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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUnexpected defeat in rural Wisconsin special election sets off alarm bells for Republicans
By James Hohmann January 17 at 7:29 AM
THE BIG IDEA: Ten months is an eternity in politics, but a stunning Democratic victory Tuesday in a special election deep in the heart of Trump country suggests a blue tsunami could be forming.
President Trump became the first Republican to carry Wisconsin in a presidential election since Ronald Reagan by running up his score in places like the rural 10th state Senate district, which includes a swath of five counties between Eau Claire and Superior along the Minnesota border.
Trump won there by 17 points in 2016. A special election was triggered when Gov. Scott Walker tapped a popular state senator, who had held the seat since 2000, to become his agriculture secretary. Last night, Democratic candidate Patty Schachtner won by nine points.
-- Wisconsin conservative talk radio legend Charlie Sykes, a Trump critic, called the results ominous and said his prominent friends inside the GOP are freaking out:
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
-- Walker, who looks a lot more vulnerable in his quest for a third term than he did yesterday, called the results a wake up call. In a flurry of tweets that posted around midnight, the governor urged his supporters to take nothing for granted:
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Link to tweet
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2018/01/17/daily-202-unexpected-defeat-in-rural-wisconsin-special-election-sets-off-alarm-bells-for-republicans/5a5eb5d230fb0469e884019a
Blue_Adept
(6,399 posts)The first line of the main article is infuriating though because we've seen it throughout 2017 as the lead line in every article with a Democratic win.
Johnny2X2X
(19,095 posts)Voters don't care about policy as much as they care about buying a brand. The Republican Brand is Trump and it's absolute garbage right now.
If the Dems capitalize on Trump and re-brand themselves in the process the Blue Wave this November can be historical. We can take both the House and the Senate. We can sweep to the majority in dozens of states and win governor offices across the country.
Controlling the states ahead of the 2020 census is the most important political goal Dems should have. We get to redraw the map if we do. With a fair re-districting the Republicans will never again hold the House.
riversedge
(70,270 posts)all his supposed good deeds for WI. such it up Walker--you are a has been.
Demsrule86
(68,632 posts)run in 18...don't know if it is true or not. Hubs used to work for GM Janesville before Bush tanked the economy and the plant closed.
beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)is finally settling in.
republicans have been freaking out since trump is now the face of their party and it pretty fucking ugly
Demsrule86
(68,632 posts)beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)the writing is clearly on the wall that america no longer stomachs their bullshit
Demsrule86
(68,632 posts)for legislature and gubotorial seats...and I do think nationally...the hatred of Trump will help with the Senate and the House.
beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)meetings and we see some good numbers in ridding our state of trump-lite Gov Rauner in a massive crushing defeat in November.
Demsrule86
(68,632 posts)governor's race and Sherrod Brown too.