW, NOT JUST WHEN IT'S
POPULAR AND NOT JUST WHEN I
I WILL NOT INJECT MY PERSONAL
LEAVE ON OTHERS ANDLY FOLLOW
THE LAW.
HE SAYS THAT APPLIES TO
ANOTHER AREA OF CONTENTION IN
THIS ELECTION.
ABORTION.
SPECIFICALLY, ENFORCING
WISCONSIN'S 1849 LAW THAT BANS
ALL ABORTION, EXCEPT TO SAVE
THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER.
>> I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR AS A
DA AND AS ATTORNEY GENERAL,
I'M GOING TO ENFORCE THE LAW.
AND RIGHT NOW, THAT MEANS WE
HAVE AN ABORTION BAN ON THE
BOOKS HERE IN WISCONSIN.
AND I WILL ENFORCE THAT AS A
DA AND I WILL ENFORCE AND
DEFEND THAT AS OUR ATTORNEY
GENERAL.
>> JOSH KAUL HAS FILED A
LAWSUIT SEEKING TO OVERTURN
THE 1849 LAW, AND HAS SAID HE
WILL NOT ENFORCE THE LAW AS
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
>> THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE HAS ABOUT 100
INVESTIGATORS, AS WELL AS A
NUMBER OF PROSECUTORS,
PUTTING THOSE RESOURCES
TOWARDS GOING AFTER DOCTORS OR
NURSES OR SPOUSES OR PARENTS
FOR VIOLATING THAT 19TH
CENTURY ABORTION BAN.
ON TOP OF THAT WOULD BE
SHIFTING RESOURCES FROM
PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY.
>> NOT ONLY WOULD TONEY
ENFORCE THE 1849 ABORTION BAN,
HE WOULD ASK THE LEGISLATURE
T ALLOW ADJOINING COUNTIES TO
BRING CASES IF THE LOCAL DA
WON'T PROSECUTE.
>> WE NEED TO GIVE OUR
ATTORNEY GENERAL THE AUTHORITY
TO PROSECUTE.
THEY ALREADY WOULD HAVE THE
TECHNICAL AUTHORITY TO
INVESTIGATE IT.
AND I THINK ANOTHER APPROACH
WOULD BE ALLOWING FOR
ADJOINING COUNTIES TO BE ABLE
TO INVESTIGATE AND ENFORCE
THAT ABORTION BAN IN
WISCONSIN.
>> WHAT WE DO IN WISCONSIN IN
THESE ELECTIONS MAKES SUCH A
BIG DIFFERENCE.
THE MARGINS ARE SMALL, BUT THE
CONSEQUENCES ARE HUGE.
JOSH KAUL THINKS THIS IS THE
TYPE OF ISSUE THAT SWINGS
ELECTIONS AND MAY MAKE THE
DIFFERENCE IN A TIGHT RACE.
>> I DO THINK THAT THIS IS
GOING TO IMPACT THE ELECTION.
I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO
MAY HAVE VOTED REPUBLICAN WHEN
THEY WHEN THEY KNEW THERE WAS
A CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION
FOR ACCESS TO SAFE AND LEGAL
ABORTION, WHO ARE NOW SEEING
HOW EXTREME REPUBLICANS,
INCLUDING MY OPPONENT, ARE ON
THIS ISSUE.
TONEY SAYS IN THE END, IT WILL
COME DOWN TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
>> JOSH KAUL HAS BEEN LOCKSTEP
WITH TONY EVERS, WHERE WE NEED
AN ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT IS
GOING TO STAND WITH OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY AND
THE RULE OF LAW.
STATE-WIDE RACES COULD HINGE
ON THREE KEY NATIONAL VOTING
TRENDS PLAYING OUT IN THE
MILWAUKEE METRO AREA, WHICH IS
HOME TO A LITTLE LESS THAN
HALF OF THE STATE'S VOTERS.
SCOTTIE LEE MEYERS FROM
MILWAUKEE PBS BRINGS US THIS
REPORT.
>> DEANGELA BESTER, THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
CENTER FOR RACIAL AND GENDER
EQUITY, IS ONE OF THE LEAD
ORGANIZERS BEHIND THIS VOTER
REGISTRATION PARTY AT THE
SHERMAN PHOENIX MARKETPLACE.
DEMOCRATS HOPE EVENTS LIKE
THIS COULD LEAD TO HIGHER
TURNOUT AMONG BLACK VOTERS, A
KEY CONSTITUENCY FOR THE
PARTY.
>> SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO
IS JUST, AGAIN, EDUCATE THE
VOTERS HERE IN MILWAUKEE AND
EVEN ACROSS THE STATE ABOUT
MAKING SURE TO REGISTER TO
VOTE, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ALL
THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO
REGISTER TO VOTE.
>> MILWAUKEE'S BLACK VOTER
TURNOUT WAS DOWN IN 2020.
STRICTER VOTING LAWS AND THE
PANDEMIC ARE THE TWO BIG
REASONS EXPERTS OFTEN CITE FOR
THE DECLINE.
THAT'S WHY BESTER AND HIS TEAM
ARE KNOCKING ON A LOT OF DOORS
RIGHT NOW.
>> WE'RE HOPING TO KNOCK ON
ABOUT 40,000 DOORS TOTAL IN
THE STATE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW,
WHEN WE STARTED IN AROUND JUNE
THROUGH ELECTION DAY.
WE WANT TO HAVE AROUND 15,000
CONVERSATIONS WITH VOTERS.
AND WE'RE HOPING TO GET, YOU
KNOW, 70% TURNOUT FOR THE
PEOPLE THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH.
>> REPUBLICANS HAVE LOOKED TO
INCREASE THEIR SUPPORT AMONG
HISPANIC VOTERS WITH A NEW
INITIATIVE CALLED OPERACIÓN
¡VAMOS!, WHICH LAUNCHED IN
SEVERAL KEY SWING STATES
INCLUDING WISCONSIN.
LATINO VOTERS HAVE TYPICALLY
FAVORED DEMOCRATS, BUT NOT
ALWAYS BY WIDE MARGINS.
THEY'RE NOT LEAVING IN DROVES
BUT THERE IS A MEASURABLE
SHIFT.
>> I KNOW THAT HISPANIC VOTERS
HAVE BASICALLY BEEN TAKEN FOR
GRANTED BY DEMOCRATS.
>> U.S. SENATOR RICK SCOTT OF
FLORIDA IS HELPING TO LEAD
THESE OUTREACH EFFORTS, WHICH
HAVE SENT CAMPAIGN WORKERS TO
KNOCK ON DOORS IN
NEIGHBORHOODS IN MILWAUKEE AND
THROUGHOUT THE STATE, TRYING
TO MAKE INROADS WITH
WISCONSIN'S LARGEST MINORITY
GROUP.
>> HISPANIC VOTERS ARE WAY
MORE INCLINED TO VOTE
THEY WANT A BETTER ECONOMIC
MARKET.
THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE
INFLATION. THEY WANT TO LIVE
IN SAFE COMMUNITIES.
IF WE TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES
THAN WE'RE GOING TO WIN
ELECTIONS.
>> DURING OUR INTERVIEW WITH
DEB DASSOW, THE CHAIR OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OZAUKEE
COUNTY, PEOPLE KEPT COMING
INTO THE OFFICE REQUESTING
YARD SIGNS.
YOU'RE PROBABLY SEEING MORE IN
THE AREA THAN EVER BEFORE.
THOUGH STILL RED, OZAUKEE
COUNTY RECENTLY SAW THE
BIGGEST INCREASE IN DEMOCRATIC
VOTERS IN THE STATE.
WAUKESH COUNTY IS SECOND ON
THAT SAME LIST. IT'S PART OF
THE PURPLING OF THE
SUBURBS.
I DO GET A SENSE THAT IT'S
CHANGING. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY
IT'S NOT A
INORMOUS SWING. BUT WE ARE
JUST PICKING UP A COUPLE
PERCENTAGE POINTS EVERY
SINGLE YEAR.
AT THE CENTER OF THIS SURBAN
SWING ARE WOMEN, WHO DASSOW
SAYS HAVE ENERGIZED THE PARTY
AFTER THE OVERTURNING OF ROE
V. WADE.
>> I HAD A WOMAN STOPPED IN
RIGHT AFTER THE DOBBS
DECISION.
SHE CAME
IN WITH HER TWO LITTLE
CHILDREN. SHE HAD ON A “MY
BODY, MY CHOICE” T-SHIRT ON
AND SHE SAID “I'VE NEVER VOTED
FOR A DEMOCRAT BEFORE. I'VE
ALWAYS BEEN A LIBERTARIAN.”
SHE WAS YOUNG.
I'D SAY IN HER THIRTIES.
AND SHE SAID, SHE GOES, “SIGN
ME UP. WHAT CAN I DO?
ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY
NOVEMBER 8.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
I'M ZAC SHULTSDS.
STAY TUNED, COMING UP NEXT IS
OUR REGULAR EPISODE OF "HERE &
NOW" WHERE WE HAVE MORE 2022
ELECTON COVERAGE.
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