Blue Waves in Wisconsin Too

Blue Waves Are Building

In Wisconsin Too

Recent primary elections continue to sweep left of center Democrats into November general elections against Trump supporting far right Republicans. Progressive Democrats pushing Bernie Sanders’ agendas have forced more establishment leaning candidates to adopt more populist positions than ever before. While the progressive wing of the party does not control the party apparatus yet, its positions on the issues facing the state and country have become the mainstream of the party platform.

The primary in the governor’s race in Michigan demonstrates the point. The more traditional Democratic candidate won the primary. Gretchen Whitmer, a former State Senator, beat Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive former director of Detroit’s health department. Sanders and other national progressives endorsed El-Sayed. Even though he lost, Whitmer’s campaign took its direction straight out of Sanders’ playbook on most issues except for universal single-payer healthcare. 

Whitmer’s positions on major issues are very progressive. She led the fight for Medicaid expansion in the state senate and saw it approved even though Republicans controlled the legislature and the governor’s office. She supports a $15-an-hour minimum wage and wants to repeal Michigan’s anti-union “right to work” laws. She supports legalization of recreational marijuana and taxing sales to fund roads and public schools. She is staunchly pro-choice and wants to restore state funding for Planned Parenthood. She wants public schools to adopt a “yes means yes” consent public school sex-ed curriculum. Whitmer wants civil rights laws expanded to protect members of the LBGTQI community. She wants to establish the state’s first universal pre-school program.

Whitmer’s platform would not be what it is were it not for the grassroots efforts by progressives who built a solid base in Michigan’s politics. 

Kansas voters picked a Sanders’ styled progressive out of a crowded field to try and flip a red congressional seat. Sharice Davids, a Native American mixed martial arts fighter and out of the closet lesbian looks to take a congressional seat come November. She built as solid grass-roots campaign on a progressive platform that resonated well with voters. Independents swung away from the right and help propel her victory.

The most surprising result came in Tuesday’s special election in Ohio’s 12^th Congressional district. Progressive Democrat Danny O’Connor took on a Trump endorsed republican in a district Democrats have not won since the 1980s. At this writing, this election is too close to call. Provisional ballots remain to be counted and the margin currently stands at 0.9% in favor of the Republican. If that margin goes under 0.5%, there will be an automatic recount. 

O’Connor’s showing clearly demonstrates voter dissatisfaction with President Trump and his policies and finds echoes across the country.

In our fair county, Democrats are fielding more candidates that ever before in state assembly races. None face primary opponents next Tuesday and all will advance to the November contests against Walker/Trump allied opponents. 

Progressive Democrat Dennis Degenhardt, the former President and CEO of Glacier Hills Credit Union, is running against Republican Rick Gundrum in the 58^th district in a rematch of last November’s special election. Degenhardt actually won the City of West Bend vote last fall and has expanded his campaign to reach voters in Slinger and other parts of the district. His work on the doors and phones is receiving positive voter feedback. 

Chris Ralf, a Navy veteran and project management consultant, is running a strong progressive campaign in the 60^th Assembly District. She is focused on listening to everyone she meets to learn what they believe is important to Wisconsin’s future. She believes in rebuilding our infrastructure while taking care of our environment. She advances a solid-plan for state investment in universal healthcare. Chris is visiting communities, large and small in our area talking to voters.

Emily Siegrist, a veteran, nurse and instructor at MSOE, has put together a strong progressive campaign in the 24^th Assembly race focusing on infrastructure, healthcare, veteran’s issues and education. Look for her in the southern part of the County working the doors and speaking with voters. 

These three strong candidates are in a position to give Washington County voters real and positive alternatives to the business as usual GOP office holders they are challenging. All three are building on the progressive vision Washington County’s Democrats have been sharing while they have been Building Community Through Action since 2011. Come join the Blue Wave building across Wisconsin and the nation.

Waring Fincke is a retired attorney and serves as a guardian for the elderly and disabled with a Sheboygan county non-profit agency.