Republicans get pounded in Wisconsin primary — and it’s a bad sign for Trump
A Wisconsin primary that Republicans had hoped would gift the legislature more control of over state spending backfired on Tuesday after voters turned out in record numbers and rejected two constitutional amendments.
Wisconsin Republicans' attempt to gain more control over state spending by limiting the Governor's authority on federal funds backfired in Tuesday's primary election. Despite the initiatives being expected to be a quiet late summer affair, voter turnout reached record levels, particularly in Democratic strongholds, demonstrating high Democratic motivation.
The two constitutional amendments, aiming to require legislative oversight on federal funds like pandemic relief, were defeated by a large margin, with a 15 percentage point statewide loss. Democrats and their allies, significantly outspending their Republican counterparts on the amendments, attributed the win to their strong campaign emphasizing checks and balances.
The high voter turnout, nearly equalling the 2022 primary record, was evident across the state. Notably, Democratic strongholds like Dane County witnessed a 40-year high for primary turnout, reaching 45% of registered voters. This surge was attributed to a combination of local elections and a robust anti-amendment ground game.
While Republicans saw a slight increase in turnout in their stronghold counties, their performance on the amendments was weak, particularly in traditionally Republican Waukesha County. Despite this, experts caution against drawing definitive conclusions from the primary, emphasizing that November's general election turnout will be significantly higher.
The primary also saw significant developments in congressional races. Trump-endorsed businessman Tony Wied won the Republican primary for the open 8th Congressional District, while in the 3rd District, political strategist Rebecca Cooke defeated state legislator Katrina Shankland, the Democratic establishment favorite. Cooke's victory is significant, particularly considering the district's vulnerability, with Trump-endorsed incumbent Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) facing a challenging re-election campaign.
Furthermore, the primary saw defeats for Trump-endorsed state legislative candidates in red-leaning districts, highlighting the challenges faced by the former president's endorsed candidates in the state. These losses, coupled with the defeat of the constitutional amendments, suggest a potential shift in the political landscape of Wisconsin, with Democrats exhibiting a high level of engagement and potentially setting the stage for a competitive general election.
The two constitutional amendments, aiming to require legislative oversight on federal funds like pandemic relief, were defeated by a large margin, with a 15 percentage point statewide loss. Democrats and their allies, significantly outspending their Republican counterparts on the amendments, attributed the win to their strong campaign emphasizing checks and balances.
The high voter turnout, nearly equalling the 2022 primary record, was evident across the state. Notably, Democratic strongholds like Dane County witnessed a 40-year high for primary turnout, reaching 45% of registered voters. This surge was attributed to a combination of local elections and a robust anti-amendment ground game.
While Republicans saw a slight increase in turnout in their stronghold counties, their performance on the amendments was weak, particularly in traditionally Republican Waukesha County. Despite this, experts caution against drawing definitive conclusions from the primary, emphasizing that November's general election turnout will be significantly higher.
The primary also saw significant developments in congressional races. Trump-endorsed businessman Tony Wied won the Republican primary for the open 8th Congressional District, while in the 3rd District, political strategist Rebecca Cooke defeated state legislator Katrina Shankland, the Democratic establishment favorite. Cooke's victory is significant, particularly considering the district's vulnerability, with Trump-endorsed incumbent Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) facing a challenging re-election campaign.
Furthermore, the primary saw defeats for Trump-endorsed state legislative candidates in red-leaning districts, highlighting the challenges faced by the former president's endorsed candidates in the state. These losses, coupled with the defeat of the constitutional amendments, suggest a potential shift in the political landscape of Wisconsin, with Democrats exhibiting a high level of engagement and potentially setting the stage for a competitive general election.