Wisconsin Republicans and Democrats Look to Learn From April Election

Tuesday, June 6th, 2023 -- 11:00 AM

(AP) Wisconsin Republicans still reeling from an April election that saw conservatives lose majority control of the state Supreme Court for the first time in 15 years hope to use their upcoming state convention to unify and refocus on the 2024 presidential race in which Wisconsin will once again be a battleground.

Democrats, recognizing that four of the past six presidential elections in the state have been decided by less than a percentage point, are trying not to become overconfident in the face of recent gains. They are gathering for their annual state convention starting June 10 in Green Bay. Democratic candidates, including Gov. Tony Evers and President Joe Biden, have won 14 of the past 17 statewide elections.

In April, Democratic-backed Supreme Court candidate Janet Protasiewicz’s 11-point win over the GOP-supported candidate proved once again the power of abortion as an issue for Democrats. She ran as a supporter of abortion rights, and for revisiting Republican-drawn political district maps, in a race that broke turnout records.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who won her 2018 race by 11 points, is up for reelection next year and has yet to draw a Republican opponent. Republicans are already voicing concerns about the lack of an announced top tier challenger and the possibility of yet another expensive, divisive primary like this year’s Supreme Court contest.

Wisconsin has long been one of a handful of battleground states, one of the few places where either party can win a statewide contest.

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