State Political Profile: Wisconsin
Governor
Democrat Jim Doyle won election four years ago with 45 percent of the vote in a three-way race, ending the GOP's 16-year hold on the governor's office. Since then, his approval ratings have hovered around that 45 percent mark, and Republicans think they can take back the office.
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker dropped out of the race for the Republican nomination, setting up the showdown between U.S. Rep. Mark Green of Green Bay and Doyle. A series of reports have questioned Doyle's fundraising practices. A local, state and federal investigation is ongoing, prompted by a media report this summer that a travel agency won a state contract after executives donated $20,000 to Doyle's campaign shortly before and after winning the work. The probe is also looking at other donations.
Doyle, meanwhile, paints himself as the last line of defense against an extremist Legislature. He has touted his vetoes on a series of bills passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature, including those allowing concealed weapons in public and restricting stem cell research, while touting his work to pump more money into public schools while placing limits on the property taxes local governments impose.
The race is likely to top the $17.4 million candidates spent in the 2002 governor's race, with Doyle's stated goal of more than $10 million raised.
U.S. Senate
Republicans have three candidates to choose from to take on Democratic incumbent Sen. Herb Kohl. They just don't have the one they want.
Republicans often struggle to find someone to take on Kohl, who is one of the richest members of the Senate and isn't afraid to spend his own money to win re-election. He easily won re-election six years ago, pulling in 62 percent of the vote against a little-known and underfunded opponent.
GOP officials have been looking for a high-profile opponent to take on Kohl, but dont have any takers so far. They have been pressuring Tim Michels to get in the race after the businessman lost to U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., two years ago. But Michels has been hesitant after national Republicans pulled back funding in the waning days of the election only to make a last-minute attempt to pump more money into his campaign. Michels mustered 44 percent of the vote two years ago.
U.S. House
Wisconsins 8th Congressional District in the northeastern corner of the state is open this year and likely will be the only competitive race among the state's eight seats.
The seven incumbents easily won election in 2004, and their seats are generally considered safe.
Republican Mark Green also won the 8th District handily two years ago, but he's leaving Congress to run for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. The area tilts Republican, but Democrats are planning a fight. Assembly Speaker John Gard leads the fundraising race for the GOP nomination with fellow state Rep. Terri McCormick the only other announced candidates in the Republican primary. The Democratic pack includes former Brown County Executive Nancy Nusbaum, allergist Steve Kagen, office assistant Dorthea LeClair and business consultant Jamie Wall.
State Races
Republicans control the Senate 19-14 and the Assembly 60-39. Republicans have steadily been building their majority in the Assembly, and they may have hit their high point in that chamber. Democrats will just be shooting for a better balance there. The real fight will be in the Senate, where Democrats need to pick off three incumbents to switch the chamber back in their favor after four years in the minority. There are half a dozen seats that may be competitive this fall, and Republicans are confident they will hold onto control.
Ballot Initiatives
Wisconsin lawmakers are poised to put a proposed constitutional amendment on the statewide ballot this fall that would ban gay marriage and Vermont-style civil unions. The amendment faces its final hurdle in the Legislature this spring and is expected to pass easily. It would then be up to voters whether to approve the amendment with a simple majority needed to change the states constitution.
--Associated Press
