HAVE A DRAMATIC IMPACT ON WHAT
HAPPENS THE NEXT TWO YEARS AT
THE STATE CAPITOL, INCLUDING
ISSUES LIKE REDISTRICTING,
POLICE REFORM AND THE STATE
GRAND JURY.
16 OF WISCONSIN'S 33 STATE
SENATE DISTRICTS ARE ON THE
WEATHER.
IT'S NOT WHETHER DEMOCRATS WITH
WIN ENOUGH SEATS BUT WHETHER
THEY CAN PREVENT REPUBLICANS
FROM GAINING A SUPER MAJORITY.
HERE ARE NOW SENIOR POLITICAL
REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ WHO SHOWS
US THREE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
RACES.
>> YOU KNOW WHO I AM?
>> WOW.
>> RUNNING FOR SAY SENATE.
>> HE'S BEEN RUNNING FOR OFFICE
IN THE LACRO AREA FOR 20 YEARS.
>> YOU CAN VOTE FOR ME, SIR?
>> GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THIS WILL BE HIS SIXTH TIME
ON THE BALLOT TO REPRESENT THE
THINK 2nd SENATE DISTRICT --
32nd SENATE DISTRICT.
>> GIVING PEOPLE A CHOICE.
>> HE LOST DEVICE THE LAST TIME
2016.
>> I WON THIS DISTRICT.
I'VE LOST THIS DISTRICT.
IT'S AGAIN VERY COMPETITIVE.
SO YOU HAVE TO WORK VERY, VERY
HARD.
LACROSS TRENDS BLUE.
AND YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT TO PICK
UP THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
>> 2020 WILL BE DIFFERENT.
IN PART BECAUSE THE INCUMBENT,
DEMOCRAT JENNIFER SCHILLING, IS
NOT RUNNING.
>> I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS
ELECTION.
>> THE DEMOCRAT IS BRAD PFAFF OF
WHO BRINGS HIS OWN POLITICS TO
THE RACE.
>> PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME KNOW WHEN
I GO TO WORK, I WORK FOR
EVERYONE.
>> HE RAN WAY BACK IN 2004 AND
LOST.
BUT MOST RECENTLY, PFAFF OF WAS
SERVING ARGOVERNOR EVERS'
SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE TRADE.
>> MILK PRICES ARE A LITTLE
BETTER.
GRAIN PRICES ARE LOW.
SO THEY'RE NOT EXCITED ABOUT
THAT.
>> WHILE SENATE REPUBLICANS
STALLED HIS NOMINATION VOTE,
PFAFF OF GOT INTO A FIGHT OVER
WHEN THE REPUBLICANS WOULD
RELEASE MONEY EARMARKED FOR
FARMERS SUICIDE PREVENTION.
>> THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WERE
GOING TO SEND ME HOME.
>> REPUBLICANS KILLED HIS
NOMINATION.
EFFECTIVELY FIRING HIM.
>> I NEVER TOOK THIS PERSONAL.
BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THIS WAS
EVER ABOUT ME.
I THINK THIS IS JUST STRAIGHT
PARTISAN POLITICS.
>> DESPITE HIS HISTORY AS A
CANDIDATE, HE SEES THIS AS A
RACE BETWEEN HIMSELF AND A
BUSINESSMAN AND PFAFF OF AS A
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE.
>> I'VE WORKED IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR MY WHOLE LIFE.
HE'S BEEN IN PUBLIC SECTOR.
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY BAD, BUT
IT'S A CONTRAST.
>> PFAFF OF SAYS THE DIFFERENCE
IS HE WAS RECALLED FOR HIS VOTE
ON ACT 10 WHILE HE LOST HIS JOB
WHILE STANDING UP FOR FARMERS.
>> I STEPPED FORWARD TO HELP
INDIVIDUALS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
POLITICAL PERSUASION, IN TIMES
OF NEED.
I NEVER HAVE BEEN PART OF THE
EXTREME PARTISANSHIP THAT TOOK
PLACE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
>> THIS IS SENATOR PATTY
SHOCKNER CALLING.
I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH BASE WITH
YOU.
>> FARTHER NORTH DEMOCRAT PATTY
SHOCKNER REPRESENTS THE 10th
SENATE DISTRICT.
>> COMMUNICATING TO DISTRICT 10
ABOUT WISCONSIN POLITICS CAN BE
A CHALLENGE.
>> THE 10th IS BORDER COUNTRY.
MOST OF THE AREA GETS THEIR
LOCAL NEWS FROM MOANGTS.
AND MOST OF THE -- MINNESOTA.
AND MOST OF THE POPULATION
GROWTH IS COMING FROM PEOPLE WHO
WORK IN MINNESOTA.
>> FOR MOST PEOPLE IN DISTRICT
10, WE DON'T LIVE IN HIGHLY
POPULATED AREAS.
OUR BIGGEST CITIES ARE NOT LIKE
THE BIG CITIES.
>> SHE SAYS THAT'S A PROBLEM
WHEN THINGS WANT THINGS LIKE
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
>> SO IF YOU'RE ON BADGERCARE
AND YOU KNOW, NEED MENTAL HEALTH
RIGHT AWAY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S
ONLY 20 MINUTES AWAY, YOU CAN'T
GO THERE.
>> SHOCKNER CAME INTO OFFICE BY
WINNING A SPECIAL ELECTION IN
JANUARY OF 2018.
>> WHEN I RAN, MOST PEOPLE KNEW
ME AS THE MEDICAL EXAMINER AND
MY WORK I'VE DONE IN SUICIDE
PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH.
>> HER OPPONENT IS ROB, WHO
SERVES IN THE ASSEMBLY.
HIS CAMPAIGN WOULD NOT AGREE TO
AN INTERVIEW.
THE 32nd AND TETH ARE TWO OF
THE SEATS REPUBLICANS THINK THEY
CAN WIN IN FALL.
IF THEY PICK UP THREE SEATS, THE
GOP WOULD HAVE VETO-PROOF
MAJORITY HEADING INTO THE NEXT
SESSION AND THE NEXT ROUND OF
PREDICTING.
>> IF THEY GET THREE MORE SEATS
IN EACH CHAMBER, THEY'LL HAVE
CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR
ANOTHER DECADE, BECAUSE THEY'LL
BE ABLE TO REJERRIY MANDER THE
MAP.
>> HE SAYS THEY'RE NOT EVEN
TRYING TO CONVINCE VOTERS THEY
HAVE A SHOT AT WINNING
MAJORITIES.
>> WE DON'T WANT TO BLOW SMOKE.
REPUBLICANS REALLY RIGGED THE
WAY THAT STATE ELECTIONS WORK IN
WISCONSIN.
>> THE IDEA BEHIND THEIR SAVE
THE VETO PUSH IS FOR GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS TO VETO
REPUBLICAN-DRAWN MAPS NEXT YEAR.
AND HOPE THE COURTS DRAW
BOUNDARIES THAT ARE MORE
FAVORABLE TO DEMOCRATS FOR THE
NEXT DECADES.
>> IT'S AN INTERESTING STRATEGY.
IT'S A -- I UNDERSTAND, THOUGH,
THAT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE VERY MUCH
CONCERNED ABOUT HOW
REDISTRICTING WOULD GO IF WE
WOULD -- IF REPUBLICANS WOULD
ACHIEVE THAT VETO-PROOF
MAJORITY.
>> ANDREW HINT IS CHAIRMAN OF
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
WISCONSIN.
HE DOESN'T THINK THE SAVE THE
VETO MESSAGE WILL RESONATE WITH
VOTERS.
>> PEOPLE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON
MORE KITCHEN TABLE TYPE ISSUES
THAN SORT OF THIS KIND OF VAGUE
POLITICAL ISSUE OF
REDISTRICTING.
>> DESPITE THE DEFENSIVE
APPROACH FOCUSED ON SAVING THE
VETO, DEMOCRATS ARE LOOKING TO
FLIP SEATS.
>> THIS IS THE BEST PICK-UP
OPPORTUNITY FOR DEMOCRATS
ANYWHERE IN THE STATE.
>> DEMOCRAT PAUL PE TRUSKY IS A
FORMER POLICE OFFICER AND CITY
CLERK RUNNING IN THE 24th
SENATE.
I'M PAUL.
>> THIS WAS A LODGES TEAM
DEMOCRATIC SEAT BUT IT FLIPPED
RED IN 2016.
>> 2016 WAS A VERY BAD YEAR FOR
DEMOCRATS.
TURN OUT WAS DOWN AND PEOPLE
FLIPPED AND -- PEOPLE WHO VOTED
FOR OBAMA VOTED FOR TRUMP AND
THEY MAY FOLLOW SUIT DOWN THE
BALLOT.
>> HE'S HOPING THE MODERATES AND
INDEPENDENTS WILL PUT HIM OVER
THE TOP.
>> THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW
DISTRICTS IN THE STATE WHERE YOU
DON'T HAVE AN EXTREME PARTISAN
ADVANTAGE ON EITHER SIDE, SO
BOTH OF US HAVE TO APPEAL TO
MODERATES.
>> HEY, HOW IS IT GOING?
>> GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?
>> I'M PAT, YOUR STATE SENATOR.
>> WE SURPRISED A LOT OF FOLKS
BACK IN 2016 BECAUSE I'M THE
FIRST REPUBLICAN THAT WAS
ELECTED TO THIS DISTRICT SINCE
1968.
>> HE SAYS HE SAW THE SWING
COMING FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN HE
WAS TALKING WITH VOTERS.
>> THAT'S WHAT I HEARD QUITE A
BIT AT THE DOORS, WAS THAT THEY
FELT AS THOUGH THE NATIONAL
DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAD KIND OF
LEFT RURAL WORKING-CLASS FOLKS
BEHIND.
AND THAT'S WHERE INDIVIDUALS
LIKE DONALD TRUMP AND MYSELF
KIND OF HELPED FILL THAT VOID.
>> THE IMPACT OF THE
PRESIDENTIAL RACE DOWN BALLOT
CANNOT BE OVERSTATE.
>> ANYTIME YOU HAVE A
PRESIDENTIAL YEAR, THERE'S GOING
TO BE AN IMPACT AND IT'S GOING
TO HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT DOWN
BALLOT.
>> TRUMP PERFORMED WELL IN ALL
THREE SENATE DISTRICTS FOUR
YEARS AGO AND REPUBLICANS HOPE
THE SWING VOTERS DON'T SWING
BACK.
>> EVEN MORE THAN IN 2016,
BECAUSE TRUMP IS NOW
PRESIDENT -- NOW IS NOW A KNOWN,
WHERE IN 2016 A LOT OF US
SAYING, WELL, IS HE REALLY A
CONSERVATIVE OR WHERE DOES HE
HAND ON FRO LIFE AND WHERE --
PRO-LIFE AND WHERE IS HE?
NOW WE KNOW.
I THINK MORE PEOPLE ARE MORE
CONFIDENT PUTTING A YARD SIGN
THAN IN 2016.
>> MATTERS A TON HOW JOE BIDEN
IS DOING IN WISCONSIN.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT
WHATSOEVER.
AND IT'S ALSO THE CASE THAT THE
STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES ARE
OFTEN WON OR LOST ON THE BASIS
OF LOCAL ISSUE.
>> PERHAPS MORE CONFUSING THAN
THE SWING VOTER IS THE TICKET
SPLITTER.
>> I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND IT.
IT'S HARD TO GET YOUR HEAD
WRAPPED AROUND IT EXCEPT YOU
HAVE TO, BECAUSE THAT HAPPENS
TIME AND TIME AGAIN ALL ACROSS
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, WHERE
PEOPLE WILL SPLIT THE TICKET.
>> BUT WILL THERE BE TICKET
SPLITTERS THIS TIME?
>> I'M CONFIDENT THERE ARE.
WE'RE INDEPENDENT PEOPLE.
>> WHO'S MORE LIKELY?
>> I WOULD HOPE THAT OUR BODY OF
WORK OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS
WILL HELP I KNOW SLATE US FROM
ANY -- INSULATE US FROM THE
TURMOIL AT THE TOP OF THE
TICKET.
>> ALL THEY CAN CONTROL IS THEIR
CAMPAIGN.
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT I'M
BRINGING TO THE TABLE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO
GO, BUT I KNOW THAT CERTAINLY
PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED.
>> REPORTING FROM LACROSS,
STEVENS POINT, AND SUMMERSET,
I'M ZACH CONSULTS.
>>> YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED SOME OF
THE CANDIDATES IN THIS STORY
GOING DOOR TO DOOR WITHOUT A
MASK.
AND WONDERED ABOUT HOW THESE
CAMPAIGNS ARE DEALING WITH THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND HOW THEY
MIGHT GOING FORWARD.
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS,
ZAC SCHULTZ WILL CONTINUE HIS
REPORTING FROM AROUND THE STATE,
INCLUDING A SPECIAL REPORT HOW
THE CANDIDATES ARE CAMPAIGNING
IN THE COVID ERA.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.