Ben Yount in for Jay Weber this morning 11-8-24 segment transcript, audio link below)
Wisconsin almost had a $100 million race for the statehouse.
WisPolitics is reporting over $80 million in spending in just 18 of Wisconsin’s 132 seats in the legislature.
The price tag for the 8th SD has already surpassed $10.2 million, topping the previous state record set in the Milwaukee-area district when it was the site of a recall election 13 years ago, a WisPolitics review shows.
And the tab will likely be even higher once final spending reports are filed with the state in early January.
The race between Dem attorney Jodi Habush Sinykin and GOP state Sen. Duey Stroebel isn’t the only one producing eye-popping numbers in the 2024 campaign. Two other state Senate races have already topped $6 million, while five Assembly contests have crossed the $5 million threshold.
In all, WisPolitics has tracked $27.2 million in five state Senate races and $54.9 million in 13 Assembly campaigns.
The money race is a confluence of the new maps that gave Dems a path to the majority and the interest megadonors have taken in shaping the legislative contests.
As I put it on Twitter, the Tony-mandered maps did their job.
Speaker Vos and Assembly Republican second in command Tyler August spoke with reporters on Wednesday, and they took a victory lap.
[[ Vos able to win maps VIDEO BELOW ]]
Yep. Republicans kept their majorities despite everything Democrats threw at them.
Like Vos said, Assembly Republicans will set the agenda for the next two years.
Republicans in the Senate did worse. They lost two seats, including Query Stroebel’s seat. Democrats picked-up a third in Green Bay because of the Tony-mandering and a retirement.
Tyler August explained why Democrats were able to do so well.
[[ Tyler August uphill battles VIDEO BELOW ]]
Yep.
The money for Wisconsin Democrats comes from Chicago and Hollywood. Because that’s what Wisconsin Democrats want. They want to turn this state into California or Illinois.
But like I said, Democrats are playing the long game.
Here’s what the top Democrat in the Wisconsin Senate said after Election Day, from my piece at MacIve (link below):
Democrats in the Wisconsin Senate are already looking ahead to the next election.
The State Senate Democratic Committee on Wednesday morning declared victory in Tuesday’s election, and set the stage for the 2026 election at the same time.
“Senate Democrats defeated Republicans’ manufactured supermajority, and we are on a pathway to the majority in 2026!” Senate Majority Leader Dianne Hesselbein said in a statement. “Our candidates knocked on thousands of doors, listened to voters, and clearly articulated their vision for Wisconsin. Senate Democrats will tirelessly defend our shared values and uplift working families.”
‘On the pathway to 2026.’
The Democrats know their strategy is working.
Control the Supreme Court. Rig the map. Use their power and out-of-state money to move Wisconsin to the left. Despite what the majority of the state wants.
Speaker Vos pointed out what the difference will then be.
What Republicans want to do with Wisconsin state government, and what Democrats will do the moment they get control.
[[ Vos we have a great agenda VIDEO BELOW]]
photo credit: Getty Images
story credit: WisconsinEye.com
audio version of the segment here > Dems are playing the long game in Wisconsin and winning