>>> Announcer: THE FOLLOWING
PROGRAM IS PART OF THE "HERE
"HERE & NOW" LET'S COVERAGE.
THE HEAVILY CONSTITUTE NATEED
AND ANTICIPATED ELECTION DAY IN
WISCONSIN CAME AND WENT, AND FOR
THE MOST PART, WITHOUT INCIDENT,
REASSURING VOTERS AND OFFICIALS
OF WISCONSIN'S ELECTION PROCESS.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG, AND
TONIGHT, ON "HERE & NOW," ZAC
SCHULTZ BREAKS DOWN TUESDAY'S
RESULTS, AND WE HEAR ANALYSIS
FROM TWO POLITICAL SCIENTISTS
FROM TWO SIDES OF THE STATE, AND
WHAT TUESDAY'S TURNOUT TELLINGS
US ABOUT WISCONSIN'S ELECTORATE.
IT'S "HERE & NOW" FOR
NOVEMBER 11th.
>> Announcer: FUNDING FOR
"HERE & NOW" IS PROVIDED FOR THE
FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND
FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.
?
>> Frederica: TUESDAY'S
MIDTERM ELECTION MAINTAINED
WISCONSIN'S BRAND OF A DIVIDED
STATEWIDE ELECTORATE.
REPUBLICAN U.S. SENATOR, RON
JOHNSON, WON RE-ELECTION WITH A
NARROW VICTORY OVER HIS
OPPONENT.
IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR,
DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT, TONY
EVERS, WON 51% TO 47% OVER THE
REPUBLICAN, TIM MICHAELS.
FOR ATTORNEY GOVERNOR, CALL
DEFEATS ERIC TONY, AND IN THE
ELECTION FOR SECRETARY OF STATE,
DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT HOLDS A .3%
MARGIN OVER HIS REPUBLICAN
CHALLENGER, AMY.
SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER, ZAC
SCHULTZ HAS BROUGHT US COVERAGE
THROUGHOUT THE ELECTION SEASON
AND WAS ON HAND AS THE RESULTS
CAME IN.
[CHANTING]
>> THANK YOU!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
HELLO, WISCONSIN!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> Reporter: IT WAS A LONG
WAIT, BUT WHEN GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS TOOK TO THE STAGE JUST
BEFORE 1:00 A.M. WEDNESDAY
MORNING, HE DECLARED VICTORY
WITH ONE OF HIS FAVORITE
SAYINGS.
>> HOLY MACKEREL, FOLKS, HOW
ABOUT THAT?
>> Reporter: HE RELIES ON HIS
STYLE.
>> THAT'S WHO I AM AND ALWAYS
BEEN.
SOME CALL IT BORING, BUT
WISCONSIN, AS IT TURNS OUT,
BORING WINS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> Reporter: GIVING CREDIT TO
SUPERCHARGED TURNOUT AMONG YOUNG
VOTERS, ESPECIALLY COLLEGE
STUDENTS, AND DEMOCRATS WHO WERE
MOTIVATED BY THE ISSUE OF
ABORTION RIGHTS.
>> SHOWED UP FOR EACH OTHER, YOU
SHOWED UP FOR THE REPRODUCTIVE
RIGHTS AND FREEDOM FOR YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THE FREEDOM FOR YOU AND YOUR
NEIGHBORS TO MAKE THEIR OWN
HEALTHCARE DECISIONS WITHOUT
HAVING TO ASK ME OR ANY OTHER
ELECTED OFFICIAL.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> Reporter: ACROSS THE STATE
IN MILWAUKEE, EVERS' FORMER
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, BARNES, WAS
NOT ABLE TO CELEBRATE IN THE
U.S. SENATE RACE.
HE CONSISTENTLY UNDERPERFORMED
EVERS' MARGINS BY ABOUT 2%, AND
HIS SUPPORTERS WERE SENT OFF
WITH BARNES TRAILING INCUMBENT
REPUBLICAN RON JOHNSON.
>> OUR ELECTIONS HAVE RAZOR THIN
MARGINS, AND THIS U.S. SENATE
RACE IS NO DIFFERENT.
THIS RACE IS FAR TOO CLOSE TO
CALL TONIGHT.
>> Reporter: AND JOHNSON SENT
SUPPORTERS HOME WITH MORE
OPTIMISM.
>> WE LOOKED VERY CLOSELY AT THE
NUMBERS.
WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT
THERE'S NO WAY THAT THEY CAN
REALLY MAKE UP THAT GAP, BUT,
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT -- I'M NOT
GOING TO, YOU KNOW, DECLARE
VICTORY UNTIL ALL THE NUMBERS
ARE IN, BUT I JUST WANTED TO
GIVE YOU GUYS THE SENSE THAT
THIS RACE IS OVER, YOU KNOW.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> Reporter: BY NOON ON
WEDNESDAY, BARNES WAS READY TO
CONCEDE.
>> NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, WE DIDN'T
GET TO THE FINISH LINE THIS
TIME, BUT THE MOVE MEANT SO MUCH
TO ALL OF US WHERE JUST BECAUSE
WE DIDN'T CROSS THE FINISH LINE,
IT DOES NOT MEAN IT'S OVER.
>> Reporter: BETWEEN THE
GUBERNATORIAL AND SENATE RACE,
CANDIDATES IN GROUPS SPENT MORE
THAN $3 00 MILLION, AND VOTERS
WERE FLOODED WITH NONSTOP
NEGATIVE ADS.
JOHNSON WAS ONLY TALKING ABOUT
HIS RACE, BUT HIS COMMENTS ON
ELECTION NIGHT SEEMED TO SUM UP
THE CURRENT POLITICAL
ENVIRONMENT.
>> IT'S A LITTLE DEPRESSING,
ISN'T IT?
THAT LIES ARE THAT EFFECTIVE,
AND IF YOU EVER WONDER, QUITE
HONESTLY, WHY MORE GOOD PEOPLE
DON'T RUN FOR OFFICE, I WOULD
JUST RECOMMEND PEOPLE LOOK AT
THE WISCONSIN U.S. SENATE RACE
IN YEAR 2022.
>> Reporter: MEANWHILE, BACK
IN MADISON, THE SELF-DESCRIBED
BORING TONY EVERS WAS READY TO
DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY TO
CELEBRATE FOUR MORE YEARS IN
OFFICE.
>> WE'RE GOING TO POLKA TONIGHT
AND GET BACK TO WORK TOMORROW.
THANK YOU, WISCONSIN, WE LOVE
YOU!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> Reporter: REPORTING FROM
MADISON, I'M ZAC SCHULTZ, FOR
"HERE & NOW." >> Frederica: SO
GOVERNOR EVERS DANCED THE
ELECTION NIGHT AWAY AND HIT THE
CODE FOR A VICTORY TOUR OF K-12
SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE.
STUDENTS VISITED THIS WEEK WERE
MOSTLY TOO YOUNG TO VOTE, BUT
OUR NEXT GUEST SAYS THE YOUTH
VOTE THIS PAST TUESDAY WAS A KEY
TO EVERS' WIN.
AMBER WICHOWSKY IS PROFESSOR OF
POLITICAL SCIENCE AT MARQUETTE
UNIVERSITY AND DIRECTOR OF THE
MARQUETTE DEMOCRACY LAB.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> Frederica: SO YOU GOT A LOT
OF OTHER TAKEAWAYS FROM
TUESDAY'S ELECTION, BUT THE
YOUTH VOTE STANDS OUT FOR YOU.
WHY?
>> YEAH.
ABSOLUTELY.
THERE'S A QUESTION HEADING INTO
TUESDAY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE
HIGH TURNOUT AND DEEP CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT SEEN AMONG GEN-Z
VOTERS WOULD CONTINUE THIS
ELECTION.
THERE'S POLLING DATA SUGGESTING
THAT YOUNGER VOTERS WERE NOT AS
ENTHUSIASTIC THIS TIME AROUND,
BUT TUESDAY, WE SAW THAT IN MANY
PLACES LIKE WISCONSIN, YOUNG
VOTERS TURNED OUT AT RELATIVELY
HIGH RATES.
I SAY "RELATIVELY" BECAUSE
YOUNGER VOTERS VOTE AT LOWER
RATES THAN OLDER VOTES, BUT IT'S
ESTIMATED APPROXIMATELY 27% OF
18-YEAR-OLDS TO 29-YEAR-OLDS
VOTED ON TUESDAY IN STATES LIKE
WISCONSIN, PENNSYLVANIA,
MICHIGAN, AND THESE ARE STATES
WHERE THERE WERE ISSUES THAT
VERY MUCH ARE BEING DEBATED, ON
THE BALLOT IN SOME CASES, AND
THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ANIMATING
YOUNG VOTERS, AND WE ARE SEEING
THEM CONTINUE TO TURN OUT.
>> Frederica: SPEAKING OF THE
ISSUES, WHAT WERE THE ISSUES
THAT BROUGHT YOUNGER PEOPLE TO
THE POLLS COMPARED TO OLDER
VOTERS?
>> YEAH.
ONE ISSUE THAT STANDS OUT IS
ABORTION.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT PUBLIC
OPINION DATA HEADING INTO
TUESDAY, ABORTION WAS MORE
LIKELY TO BE IDENTIFIED AS A TOP
ISSUE FOR YOUNGER VOTERS, AND
YOUNGER VOTERS ARE ALSO MORE
LIKELY TO CITE CLIMATE CHANGE AS
AN ISSUE OF PRESSING CONCERN FOR
THEM.
THEY ARE SLIGHTLY LESS LIKELY TO
SAY THINGS LIKE INFLATION, AND,S
THAT TEND TO BOTH ADVANTAGE
REPUBLICANS AND TO ANIMATE OLDER
VOTER, AND SO THAT THE ISSUE
WITH GEN-Z IS NOT JUST THEIR
RATES OF PARTICIPATION, WHICH
THEY ARE CIVICALLY ENGAGED
GENERATION, BUT THIS IS A
GENERATION BREAKING FOR
DEMOCRATS, SO THEY ARE VOTING
3-1 FOR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES,
AND THAT TOGETHER, DELIVERS
VOTES FOR EVERS HERE IN
WISCONSIN.
>> Frederica: SO IF THE YOUTH
VOTE WAS A KEY TO EVERS' WIN,
WHY NOT LIFT BARNES TO THE SAME
EXTENT?
>> YEAH.
FIRST, I WANT TO QUALIFY YOUTH
VOTE.
THERE'S SOME REALLY IMPORTANT
DISTINCTIONS WITHIN THE YOUTH
VOTE.
ONE IS THAT YOUNG VOTERS OF
COLOR ARE MORE LIKELY TO VOTE
DEMOCRATIC COMPARED TO THEIR
WHITE GEN-Z VOTERS, SO THERE'S A
RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIFFERENCE.
WE HAVE A GENDER GAP AND A
COLLEGE DIVIDE AS WELL.
SO, IT IS NOT THAT JUST ALL
YOUNG VOTERS TURN OUT, BUT IT IS
THOSE IN COLLEGE OR COLLEGE
EDUCATED.
NOW, IF WE LOOK AT THE MAP HERE
IN WISCONSIN TO UNDERSTAND WHERE
WERE THE PLACES, AND WHERE ARE
THE VOTERS WHO WERE SWITCHING
THEIR TICKET, SPLITTING THEIR
TICKETS, EXCUSE ME, BETWEEN
EVERS AND JOHNSON?
THESE TENDED TO BE PLACES WHERE
REPUBLICANS DID BETTER.
IT'S NOT A PERFECT CORRELATION,
BUT IN PLACES OF THE STATE WHERE
REPUBLICANS DID BETTER, YOU WERE
MORE LIKELY TO SEE VOTERS SPLIT
THEIR TICKETS.
PLACES THAT HAVE BEEN THE
DEMOCRATIC STRONGHOLDS,
MILWAUKEE, DANE COUNTY, YOU SAW
LESS TICKETS, BUT YOU SAW SOME,
BUT ADD THE VOTES TOGETHER, THAT
MEN BARNES HELPED CLOSE THE GAP,
BUT NOT ENOUGH TO WIN ON
TUESDAY.
SO, 2022 IS GOING TO COME DOWN
TO AN ELECTION WHERE WE DON'T
HAVE A CLEAR NARRATIVE COMING
FROM THE ELECTION.
THERE WERE SO MANY FACTORS AT
PLAY ACROSS BOTH THE STATE AS
WELL AS THE COUNTRY.
>> Frederica: WELL, AS
DIRECTOR OF YOUR DEMOCRACY LAB,
YOU ENGAGE WITH MARQUETTE
STUDENTS ON THE KIND OF
RUDIMENTS OF VOTING, LIKE, WHAT
YOU NEED TO DO, WHERE TO GO,
ISSUES.
DID THAT HAVE AN IMPACT IN THE
LAST ELECTION, HAVE YOU FOUND?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO, WE'RE STILL DIGGING INTO THE
DATA, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT WARD
LEVEL DATA HERE IN THE MILWAUKEE
COUNTY, TURNOUT IN MILWAUKEE
COUNTY WAS DOWN A LITTLE BIT
COMPARED TO 2018.
PLACES WHERE WE SAW TURNOUTS, IN
SOME CASES, THE PERCENTAGE OF
REGISTERED VOTERS INCREASED WERE
ACTUALLY NEAR COLLEGE CAMPUSES
INCLUDING HERE IN THE WARDS
AROUND MARQUETTE, SO SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT WE DO ARE JUST
EDUCATING STUDENTS ABOUT WHAT
THEY NEED TO VOTE, WHAT IS THEIR
PROOF OF RESIDENCY, WHAT PHOTO
ID DO THEY NEED, AND WHERE'S
THEIR POLLING LOCATION?
IN MILWAUKEE, IN A CYCLE, OUR
POLLING LOCATIONS SHIFTED
SOMEWHAT BECAUSE OF
REDISTRICTING SO WE MADE SURE
STUDENTS KNEW WHERE THEIR
POLLING LOCATIONS WERE.
IF STUDENTS MOVED IN THE LAST
TIME THEY VOTED, STUDENTS NEEDED
TO KNOW THEY NEEDED TO
RE-REGISTER.
YOUNG VOTERS OFTEN HAD SOME
ADDITIONAL HURDLES TO OVERCOME
IN TERMS OF VOTING, AND SO WE
WANTED TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS
WERE INFORMED AND EMPOWERED TO
EXERCISE VOTING RIGHTS TUESDAY.
>> Frederica: WITH LESS THAN A
MINUTE LEFT, YOU'VE ALSO SAID
THAT TUESDAY'S RESULTS SHOW THIS
IS NOT A STATE WHERE DONALD
TRUMP CAN COME IN AND RECREATE
2016.
WHY NOT?
>> WELL, ABSOLUTELY.
LOOK AT THE SUBURBAN COUNTIES
OUT OF MILWAUKEE.
THESE USED TO BE THE REPUBLICAN
STRONGHOLDS, AND EVERS, WE SAW
IT IN 2018, 2020, AND THE
QUESTION WAS CHOMPING OUT ON THE
BALLOT, AND TRUMP NOT IN THE
RACE, WITH THOSE VOTERS CONTINUE
TO VOTE DEMOCRATS, AT LEAST AT
SOMEWHAT HIGHER MARGINS THAN
HISTORICALLY, AND FOR THOSE
REASONS INCLUDING AREAS AROUND
GREEN BAY, THE NUMBER OF VOTES
COMING OUT OF DANE COUNTY, OUT
OF MILWAUKEE, THOSE SHIFTING
MARGINS, IT'S JUST NOT A STATE
THAT TRUMP WILL LIKELY BE ABLE
TO WIN.
>> Frederica: ART, AMBER
WICHOWSKY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> Frederica: AS TO THE
EVERS/JOHNSON VOTERS IN
WISCONSIN, A KEY PART OF THE
JOHNSON PLAYBOOK WERE ATTACK
ADDS AGAINST BARNES CALLING HIM
"DIFFERENT" AND "DANGEROUS," ARE
THEY TIPPING TO THE INCUMBENT
SENATOR?
WHO PEOPLE WHO WORK TO GET OUT
THE VOTE FOR BARNES REGARD THE
MESSAGES, ESPECIALLY IN
MILWAUKEE VILIFIED FOR CRIME.
WE TALK WITH ANGELA LANG,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BLACK
LEADERS ORGANIZING FOR
COMMUNITIES, AND THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> Frederica: HOW DO YOU
REGARD THOSE ATTACK ADS AGAINST
BARNES?
>> THEY WERE TERRIBLE.
THEY WERE VILE.
THEY WERE REALLY HARD TO WATCH.
I THINK FOR -- I KNOW ME
PERSONALLY AND OTHER FOLKS, IF
WE CAN TALK TO OUR OWN
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR THIS WAY,
HOW DO THE REST FEEL ABOUT THE
BLACK COMMUNITY AND OTHERS HE
SHOULD HAVE BEEN COURTING
INSTEAD OF VILIFYING, IT WAS
HORRIBLE AND TERRIFYING AND HARD
TO WATCH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
ENCOURAGING TO SEE BARNES REMAIN
GRACEFUL IN HANDLING THAT AND
NOT STOOP TO THEIR LEVEL.
>> Frederica: WHAT'S THE
RESPONSE TO THE LEVEL THAT
BARNES DID NOT DO ENOUGH TO
DEFEND AGAINST THEM?
>> I THINK IT'S COMPLICATED.
I THINK ON ONE HAND, ANYTHING HE
PROBABLY WOULD HAVE DONE WOULD
HAVE BEEN SEEN AS WEAPONIZED AND
FURTHER SEEN AS THE ANGRY BLACK
MAN AND THAT'S WHY YOU SAW HIM
MAKING PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY
SANDWICHES.
HIS HUMANITY WAS STRIPPED
BECAUSE OF THE ADS, AND BEING A
BLACK PERSON, ESPECIALLY RUNNING
A STATEWIDE -- FOR STATEWIDE
OFFICE, YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL
TO NOT FURTHER FAN THOSE FLAMES,
AND PEOPLE ASK, WOULD I HAVE
PERSONALLY DONE SOMETHING
DIFFERENT?
ABSOLUTELY!
THAT'S WHY I'M NOT THE
CANDIDATE.
I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT FOR, I
THINK, MOST OF US TO HANDLE IT
IN THE WAY HE DID WITH SUCH
GRACE.
>> Frederica: DO YOU THINK
THOSE WHO VOTED FOR EVERS AND
NOT FOR BARNES WERE FRIGHTENED
AS DESIGNED BY THAT MESSAGING?
>> I'M VERY CURIOUS TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE VOTERS
TO SEE IF PEOPLE FOCUS GROUPED
THEM OR WHAT HAVE YOU, AND
ULTIMATELY, I CAN'T THINK OF ANY
OTHER REASON FOR THE VOTERS TO
EXIST OTHER THAN RACISM AND FEAR
MONGERING, AND I THINK THAT'S
REALLY SAD AND REALLY TRAGIC
THAT SOME PEOPLE CAN'T GET PAST
THEIR OWN RACISM, BUT WE HAVE
ALL OF THE CHALLENGES ON THE
LINE AND UNDERSTANDING HOW RON
JOHNSON IS VERY HARMFUL TO THE
COMMUNITIES AND FOR WHATEVER
REASON, THAT SEEMED TO TAKE A
BACKSEAT IN TERMS OF RACISM FOR
THE FOLKS.
>> Frederica: HOW DOES THAT
SPEAK TO THE RACIAL POLARIZATION
IN WISCONSIN?
>> I THINK IT SHOWS WE HAVE A
LOT OF WORK TO CONTINUE TO DO.
I KNOW IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS
SINCE THE MURDERS OF TAYLOR AND
FLOYD, THERE'S MORE
CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING, AND
CONVERSATIONS NEED TO CONTINUE.
I THINK WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A
RACIAL RECKONING THAT WE HAVE TO
CONTINUE TO DIG INTO, AND I
THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AWHILE
BEFORE THIS COMMUNITY AND STATE
AND COUNTRY AS A WHOLE COMES
TOGETHER AND ACTUALLY SAYS WE
DEMAND BETTER AND ALL
COMMUNITIES DESERVE TO THRIVE
AND HAVE DIGNITY AND NOT HAVE
THIS RACIST RHETORIC, BUT I
THINK IT STARTS BY CONTINUING TO
HAVE CONVERSATIONS.
>> Frederica: YOU SAID
"FOLLOWING THE BARNES DEFEAT
THAT, QUOTE, PROGRESSIVES THAT
DECIDED THE ELECTABILITY WHISPER
CAMPAIGN IN THE PRIMARY, YOU ALL
ARE PARTLY TO BLAME, "WHAT'S
THAT ABOUT?
>> YEAH.
I THINK WE SAW, YOU KNOW, I
WON'T MENTION THE CAMPAIGNS, BUT
WE SAW CAMPAIGNS IN THE PRIMARY
KIND OF AMPLIFY THE DOG WHISTLE
POLITICS, CALLING HIM EXTREME
GIVEN HIS ENDORSEMENTS OR
TALKING ABOUT THE TAX RECORD.
THINGS THAT REPUBLICANS WOULD
TALK ABOUT, BUT THESE WERE HIS
OPPONENTS AND CHALLENGERS IN THE
PRIMARY, AND I THINK BY HAVING
DOG WHISTLES, AND KIND OF GOING
UNCHECKED IN SOME CASES, REALLY
PROVIDED AN OPENING FOR THE
REPUBLICANS TO HAVE THEIR VILE
MESSAGES AS WELL IN THE GENERAL
ELECTION.
>> Frederica: THERE WAS A
DECREASE IN VOTER TURNOUT IN
MILWAUKEE COUNTY WHICH SAW
SOMETHING LIKE 47,000 A FEWER
VOTES THAN IN 2018 IN THE U.S.
SENATE RACE.
NOT FOR LACK OF EFFORT.
WE KNOW.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?
>> YEAH.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE STILL GOING TO
BE DIGGING INTO THE NUMBERS AND
FIGURING OUT WHAT HAPPENED, BUT
WE ALSO KNOW, TOO, THAT WE'RE
GETTING REPORTS THAT HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE JUST EVEN IN SOME POLLING
PLACES WERE TURNED AWAY DUE TO
HAVING THE WRONG POLLING
LOCATION BECAUSE OF
REDISTRICTING, AND THEIR POLLING
PLACE MOVED.
DID THE PEOPLE TURNED AWAY ABLE
TO GET TO THE CORRECT POLLING
PLACE TO VOTE?
WE HEARD REPORTS OF THAT, AND,
YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HEARD SOME
REPORTS OF PEOPLE HAVING
CHILDCARE ISSUES BECAUSE MDS WAS
CLOSED, NOT SAYING THAT'S ALL OF
THE REASONS, BUT I THINK WE HAVE
TO LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE THINGS
THAT ARE NOT NORMALLY TALKED
ABOUT TO REALLY KIND OF PUT THE
PIECES TOGETHER OF A PUZZLE OF
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED, BUT IT
GOES TO SHOW THERE'S MORE WORK
TO DO FOR THE SPRING ELECTIONS
NEXT YEAR.
>> Frederica: BRIEFLY, LOOKING
AHEAD TO THE NEXT STATEWIDE
RACE, RACE FOR SUPREME COURT.
WHY IS THAT ELECTION IN YOUR
SIGHTS?
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
SEVERAL REASONS.
OUR TEAM FEELS VERY STRONGLY
THAT, ONE, WE COULD FLIP THE
IDEOLOGY OF THE COURT AWAY FROM
THE CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY.
THE COURT IMPACTS THINGS LIKE
BALLOT DROP BOXES AND VOTING ON
ELECTION DAY AND THINGS LIKE
THAT, AND IT IS ALSO AN
OPPORTUNITY, WE HAVE MADE AN
ENDORSEMENT TO ELECT OUR FIRST
BLACK JUSTICE IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN, AND EVERETT MITCHELL.
WE ARE EXCITED TO BE A PART OF
HISTORY AND UNDERSTAND, TOO,
WHAT'S AT STAKE FOR THE REST OF
THE STATE IF WE ARE ABLE TO FLIP
THAT SEAT.
>> Frederica: ANGELA LANG,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> Frederica: IN WISCONSIN'S
3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, A
TRUMP-ENDORSED REPUBLICAN,
DERRICK VAN ORDEN, IS HEADED TO
WASHINGTON.
WEEKS BEFORE THE ELECTION,
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY
FUNDERS POLLED SUPPORT FROM THE
CANDIDATE, PFAFF.
DID THEY WIN BY REDIRECTING
MONEY?
WE TURNED TO THE POLITICAL
SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT UW-LA
CROSSE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AS TO THE QUESTIONS, DID THE
DEMOCRATS' HOUSE MAJORITY PACK
MISCALCULATE HERE?
>> YES.
THE RACE WAS MUCH CLOSER THAN
EXPECTED, AND IN MOST CLOSE
CONGRESSIONAL RACES, THE
POLITICAL PARTIES AND THE
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES GET
HEAVILY INVOLVED TO ASSIST THE
CANDIDATES.
WHAT WAS SO STRIKING ABOUT THIS
RACE WAS THE LACK OF PARTY
SUPPORT AND LACK OF SUPPORT FROM
THOSE KEY POLITICAL ACTION
COMMITTEES IN HELPING BRAD
PFAFF, THE DEMOCRAT.
I THINK DEMOCRATS BOTH WITHIN
THE PARTY AND KEY POLITICAL
ACTION COMMITTEES CLEARLY
MISCALCULATED.
THEY CLEARLY DID NOT EXPECT THE
RACE TO BE AS CLOSE AS IT WAS
BECAUSE AS A POLITICAL
SCIENTIST, MY EXPECTATION IS
THAT WHEN A RACE IS CLOSE,
YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE PARTY
HEAVILY INVOLVED, THE PACs
HEAVILY INVOLVED, AND THAT DID
NOT HAPPEN.
CLEARLY, THERE WAS A DISCONNECT
IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ABOUT
THE STATE OF THE RACE.
>> Frederica: DO YOU FEEL AS
THOUGH THEIR CALCULATIONS WERE
BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED IN THE
LAST ELECTION FOR THIS SEAT?
>> HAVE POSSIBLE.
AFTER ALL, RON KIND, LONG-TIME
INCUMBENT FROM THE DISTRICT, HAD
THE CLOSEST ELECTION OF HIS
CAREER WHEN HE RAN AGAINST
DERRICK VAN ORDEN IN 2020.
IT WAS JUST A THREE-POINT MARGIN
OF VICTORY FOR KIND.
PLUS, WE HAD SEEN SOME
INDICATIONS IN PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS THAT THIS AREA IN
WESTERN WISCONSIN WAS DRIFTING
AWAY FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
DEMOCRATS MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN A
BIG HUNG UP ON THOSE RESULTS,
THE CLOSER THAN EXPECTED RESULT
IN 2020, THE PRESIDENTIAL
RESULTS, AND MAYBE WRITTEN OFF
THIS DISTRICT A LITTLE MORE THAN
THEY SHOULD HAVE.
IN RETROSPECT, IT WAS A MISTAKE
ON THEIR PART, AND THEY MAY HAVE
TO HAVE A COURSE CORRECTION IN
2024 TO REGROUP IN THE AREA.
>> Frederica: SO, HOW DO TRUMP
REPUBLICANS, LIKE DERRICK VAN
ORDEN, POTENTIALLY HAVE TO
MODERATE POLITICALLY?
>> IT'S A FASCINATING ISSUE,
FREDERICA.
VOTERS TEND TO VOTE THE
CANDIDATE A BIT MORE THAN THE
PARTY, SO MR. VAN ORDEN'S
POLITICAL STRATEGY AS A MEMBER
OF CONGRESS WILL BE FASCINATING
TO WATCH.
>> Frederica: ALL RIGHT,
ANTHONY CHERGOSKY, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Frederica: TO SEE EXTENDED
INTERVIEW WITH PROFESSOR ANTHONY
CHERGOSKY, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
PBSWISCONSIN.ORG/NEWS.
SO THE RED TSUNAMI DID NOT
MATERIALIZE.
TONY EVERS WON AND SO DID RON
JOHNSON.
HOW TO PARTISANS FEEL ABOUT THE
RESULTS?
WE TURN TO THE POLITICAL
PANELIST, BILL McCOSHEN, A
CONSULTANT, AND DEMOCRAT, SCOT
ROSS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Frederica: WHAT'S YOUR
REACTION,, AND SKOT, TO THE
ELECTION?
>> EVERS' MANDATE NOW MEANS WE
MOVE FORWARD.
DEMOCRACY WAS ON THE THE BALLOT,
ABORTION, AND FREEDOM ON THE
BALLOT, AND THE PEOPLE RESPONDED
AND SAID THEY WANTED THE
DEMOCRATIC WAY.
THEY WANTED EVERS IN THERE TO
MAKE SURE FREEDOMS ARE
PROTECTED.
WE'LL HAVE FREE AND FAIR
ELECTIONS FROM NOW ON.
LET'S SEE IF THE REPUBLICANS CAN
JOIN US IN THE MANDATE AND MOVE
THE STATE FORWARD.
>> Frederica: BILL, WHAT WAS
YOUR ANSWER?
>> LIKE A YOUTH SOCCER
TOURNAMENT, EVERYONE GOT A
TROPHY, REPUBLICANS WON THE
SENATE RACE, TREASURER'S RACE,
3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT,
AND GOT SEATS IN THE ASSEMBLY
AND SENATE.
THERE ARE BIG WINS ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE ON TUESDAY NIGHT
AS WELL.
GRANTED, THERE WERE SOME
SIGNIFICANT DEMOCRATIC WINS.
LOSING THE GOVERNORSHIP AND AG'S
RACE, AND THIS POLITICAL CLIMATE
IS A MASSIVE MISSED OPPORTUNITY
FOR REPUBLICANS.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
>> Frederica: YOU SPOKE, BILL,
TO LESSONS LEARNED AFTER THE
DEFEAT OF YOUR CANDIDATE, TIM
MICHAELS, LIKE WHAT?
>> WELL, I THINK, NUMBER ONE, IS
MONEY, RIGHT?
YOU NEED MONEY, ORGANIZATION,
AND MESSAGE TO WIN STATEWIDE,
AND, YOU KNOW, TIM WAS MASSIVELY
OUTSPENT, AND AT THE END OF THE
DAY, MONEY MATTERS.
YOU CAN'T GET OUTSPENT
$12 MILLION TO $20 MILLION AND
HOPE TO COMPETE IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
I THINK THAT WAS ONE THING.
ON THE GROUND, I GIVE DEMOCRATS
THE CREDIT.
THEY ACTUALLY HAD A VERY
STRATEGIC GROUND,
MICROTARGETTING EFFORT ON CAMPUS
ACROSS THE STATE, WHICH,
FRANKLY, MADE THE 3rd
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CLOSER
THAN MOST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE
AND TARGET THE YOUNG PEOPLE ON
ABORTION.
GEN-Z IS THE ONLY DEMOGRAPHIC
THAT VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS IN
OVERWHELMING NUMBERS TUESDAY
NIGHT.
EVERYONE ELSE VOTED REPUBLICAN.
DEMOCRATS UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY
WERE AND HOW TO IDENTIFY THEM
AND GET THEM OUT.
>> Frederica: YOU SPOKE TO THE
IDEAS OF DANE COUNTY AS THE
POWER HOUSE, WHICH, PERHAPS,
THAT CAME PAIN, THE TIM
MICHAELS' CAMPAIGN, DID NOT PAY
ATTENTION TO.
>> I'M A BROKEN RECORD ON THIS
AND SAID IT FOR 20 YEARS.
WHEN MARK NEWMAN LOSS IN 1998 BY
90,000 VOTES, BELLS SHOULD HAVE
BEEN GOING OFF FOR EVERY
REPUBLICAN.
THEY WERE NOT.
EVERS BEAT MICHAELS BY 173,000
VOTES TUESDAY NIGHT, ABOUT
INSURMOUNTABLE.
RON JOHNSON WAS ABLE TO OVERCOME
IT IN LARGE MEASURE DEFINING
BARNES ON THE TERMS HE WANTED
HIM DEFINED.
WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT, BUT
DANE COUNTY NEEDS TO BE A HIGHER
PRIORITY FOR REPUBLICANS IF THEY
EVER WANT TO WIN THE
GOVERNORSHIP AGAIN.
>> Frederica: SCOT, YOUR TAKE
AWAY FOR THE CLOSE LOSS?
>> REASON DANE COUNTY VOTES
DEMOCRAT DEMOCRATIC IS THEY
REFLECT THE VALUES, AND
REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
CHANGE STRIPES TO MAKE END ROADS
IN DANE COUNTY.
STARTING THERE.
VERY DISAPPOINTING.
YOU KNOW, BARNES KEPT HANGING
WITH WISCONSIN, AND IT IS
UNFORTUNATE WHAT HAPPENED,
WHICH, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT
THE MONEY, BARNES OUTSPENT BY
$29 MILLION.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN, YOU KNOW,
UNDERSTATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
DIANE AND THE LINES.
THEY GOT $500 MILLION FROM RON
JOHNSON IN A PERSONAL TAX BREAK
EXTORTED PUBLICLY FOR THEM AND
WENT ON TO BASICALLY FINANCE
HALF OF THE EFFORT, YOU KNOW,
AGAINST BARNES FOR RON JOHNSON.
I THINK THAT'S JUST SHOCKING.
>> Frederica: IN MILWAUKEE
COUNTY, TURNOUT WAS DOWN FROM
2018.
WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?
>> I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW,
YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU GET
VOTERS OUT TO THE POLLS.
MILWAUKEE DOES A GOOD JOB OF IT.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU ARE
SHORT, THOUGH, AND I THINK, YOU
KNOW, DEPENDING ON THE BREEZE,
YOU KNOW, THIS WAS THE CLOSEST
SENATE RACE I CAN REMEMBER OR --
>> FIRST TIME IN HISTORY BOTH
STATEWIDE RACES WITHIN 3%.
FIRST TIME IN HISTORY.
>> AND WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO
1998 FOR A U.S. SENATE RACE THAT
CLOSE, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK
IF THE BREEZE BLOWS DIFFERENT ON
ELECTION DAY, BARNES IS U.S.
SENATOR ELECT.
>> THREE OF US ARE OLD ENOUGH TO
REPUBLICAN WHEN WISCONSIN SPLIT
THE TICKET A LOT.
IN THE 1990s A LOT, 1998,
GOVERNOR WON WITH 60%, AND
FINEGOLD BEAT NEWMAN.
>> ONLY BY 37,000 VOTES.
>> THAT WAS THE LAST TIME, 24
YEARS AGO SPLITTING THE TICKET
AT THE TOP.
>> Frederica: YOU TALKED ABOUT
REPUBLICANS, BILL, FINDING A
DIFFERENT CANDIDATE TO APPEAL TO
SUBURBAN VOTERS.
IS IT THE ALLURE OF DONALD TRUMP
OVER?
>> I THINK IT'S OVER.
I THINK THE PARTY'S READY TO
LOOK FORWARD, NOT BACKWARDS,
AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFUL PRESIDENT
TRUMP DOES NOT ANNOUNCE FOR THE
WHITE HOUSE NEXT WEEK BECAUSE I
THINK THAT DISRUPTS WHAT'S GOING
ON IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA, AND
I THINK GEORGIA SHOULD BE
REPUBLICAN'S SOLE FOCUS FOR NEXT
30 DAYS, AND ANYTHING IN THE WAY
OF THAT SHOULD BE SHUNNED BY
VOTERS, AND I THINK YOU SEE HIS
RECENT ATTACK ON RON DeSANTIS
THIS WEEK THAT REPUBLICANS ARE
PUSHING BACK IN A BIG WAY.
I -- DONALD TRUMP MAY, IN FACT,
GET IN THE RACE, BUT IT'S NOT A
GIVEN HE'S THE NOMINEE.
>> Frederica: SCOT, HOW DO
DEMOCRATS RECLAIM SUPPORT OF
RURAL VOTERS?
>> THEY HAD IT IN LA CROSSE AND
O'CLAIRE, CARRYING A LOT OF THE
COUNTIES, YOU KNOW, THAT HE
CARRIED LAST TIME.
I DON'T THINK DEMOCRATS HAVE A
RURAL REPUBLICAN, BUT
REPUBLICANS HAVE A SUBURBAN
PROBLEM, THE DARK RED WOW
COUNTIES ARE MOVING TOWARDS
DEMOCRATS, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S
WHERE WE ARE AT.
>> Frederica: I JUST WANT TO
SPIN NOW TO THE NEXT BIG RACE IN
WISCONSIN, STATE SUPREME COURT
RACE.
WHAT'S THE STAKES, BILL?
>> HUGE.
4-3 CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY, BRIAN
SWINGS BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN
THE TWO BLOCKS OF THREE, AND SO
IT'S NOT DECIDEDLY CONSERVATIVE.
THIS IS A CONSERVATIVE SEAT
THAT'S UP, AND I THINK THE
STAKES ARE VERY, VERY HIGH, AND
THERE'S AT LEAST ONE
CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE IN
ALREADY, FORMER SUPREME COURT
JUSTICE DAN KELLY, FAIRLY
CONFIDENT THERE'S GOING TO BE
ANOTHER POSSIBLY JUDGE DORREL
BEFORE THE END OF NOVEMBER.
>> Frederica: SCOT?
>> COUPLE THINGS, ONE, BRIAN'S
DONE WITH HIS SWING DANCE PARTY,
LIKE, IT'S OVER, HE'S WITH THE
REPUBLICANS FROM HERE ON NOW.
SECOND THING IS, PROGRESSIVES
HAVE AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY,
EVER SINCE MIKE GABLEMAN WON IN
2008, THE SUPREME COURT'S BEEN
CONTROLLED BY REPUBLICANS.
YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS HAVE A
FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK THEY'LL SEIZE IT.
I DON'T THINK ANY OTHER ROM
REPUBLICANS GET IN.
>> Frederica: WE LEAVE IT
THERE, BILL McCOSHEN, SCOT
ROSS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Frederica: FOR MORE ON THIS
AND OTHER ISSUES, GO TO
PBSWISCONSIN.ORG AND CLICK ON
THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
?
>> Announcer: FUNDING FOR
"HERE & NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE
FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND
FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.