Weekly News from
Your Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair
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What
a year it’s been! I can't stress this enough -- we Wisconsin Democrats have come a long way.
We started out 2018 with a bang by electing Patty Schachtner to the state Senate (a 17 point flip for that
district). A few months later, we sent Judge Rebecca Dallet to the Supreme Court -- the first time a non-incumbent
liberal justice had been elected in decades. And of course, in
November, we won every
statewide race on the ballot, re-elected our Senator Tammy Baldwin and even
flipped an Assembly seat once held by Scott Walker!
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As
2018 comes to a close, I can’t help but be humbled by the work and dedication of our Wisconsin
Democratic family.
After shocking losses in 2016, many thought Wisconsin would be a
red state for the foreseeable future. Pundits said our Senator
Tammy Baldwin could lose and that Scott Walker’s re-election was a
given.
But you didn’t give up hope. You believed a better future for our state was
possible. In the months
leading up to November, you put in the hard work to make it happen,
whether you knocked doors, made phone calls, chipped in a few
dollars, called your legislators, or even ran for office. Our Party
owes its strength to the energy of our grassroots organizers and
activists. You helped make it
happen, and I couldn't be more appreciative.
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In
2019, Wisconsin will begin a
new chapter as
we inaugurate a new slate of Democratic leadership. With Tony Evers
as Governor, Mandela Barnes as Lt. Governor, Josh Kaul as Attorney
General, Sarah Godlewski as Treasurer and Doug La Follette as
Secretary of State, we
will finally have the ability to lead with our Wisconsin values. After 8 years of Scott Walker’s “divide and conquer”
politics, we will treat each other with respect and reach our hands
across the aisle to get work done. We will focus on issues we know
are affecting everyday Wisconsinites -- health care costs,
education funding and deteriorating road quality. We’ll make sure
everyone has a seat at the table as we build a better future for Wisconsin together.
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This
holiday season, I feel hopeful and grateful. Hopeful because
our Democratic leadership has an exciting opportunity before them
to make real change for the people of Wisconsin. And grateful for
your hard work that got us to where we are today.
We won’t be slowing down in 2019. Wisconsinites will have
the opportunity to elect an independent justice to the Supreme
Court in April, and if we’re successful, we'll be one step closer
to finally eliminating conservatives’ majority on the court. There
will be many important local races, from Madison and Milwaukee
mayor to school board races across the state. And of course,
Republicans in power will need to be held accountable.
In these final days of 2018, I hope you’ll step back and
appreciate all the good we've done this year, and what a difference
the Wisconsin Democratic family has made. Whether you’re with
family or friends, I hope you are able to find some peace and
warmth this holiday season. We have much to be grateful for, and much to look
forward to.
-Chair Martha
Laning
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