In this update:
- Election Updates
- Upcoming Events
Election Updates
State Assembly and Senate
Incumbent lawmaker re-election announcements
More lawmakers this week announced their intentions to run for re-election under the new 2023 Act 94 legislative district maps. Listed below are the latest announcements from legislators.
- Rep. David Steffen (R-Green Bay) announced his campaign for his sixth term representing the 4th AD. Rep. Steffen was redrawn into the district under the new maps. The new 4th AD has a 63.3% GOP lean.
- Rep. Elijah Behnke (R-Oconto) announced he will be moving into the 6th AD to challenge Rep. Peter Schmidt (R-Bonduel). Rep. Behnke has represented the 89th AD since 2021 and was drawn into the 4th AD with Rep. Steffen under the new maps. The new 6th AD has a 65.3% GOP lean.
- Rep. Chanz Green (R-Grand View) announced his bid for the 74th AD. He was elected to the 74th AD in 2022 and was redrawn into the district under the new maps. The new 74th AD has a 58.4% GOP lean.
* Partisan Performance was calculated using the election results from the 2022 U.S. Senate election, the 2022 Wisconsin Gubernatorial election, and the 2020 Presidential Election.
Non-incumbent election announcements
State Assembly
- 7th AD: Karen Kirsch (D-Greenfield) announced her candidacy for the 7th AD. Rep. Daniel Riemer (D-Milwaukee) was redrawn into the district under the new maps, but he announced he is not seeking reelection, leaving the seat open. The new 7th AD has a 58.8% Democratic lean.
- 42nd AD: Maureen McCarville (D-DeForest) announced her bid for the 42nd AD. Ms. McCarville has served on the County Board of Supervisors since 2012. The 42nd has a 58.6% Democratic lean.
- 48th AD: Lisa Rubrich (R-Sun Prairie) is launching her campaign for the 48th AD. Rep. Samba Baldeh (D-Madison) was redrawn into the district but is running for state Senate in the fall, leaving the seat open. The new 48th has an 81.7% Democratic lean.
- 62nd AD: Scott Kinderman (D-Racine) announced his candidacy for the 62nd AD. Rep. Wittke currently represents the district and was redrawn into the 62nd under the new maps. The new 62nd has a 61.1% Democratic lean.
- 68th AD: Businessman and Navy veteran Cliff Taylor (R-Ladysmith) announced he is running for the 68th AD. Rep. Rob Summerfield (R-Bloomer), who has represented the 67th AD since 2016, was drawn into the district and has announced his attention to run for the seat, setting Rep. Summerfield and Mr. Taylor up in a Republican primary. The new 68th AD has a 66.9% GOP lean.
- 89th AD: Assistant District Attorney Ryan Spaude (D-Green Bay) announced his bid for the 89th AD. The 89th is an open seat and has a 50.6% Democratic lean. There have not been any other announcements for the seat.
* Partisan Performance was calculated using the election results from the 2022 U.S. Senate election, the 2022 Wisconsin Gubernatorial election, and the 2020 Presidential Election.
U.S. President
Trump visits Waukesha
Former President Donald Trump held a rally in Waukesha on Wednesday telling his supporters that you have to “do what’s right,” but “as a politician, you also have to get elected.” Last week in La Crosse, Vice President Kamala Harris highlighted Trump’s role in overturning Roe v. Wade. This week, Trump said the goal was for the state to take the issue back rather than the federal government setting the standard. His speech was over 80 minutes long and included comments on the economy, the border, the 2020 election, and the current campus protests.
Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez (D) said in a news conference before the rally said Trump is visiting Waukesha because he is losing support with his stance on abortion. She said President Joe Biden would protect abortion rights, and a national abortion ban could happen if Trump wins. “November’s election will determine whether women in the United States have reproductive freedom or whether Trump’s new administration will continue to control women’s health care decisions,” Lt. Gov. Rodriguez said.
CBS News and Emerson College release new presidential polls
CBS News/YouGov and Emerson College released new Wisconsin polls, each finding former President Donald Trump with a slight edge over President Joe Biden. The CBS News poll shows 50% of registered voters in Wisconsin back Trump and 49% back Pres. Biden. The survey consisted of 1,245 registered voters and was conducted April 19-25 by YouGov. The margin of error was +/- 3.2 percentage points. FiveThirtyEight rates YouGov 2.9 stars out of 3.
Emerson College found 47% of registered voters supported Trump and 45% backed Pres. Biden. When the third-party candidates were included, the breakdown was Trump 45%, Biden 40%, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 6%, and others at 1% with the rest undecided. The poll consisted of 1,000 registered voters and was conducted April 25-29 via text messages to cell phones directing respondents to answer questions via the web and landlines using interactive calls. The margin of error was +/- 3 percentage points. FiveThirtyEight rates Emerson College 2.9 stars out of 3 stars.
National Polling Average
Republican State Leadership Committee announces new ad campaign
The Republican State Leadership Committee is launching a six-figure digital ad campaign attacking President Joe Biden’s border policy. The campaign is a series of ads that discuss top issues leading into the 2024 election. The first ad will run statewide and has a 30-second and 75-second versions.
Watch the 30-second version here.
Watch the 75-second version here.
U.S. Senate
CBS News and Emerson College release new senate polls
CBS News/YouGov and Emerson College released new Wisconsin polls, each finding U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D) ahead of GOP U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde. The survey found 48% of Wisconsinites backed Sen. Baldwin, and 41% favored Eric Hovde. The survey consisted of 1,245 registered voters and was conducted April 19-25 by YouGov. The margin of error was +/- 3.2 percentage points. FiveThirtyEight rates YouGov 2.9 stars out of 3.
Emerson College found 46% backed Sen. Baldwin and 43% backed Eric Hovde. The poll consisted of 1,000 registered voters and was conducted April 25-29 via text messages to cell phones directing respondents to answer questions via the web and landlines using interactive calls. The margin of error was +/- 3 percentage points. FiveThirtyEight rates Emerson College 2.9 stars out of 3.
Hovde releases new TV ad
GOP U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde debuted a new TV ad “Little Nugget” statewide on broadcast, cable and digital. The ad is included in a $5.5 million campaign buy. In the ad, Hovde says career politicians have “spent money recklessly” and driven up the national debt.
NRSC launches new ad
The National Republican Senatorial Committee released a new ad connecting the campus protests with forgiving student loan debt. The 5 figure buy targets U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D) and will be running statewide. The ad says Sen. Baldwin and President Joe Biden want to use “your tax dollars to fund this mayhem.”
