A View from Kenosha County, WI: Third in a Series
Some Gains for the Democrats, but the Strong Economy Makes November Too Close to Call by A R T H U R I . C Y R This is a time of transition for both Kenosha County contemporary terms. The website GovTrack.us, which and the entire state of Wisconsin in both economic and literally maps the voting records of members of Congress, political terms. After years of Republican dominance in puts him literally on the border between Republicans state government, the Democratic Party has made some on the right side and Democrats on the left. Steil has recent notable gains. The state is also sharing in the generally voted with the Trump Administration in the remarkable strength of the national economy. House, but not always. In an echo of Ryan’s high-profile Politically, the most significant public opposition to large deficits, gain for Democrats was the he opposed the two-year budget 2018 election of Tony Evers, the bill to raise limits on spending state Superintendent of Public supported by the Administration. Instruction, over two-term GOP Republicans have controlled incumbent Governor Scott Walker. the First District for a quarter Evers’ victory was extremely century, but that was not the case narrow with just over one percent earlier. Democrat Les Aspin held of the votes cast separating the two the seat from 1971 to 1993. A candidates. Less surprisingly that respected expert on defense policy, same year, Democratic U.S. Senator he served briefly as Secretary of Tammy Baldwin was reelected. She Defense in the first part of the defeated Republican challenger Clinton Administration. Democrat Leah Vukmir by a comfortable Peter Barca was Aspin’s immediate margin of more than 10 percent. successor in Congress. Otherwise, the Republican Despite Ryan’s lengthy tenure, Party held their ground in and the election of his designated Arthur I. Cyr Wisconsin. No Congressional seat successor, the Democratic Party has changed hands; the party retained strengths in the district, with the five of the eight seats. Republicans potential to build on the successes Politically, the most won one additional State Senate of 2018. Kenosha County Executive significant gain for seat, and lost one seat in the State Jim Kreuser and Kenosha Mayor Assembly. The only Congressional Democrats was the 2018 John Antaramian are Democrats, seat without an incumbent with past service in the State election of Tony Evers, candidate was Wisconsin’s First Assembly. State Senator Bob Wirch, District, which includes Kenosha the state Superintendent a Democrat, represents District 22, County. Long-time Representative which includes most of Kenosha of Public Instruction, Paul Ryan, who also served for and neighboring Racine Counties. over two-term GOP several years as Speaker of the He has held the seat since 1997 House of Representatives, did through tough election campaigns, incumbent Governor not seek reelection and retired. including an extremely aggressive Scott Walker. This surprised many observers, Republican offensive in 2010 to especially given his prominence unseat him. He regularly publicly and relatively young age. In 2012, he was presidential emphasizes his labor union background, which continues nominee Mitt Romney’s running mate. to resonate favorably in Kenosha, historically a center of Ryan has been succeeded by Bryan Steil, who had the auto industry. served as a member of his staff. Ryan endorsed Steil Both parties are devoting extensive attention to during the election campaign. Since entering Congress, Southeast Wisconsin. In 2016, Donald Trump carried his voting record has been relatively moderate in Wisconsin by just over 22,000 votes. He won Kenosha RIPON FORUM February 2020
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