Article Summary –
Wisconsin Democrats believe newly adopted legislative districts will allow them to compete for a majority and help increase voter turnout for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in November. The concept, termed “reverse coattails,” suggests that down-ballot candidates can help boost votes for the top of the ticket. However, Republicans argue that voters will primarily be driven by the presidential race, not the state legislature, and they can still succeed under the new alignment due to better candidates and messaging.
Wisconsin Primary Sets Stage for Historic Election Year
Tuesday’s Wisconsin’s presidential primary ignites an election scene Democrats view as a promising opportunity in recent state history. New legislative districts blur the Republican advantages that dominated the Wisconsin Assembly despite Democrats winning 14 of the past 17 statewide elections.
State Democratic Party Chair, Ben Wikler, coins the term “reverse coattails,” implying that down-ballot candidates can drive votes for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in November.
Both parties anticipate a fiercely contested fall rematch between Biden and former Republican President Donald Trump, with Wisconsin, a state that narrowly flipped from Trump to Biden four years ago, at the forefront.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos rejects the “reverse coattails” concept, believing voters will primarily focus on the presidential race.
Democrats suggest renewed efforts in small towns, suburbs, and rural areas previously ignored due to their GOP-heavy representation. These areas now fall within competitive districts, prompting Democrats to increase campaign staff and volunteers to boost turnout.
Wisconsin is among key states where Democrats aim to maintain their 51-49 Senate majority. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is likely to face millionaire businessman Eric Hovde in the Aug. 13 primary.
She asserts that previous redistricting resulted in an absence of competitive races in many Wisconsin areas, but anticipates that more contested races will ensure people’s voices are heard.
More aggressive canvassing for legislative candidates could identify Democratic voters in races that have been closely contested in recent years. Past presidential elections, including 2016 and 2020, were decided by fewer than 30,000 votes. In 2018, Democrat Tony Evers edged GOP incumbent Scott Walker for governor by 29,227 votes.
Vos asserts Republicans can succeed under the new alignment due to better candidates and messaging. He acknowledges that increased face-to-face campaigning could assist Statehouse candidates more than television ads, but anticipates voters will be driven by the top of the ticket.
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