A Democrat Just Won a Wisconsin State Senate Special Election in a District Trump Carried by 17 Points in 2016

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

In a district that backed Trump 55-38, Patty Schachtner sweeps to victory with a result that has shocked the state—and Governor Scott Walker.

By John NicholsTwitter

 

https://www.thenation.com/article/the-trump-effect-helps-democrats-pull-off-a-surprise-win-in-wisconsin/

TODAY 11:18 AM

Donald Trump and Scott Walker attend a campaign roundtable with small business leaders in Altoona, Wisconsin, November 1, 2016. (Reuters / Carlo Allegri)

 

 

Ready To Fight Back?

Sign up for Take Action Now and we’ll send you three meaningful actions every Tuesday.

 

Don’t take it from Wisconsin Democrats when they say that a surprise win Tuesday night in a special election for the state Senate signals that right-wing Republican Governor Scott Walker is in political trouble. Take it from Walker, the hyper-ambitious careerist who crashed and burned as a 2016 presidential contender and is now bidding for a third gubernatorial term. After Democrat Patty Schachtner won a seat representing a district that backed Donald Trump by a 55-38 margin in 2016, Walker tweeted: “Senate District 10 special election win by a Democrat is a wake up call for Republicans in Wisconsin.”

Walker will still raise plenty of money this year from the out-of-state campaign donors, including the Koch brothers, who have always been his most ardent supporters. And Walker will still engage in the relentlessly negative campaigning that he has always resorted to in tough races. But in an election season that is shaping up to be defined by disenchantment with Donald Trump and his enablers, the governor is suddenly sounding—and acting—politically vulnerable.

There’s no question that the Trump factor influenced the special-election result in Wisconsin. “President Donald Trump—along with Speaker Paul Ryan and Gov. Scott Walker who support and prop him up—are toxically unpopular and divisive,” the state Democratic Party declared Tuesday night. “Republicans focus on ultra-wealthy donors, rather than opening doors to opportunities and building strong communities for the rest of us.”

Carolyn Fiddler, a national Democratic analyst who tracks legislative races across the country, pointed out that the pattern of Democratic wins in the states, which took shape after the Republican president’s election, continues. “Democrats are still winning Republican seats! Even when Republicans run in ‘safe’ and extremely gerrymandered districts and spend boatloads more money than the Democrat!” Fiddler explained Tuesday evening. “Tonight’s win is Democrats’ 34th state legislative pickup of the cycle.”

Given that Wisconsin Republicans have used extreme gerrymandering to secure their positions, Schachtner’s win was a particularly inspiring indication of the extent to which that disenchantment is shifting political sentiments. Noting that “[Schachtner’s] message of building up our communities and bridging our differences clearly had an impact as we saw some of the best numbers Democrats have seen in this district in decades,” state Senator Jen Shilling, the Democratic leader in the chamber, said Tuesday, “The results from today show that Wisconsin is ready for a change in Madison.”

 

That’s true for legislative contests, where Democrats have narrowed the Republican advantage in the Senate to 18-14 with one vacancy. It’s also true for this fall’s gubernatorial race. Western Wisconsin’s suburban and rural 10th district has given Walker solid backing in his gubernatorial runs. It has also given Republican legislative candidates overwhelming support—re-electing the incumbent state senator, whose resignation sparked Tuesday’s special election, by 26 percent in 2016. But now the district’s voters have rejected a well-financed Walker ally (state Representative Adam Jarchow) in favor of Schachtner, a Democrat who won almost 55 percent of the vote.

The result that shocked Wisconsin Democrats and Republicans came after a campaign in which Schachtner touted her work as the St. Croix County Medical Examiner, her service on the Somerset School Board, and her tenure on the board of the board of directors for Turning Point Wisconsin, a center for victims of sexual and domestic violence.

Schachtner’s campaign also highlighted her support for public education and public services—which have suffered on Walker’s watch—and ripped the governor for misdirecting economic development spending. Walker worked with Trump last year on a much-criticized scheme to lure a manufacturing facility being developed by the Taiwanese-based Foxconn corporation to House Speaker Paul Ryan’s congressional district in southeast Wisconsin—with $3 billion in tax incentives and promises to ease off on regulations.

Schlachter explained during the campaign that:

I want to prioritize investment in jobs, businesses and entrepreneurs right here in western Wisconsin. For too long, politicians have failed to put our local 

[Dashinka 23,245]

So this means all will be coming up roses for the DNC in 2018?  MR/Ms. Manning will be happy.  Wasn't it The Nation that debunked the entire Russian Hacking narrative?

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

Looks like Trump can win , even in districts that might elect democrats.  That's strong 

[Steeleballz 7,550]

 

 

 Not like Trump is making any new fans. Politicians who rode the Trump wave should probably get used to the fact that it has crested. Every time he opens his mouth, he sinks farther. 

[Tahoma 2,291]

37 minutes ago, Steeleballz said:

 

 

 Not like Trump is making any new fans. Politicians who rode the Trump wave should probably get used to the fact that it has crested. Every time he opens his mouth, he sinks farther. 

No surprises here.  Trump is toxic all the way down the ballot to dog catcher.  

[Dashinka 23,245]

2 hours ago, Tahoma said:

No surprises here.  Trump is toxic all the way down the ballot to dog catcher.  

Interesting, before Alabama, weren’t pretty much all the Special elections won by the GOP since Trump?

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

1 minute ago, Bill & Katya said:

Interesting, before Alabama, weren’t pretty much all the Special elections won by the GOP since Trump?

Yes they win one State level race and they, are like -see I told you.

 

They were crowing the same song, predicting a Democratic win in Ga. The dem got thumped.

[JimandChristy 1,689]

13 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

Interesting, before Alabama, weren’t pretty much all the Special elections won by the GOP since Trump?

They were but the Republican candidate only won by narrow margins (significantly underperformed), when they should've won easily in deep red congressional districts.

Edited January 17, 2018 by JimandChristy

[JimandChristy 1,689]

11 minutes ago, Nature Boy Flair said:

Yes they win one State level race and they, are like -see I told you.

 

They were crowing the same song, predicting a Democratic win in Ga. The dem got thumped.

The same congressional district when the previous incumbent got 65% of the vote but Handel only got 53%? 

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

When all you got is the Dems won a state Senate seat lmao

[JimandChristy 1,689]

2 hours ago, Nature Boy Flair said:

When all you got is the Dems won a state Senate seat lmao

Donnie better start taking more heart medication because he's gonna get a huge shock come midterms! Unless he gets help once again from his bff Vladi!

[eieio 1,594]

4 hours ago, Nature Boy Flair said:

When all you got is the Dems won a state Senate seat lmao

Pack it up boys. Trump is done. He will be impeached anyday now...

[ILikeBread 43]

It would be interesting for the GOP to learn why voters switched sides after about a year of presidency. 

[Dashinka 23,245]

19 hours ago, JimandChristy said:

They were but the Republican candidate only won by narrow margins (significantly underperformed), when they should've won easily in deep red congressional districts.

A win is a win.  If memory serves, Hillary actually won the popular vote in 2016.  Too bad for her that doesn't matter. 

 

How is the DNC going to stifle the great economic news?  Are they going to campaign as the party of higher unemployment and higher taxes?

Edited January 18, 2018 by Bill & Katya

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

Much like Trump she was running as an anti what we got know. Hardly riding the anti Trump train, whatever that is 

 

 

 

Here is her campaign slogan. Hardly identifying with dems either. More fake news.

 

https://www.pattyforsenate.com/

 

 

 

 

I won’t ask whether an idea is Democratic or Republican, just whether it’s a good idea for Western Wisconsin. I’ll fight for every Western Wisconsin family.