Announcer:

A PBS Wisconsin original production. The following program is part of our “Here & Now” 2020 election coverage.

Frederica Freyberg:

America is stunned by the news of President Trump and the First Lady testing positive for coronavirus. All Trump rallies are canceled including two tomorrow in Wisconsin.

Tony Evers:

I am concerned about the alarming trends of COVID 19 we’re seeing across our state.

Frederica Freyberg:

Meanwhile, the positive COVID caseloads in Wisconsin skyrocket. In Green Bay officials warn of overcrowded hospitals as the city becomes one of the hottest spots in the nation. And by week’s end, Governor Tony Evers orders help for health care workers. I’m Frederica Freyberg. Tonight on “Here & Now,” upheaval and well wishes as the president tests positive for COVID-19 and his challenger, Joe Biden tests negative. Meanwhile, the surge goes on in Wisconsin. State Health Secretary-designee Andrea Palm is here with the latest on the state’s battle against the virus. We’ll go to Green Bay to learn about the toll the virus is taking on hospitals there. Zac Schultz reports on state Senate races this fall. And our political panelists, McCoshen and Ross, discuss the implications of the U.S. president testing positive for COVID. It’s “Here & Now” for October 2.

Announcer:

Funding for “Here & Now” is provided by the Focus Fund for Journalism and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.

Frederica Freyberg:

President Donald Trump and the First Lady test positive for COVID-19. Leaders across the world and here at home are wishing them well. Candidate Joe Biden has tested negative. And politically, what does this mean for voters in Wisconsin, now experiencing one of the sharpest spikes in the virus in the nation? We turn first to political operatives, Republican Bill McCoshen and Democrat Scot Ross. And thanks to you both for being here.

Bill McCoshen, Scot Ross:

Thanks for having us.

Frederica Freyberg:

You know, it seems to me that the president having COVID-19 feels both frightening and destabilizing, especially as the virus is running rampant all around us in Wisconsin. But is it impolitic to blame his behavior for it, Bill?

Bill McCoshen:

Yeah, I think, first of all, thoughts and prayers to the president and the first lady for their speedy recovery and frankly to anyone who has COVID. We’ve experienced it in our family. My youngest son got it on his 21st birthday at an establishment in Madison so it can happen to anybody. I think it’s a wake-up call, Frederica, for everyone that we need to continue to do certain things. Personal responsibility, you have to wash your hands. Use good hygiene. You need to social distance and you need to wear a mask. I think those three things are essential and the fact that the president of the United States and the first lady could contract it when everyone around them has to be tested before they can even get near them is somewhat frightening.

Frederica Freyberg:

Scot, what do you think about that?

Scot Ross:

I like what Bill’s saying. I hope his Republican friends are listening because the Republicans have ignored signs. They’ve mocked the wearing of masks. They’ve left workers and families on their own and they’ve sued and gone to court a second time now to prevent Governor Evers’ science-based efforts to protect us. That’s what we need. We need to let science rule the day, not partisan politics. And unfortunately, I think the president has allowed partisan politics to rule the way and to ignore science and it has been disastrous here in the state of Wisconsin. Frederica, as you pointed out, we are now, the last two weeks, third in the nation in — per capita in terms of new cases. And we’ve got eight of the top 20 cities in the entire United States, including the number one city, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the home of Senator Ron Johnson, who personally has helped blocked aid to getting to Wisconsin workers. It’s un — it should be — it’s more than a wake-up call. It’s something where we are all going to have to come together and that means Republicans have to join us in coming together.

Frederica Freyberg:

So how do you think the president and first lady testing positive will effectively change the messaging, especially when the disease itself and precautions around it have become so political? Is it possible in this divided landscape that we can do that even around this?

Scot Ross:

Well, I think yes. Because — I’m sorry. The reason I think so is because here in the state of Wisconsin, Republicans have been concerned with nothing but power. They have taken away the governor’s tools. They’ve used their power to take away the governor’s tools. I think the fact the most powerful man on planet Earth getting this coronavirus when he has every opportunity to be protected from it will change that dynamic in showing that anybody, anywhere, anytime can get this disease.

Frederica Freyberg:

Bill?

Bill McCoshen:

Yeah. I think in some respects, there may be pandemic fatigue, right? And people started to let their guard down way too soon. I mean we’re all hopeful that there will be a vaccine sooner rather than later, but we can’t lose sight of the basic fundamentals of how to avoid this, which are washing your hands, wearing the mask when necessary and social distancing. I don’t think anything’s changed on those three items.

Frederica Freyberg:

Scot, you mentioned this moment ago, but here in Wisconsin Republicans forge ahead with that lawsuit against the governor’s mask mandate. How do those arguments stack up right about now, those legal arguments?

Scot Ross:

I’m not an attorney, but I can tell you that from a public perception, the idea that Republicans have not come to work in 170 days while people have suffered and they are literally instead of doing the right — doing nothing, they’re trying to prevent Governor Evers from doing the right thing. I think that’s incredible. And I think you know, it was summed up best on Friday in an article I saw where a health professional said if the Legislature was practicing medicine, it would be charged with malpractice.

Frederica Freyberg:

Bill?

Bill McCoshen:

Yeah, it’s not Republicans. It’s the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty and there’s a legal question of whether or not the governor has the authority to do this. I mean timing of the lawsuit probably is more unfortunate today than it was a few days ago for sure. So it’s not the Republicans who are challenging this. I think Republicans now understand that masks are a key criteria for battling the pandemic.

Frederica Freyberg:

Logistically, staying with you Bill, hurdling toward November 3rd, if the president is in quarantine for two weeks, in the hospital, there goes half his campaigning time, not to mention potentially the next debate. What does this do?

Bill McCoshen:

It’s tricky, especially for him, right, because he’s an energetic guy. He wanted to be on the road. He was supposed to be in Wisconsin twice this weekend in two different cities. First it was La Crosse and Green Bay, then it was Janesville and Green Bay. That’s half the campaign. There are 32 days left in this race. We all hope for his speedy recovery. But the reality is he probably won’t be back out on the trail anytime soon. I think what people on the right and in the center are looking for from him is sort of that statement, Frederica. Sometime over the weekend we want them to — you know, acknowledge that he and his wife contracted it, that it is a serious disease, and that we all need to take certain measures in order to avoid it.

Frederica Freyberg:

Scot, 15 seconds, final word.

Scot Ross:

Sure. One thing the Republicans did file a brief in favor of the lawsuit today. Second, I agree with Bill, that Donald Trump needs to come out and make a statement. It’d be good if he refuted his statement from February saying like a miracle, it’s going to go away.

Frederica Freyberg:

We leave it there. Thanks very much, gentlemen.

Scot Ross:

Thank you.

Bill McCoshen:

Good to be with you.

Frederica Freyberg:

Words like crisis, maxed out, alarming. That’s what Wisconsin officials are saying this week about the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state, now designated a red zone for the virus by the CDC. In a moment we will hear from a doctor in Green Bay, one of the state’s hot spots, and where the president had been scheduled to appear at a rally Saturday. We turn now to the Department of Health Secretary-designee Andrea Palm for the latest. Thanks for being here again.

Andrea Palm:

Thanks for having me. Good to see you.

Frederica Freyberg:

You too. This question, is the president’s positivity an abject lesson in mask wearing?

Andrea Palm:

So I think, first of all, I want to wish them both a speedy recovery. I think right as the Department of Health, we — our goal is to prevent everybody from getting infected and so — we really hope for their speedy recovery. I think more broadly, what we all need to do now, considering what we’re seeing here in Wisconsin, is the mask wearing, is the social distancing, is the staying home as much as possible. We’re at a critical moment and we really need to take those steps together.

Frederica Freyberg:

What is the latest in Wisconsin right now in terms of case surge, hospitalizations and deaths?

Andrea Palm:

So today, we added another 2700-plus cases and we have five deaths today, which is obviously a little better than yesterday and the day before. But obviously, any death is a death too many. And again, now is the time to do what we need to do to stop the spread.

Frederica Freyberg:

In Wisconsin, are we in the midst of the feared worst case?

Andrea Palm:

So I think what we’ve learned, right, throughout this pandemic is you need to — you need to act before you hit that place or you’ve waited too long. And so now — now we’ve got an opportunity to turn the corner, to change course and prevent us from getting to the place where we need to pull the cord on that ultimate insurance policy, which is that alternate care facility, that surge hospital that we have at the ready. But now is the time.

Frederica Freyberg:

Why is Wisconsin so bad compared to other states?

Andrea Palm:

So I think right, we have seen since mid-May with the lifting of safer-at-home, a slow rise in the epidemic here in Wisconsin. And you know, there was a surge in July that local communities, local governments managed with the mitigation tools that they had. But then, you know, we saw starting in September, this rise in — among the 18- to 24-year-olds, particularly in cities and towns with college and university campuses. But now what we’re seeing is intense community spread across all age groups. And that tells us that this is really in every community in Wisconsin. And again, it’s really time for us to do the things we need to do to stop the spread.

Frederica Freyberg:

And so it also tells us that people are not taking adequate precautions?

Andrea Palm:

Yeah, I think — and it’s why we have been working so hard this week and we’ll continue to get out the message about how serious this is. And people — people do need to double down. Make choices to wear the mask, make choices to not go to gatherings, make the choice to do a virtual happy hour instead of go to the bar, et cetera, while we really do everything we can to protect our hospitals and our health care workers.

Frederica Freyberg:

Now there’s an emergency order to expand the health care workforce that includes allowing out-of-state doctors, for example, to practice here. Describe why that is needed.

Andrea Palm:

So when we think about the intense community spread that we’re seeing, we are seeing increasing numbers of our health care workers be exposed to or infected with COVID outside of the workplace, in their communities. And those folks can’t come to the hospital to work. And so the stress we are seeing on our health care systems, it’s not only the number of people in beds who need care, but it is the fact that we are down men and women who can work in those — in those facilities because they have contracted or been exposed to COVID outside of work. And so these flexibilities will allow health care to bring in additional workers from other states or other systems to help fill that gap. But again, it speaks to the need for all of us to wear a mask, to stay home as much as possible, to do the things we need to do to protect those health care workers and our hospital system.

Frederica Freyberg:

Andrea Palm, thanks very much.

Andrea Palm:

Thank you.

Frederica Freyberg:

The spike in COVID cases in Green Bay is pushing hospitals there toward capacity. With the surge and community spread making that city a hot spot, within the Wisconsin red zone for the virus. Brown County with 3,777 positive cases per 100,000 people is the highest rate in the state. And the president had planned to travel to Green Bay for a rally tomorrow until he tested positive for the coronavirus. Tonight we talk with Dr. Ashok Rai. He’s the Prevea health president and CEO. He joins us from Green Bay and doctor, thanks very much for being here.

Ashok Rai:

Thanks for having me today.

Frederica Freyberg:

So first off, for any people in your community who might have contributed to the spread by not taking precautions seriously, is the president’s positive test result a wake-up call there?

Ashok Rai:

You know, I would hope so. I think what goes forward now is how the president acts publicly in the next ten days while he’s in isolation. Because you know, part of our spread issue is even people who know they’re positive not taking it seriously, going into public and contributing that spread, especially event-type situations, whether it’s a wedding or a gathering to watch a football game. That’s really where our spread is coming from and we need to be able to educate around that.

Frederica Freyberg:

How — being on the front lines, and all of your people on the front lines, how frustrating is that?

Ashok Rai:

You know, it’s very frustrating because I think a colleague in Montana said it best. In the spring, you know, we were very scared of the virus but we didn’t have a whole lot of virus. Now we have a whole lot of virus and not a lot of fear. And that’s frustrating to us right now, because there’s — the virus hasn’t dissipated at all. If anything, it’s strengthened its ability to spread from person to person. And I’m not asking everybody to be scared by any means, but let’s not forget the knowledge that got us to this point. We know we have very few tools and very few things we can do. Social distancing, wearing a mask, getting tested if you have symptoms, and staying home if you have symptoms, washing your hands. Very simple things to do, but it’s hard to get people to even comply with that.

Frederica Freyberg:

As we’ve said, the Fox Valley and Green Bay in particular have seen frightening spikes in COVID-19. You have called it a nightmare situation. How does that look?

Ashok Rai:

You know, the nightmare for us is you think about health care in general. We’re not designed — our hospitals our clinics are designed to take care of the diseases we know: the heart attacks, the car accidents, the strokes. So our hospitals are generally busy with all of that. It’s not like you designed a system to have three extra floors in case a pandemic hits. So you take 20, 30, now up to 90 new patients that are COVID-19 across the four hospitals in Green Bay. That’s on top of everything else we’re dealing. So you may not think that the virus is going to put you in the hospital. It probably won’t statistically. But you may need that hospital bed if you’re in a car accident or a motorcycle accident or having chest pain. And that’s the problem right now. That’s the nightmare situation. We have other things to take care of, plus all of our COVID-19 patients. The two combined, especially going into the flu season, is a nightmare for us.

Frederica Freyberg:

I know the state is standing up these alternative care facilities. Is it your expectation that hospitals in your area would have to kind of take potentially COVID patients and put them in those facilities?

Ashok Rai:

You know, and we’ve talked about the ACFs locally. I think some people are in favor of it. Our biggest question as a health system is who’s going to staff it. So it’s our physicians that need to see the patient in the ACF. Now you’re taking them out of the hospital where they’re needed. It’s not like these ACFs are being put right next door to us. And the nurses, where are they going to come from? The nursing staff is coming from us. So we don’t really have that ability to staff it. So a building with a bunch of cots and a couple IV poles is not what we need. We need community cooperation and more staff.

Frederica Freyberg:

More than 8,000 health care workers have tested positive in Wisconsin according to state health officials. Now that state emergency order allows for expanding the health care workforce. How much do you need that kind of relief?

Ashok Rai:

We need it big time. So I really appreciate the state doing that. Now we can go to Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and see what nurses we can pull from there. That’s the kind of desperate situation we are here in Green Bay. It’s staff. Our staff is getting sick. We’re testing them every day. I must have ordered half a dozen tests just since 8:00 this morning on our staff that are getting symptomatic and that number will grow throughout the day and the night. We are in a good position where we can test our own staff and find out if they’re positive or not and make the right decision. Not everybody is in that position. But staff is our biggest concern.

Frederica Freyberg:

All right. We leave it there. Dr. Rai, we wish you and your staff well. Thank you.

Ashok Rai:

Thank you.

Frederica Freyberg:

Elections this fall will have a dramatic impact on what happens the next two years at the state Capitol, including issues like redistricting, police reform and of course, the state budget. 16 of Wisconsin’s 33 state Senate districts are on the ballot. The story this fall is not whether Democrats can win enough seats to take control of the chamber but whether they can prevent Republicans from gaining a super majority. “Here & Now” Senior Political Reporter Zac Schultz shows us three of the most important races.

Dan Kapanke:

I’m Dan Kapanke. You know who I am? Wow. Running for state Senate.

Zac Schultz:

Republican Dan Kapanke has been running for office in the La Crosse area for 20 years.

Dan Kapanke:

You could vote for me, sir?

Man:

I sure give it some thought.

Dan Kapanke:

Would you do that? I appreciate that Tim.

Man:

You betcha.

Zac Schultz:

This will be his sixth time on the ballot to represent the 32nd Senate District.

Dan Kapanke:

Make sure the people in this district would have two choices.

Zac Schultz:

He’s won twice, was recalled after Act 10 and has lost twice. The last time in 2016 by just 61 votes.

Dan Kapanke:

I’ve won this district. I’ve lost this district. It’s again, very competitive. So you have to work very, very hard. La Crosse trends blue. And you know, I’ve got to pick up the surrounding areas.

Zac Schultz:

2020 will be different. In part because the incumbent, Democrat Jennifer Shilling, is not running.

Brad Pfaff:

I’m very excited about this election.

Zac Schultz:

The Democrat in this race is Brad Pfaff, who brings his own political journey to the race.

Brad Pfaff:

I’m running for a partisan office but people who know me know that when I go to work, I work for everyone.

Zac Schultz:

Pfaff ran against Kapanke way back in 2004 and lost. But most recently, Pfaff was serving as Governor Evers’ secretary of the Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Brad Pfaff:

Milk prices are a little better so they feel good about that. Grain prices are low, so they’re not excited about that.

Zac Schultz:

While Senate Republicans stalled his nomination vote, Pfaff got into a fight over when the Republicans would release money earmarked for farmer suicide prevention.

Brad Pfaff:

Rather than just moving forward, they decided that they were going to send me home.

Zac Schultz:

Republicans killed his nomination, effectively firing him.

Brad Pfaff:

I never took this personal because I don’t believe this was ever about me. I think this is just straight partisan politics.

Zac Schultz:

Despite his history as a candidate, Kapanke sees this as a race between himself as a businessman and Pfaff as a public employee.

Dan Kapanke:

I’ve worked in the private sector my whole life. He’s been in public sector. That’s not necessarily bad, but it’s a contrast between us.

Zac Schultz:

Pfaff says the difference is Kapanke was recalled for his vote on Act 10 while he lost his job for standing up for farmers.

Brad Pfaff:

I stepped forward to help individuals, regardless of their political persuasion, in times of need. I never have been part of the extreme partisanship that took place in the state Legislature.

Patty Schachtner:

Hi, this is Senator Patty Schachtner calling. I just wanted to touch base with you.

Zac Schultz:

Farther north, Democrat Patty Schachtner represents the 10th Senate District.

Patty Schachtner:

Communicating to District 10 about Wisconsin politics can be a challenge.

Zac Schultz:

The 10th is border country. Most of the area gets their local news from Minnesota. And most of the population growth is coming from people who work in Minnesota.

Patty Schachtner:

For most people in District 10, we don’t live in highly populated areas. Even our biggest cities are not like the big cities.

Zac Schultz:

Schachtner says that’s a problem when people want things like mental health services.

Patty Schachtner:

So if you’re on BadgerCare and you know, need mental health right away, even though it’s only 20 minutes away, you can’t go there.

Zac Schultz:

Schachtner came into office by winning a special election in January of 2018.

Patty Schachtner:

When I ran, most people knew me as the medical examiner and knew me from my work that I’ve done in suicide prevention and mental health.

Zac Schultz:

Schachtner’s Republican opponent is Rob Stafsholt, who serves in the Assembly. Stafsholt’s campaign would not agree to an interview. The 32nd and 10th are two of the Democratic seats Republicans think they can win this fall. If they pick up three seats in the Assembly and the Senate, the GOP would have veto-proof majorities heading into the next session and the next round of redistricting.

Ben Wikler:

If they get three more seats in each chamber, they’ll have control of the Legislature for another decade, because they’ll be able to re-gerrymander the map.

Zac Schultz:

Ben Wikler is chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. He says they’re not even trying to convince voters they have a shot at winning majorities.

Ben Wikler:

We don’t want to blow smoke. Republicans really rigged the way that state legislative elections work in Wisconsin.

Zac Schultz:

The idea behind their “save the veto” push is for Governor Tony Evers to veto Republican-drawn maps next year. And hope the courts draw boundaries that are more favorable to Democrats for the next decade.

Andrew Hitt:

It’s an interesting strategy. It’s a — I understand, though, that you know, they’re very much concerned about how redistricting would go if we would — if Republicans would achieve that veto-proof majority.

Zac Schultz:

Andrew Hitt is chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. He doesn’t think the “save the veto” message will resonate with voters.

Andrew Hitt:

People are going to vote on more kitchen table type issues than sort of this kind of vague, amorphous political issue of redistricting.

Zac Schultz:

Despite the defensive approach focused on saving the veto, Democrats are looking to flip seats.

Paul Piotrowski:

This is the best pick-up opportunity for Democrats anywhere in the state.

Zac Schultz:

Democrat Paul Piotrowski is a former Stevens Point police officer and city clerk running in the 24th Senate.

Paul Piotrowski:

Morning Jim. It’s Paul Piotrowski.

Zac Schultz:

This was a longtime Democratic seat but it flipped red in 2016.

Paul Piotrowski:

2016 was a very bad year for Democrats. Turn out was down and people flipped and — people who voted for Obama voted for Trump and then they followed suit down the ballot.

Zac Schultz:

Piotrowski says he’s hoping the moderates and independents will put him over the top.

Paul Piotrowski:

This is one of the few districts in the state where you don’t have an extreme partisan advantage on either side, so both of us have to appeal to moderates.

Pat Testin:

Hey, how’s it going?

Man:

Good, how are you?

Pat Testin:

I want to stop by and say hi. I’m Pat Testin, your state Senator.

Man:

Hi.

Pat Testin:

We surprised a lot of folks back in 2016 because I’m the first Republican that was elected to this district since 1968.

Zac Schultz:

Republican Senator Pat Testin says he saw the swing coming four years ago when he was talking with voters.

Pat Testin:

That’s what I heard quite a bit at the doors, was that they felt as though the National Democratic Party had kind of left rural working-class folks behind. And that’s where individuals like Donald Trump and myself kind of helped fill that void.

Zac Schultz:

The impact of the presidential race down ballot cannot be overstated.

Pat Testin:

Anytime you have a presidential year, there’s going to be an impact and it’s going to have a ripple effect down ballot.

Zac Schultz:

Trump performed well in all three Senate districts four years ago and Republicans hope the swing voters don’t swing back.

Dan Kapanke:

Even more than in 2016, because Trump is now president — is now a known, where in 2016 a lot of us saying, well, is he really a conservative or where does he stand on pro-life and where is he? And now we know. I think a lot of people are more confident in banging a yard sign putting in their yard than they were in 2016.

Ben Wikler:

Matters a ton how Joe Biden is doing in Wisconsin. There’s no question about that whatsoever. And it’s also the case that the state Legislative races are often won or lost on the basis of local issue.

Zac Schultz:

Perhaps even more confusing than the swing voter is the ticket splitter.

Andrew Hitt:

I don’t quite understand it. It’s hard to get your head wrapped around it except you have to, because that happens time and time again all across the state of Wisconsin, where people will split the ticket.

Zac Schultz:

But will there be ticket splitters this time?

Brad Pfaff:

I’m confident there are. We’re independent people.

Zac Schultz:

Who’s more likely to split their ticket, a Biden voter or a Trump voter?

Pat Testin:

I would hope that our body of work over the last four years will help insulate us from any turmoil at the top of the ticket.

Zac Schultz:

In the end, all they can control is their own campaign.

Patty Schachtner:

I’m talking about what I am bringing to the table. I don’t know how it’s going to go, but I know that certainly people are engaged.

Zac Schultz:

Reporting from La Crosse, Stevens Point, and Somerset, I’m Zac Schultz for “Here & Now.”

Frederica Freyberg:

You may have noticed some of the candidates in this story going door to door without a mask. And wondered about how these campaigns are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and how they might going forward. Over the next several weeks, Zac Schultz will continue his reporting from around the state, including a special report on how Republicans and Democrats are campaigning in the COVID era.

That’s our program for tonight. I’m Frederica Freyberg. Have a good weekend.

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For more “Here & Now” 2020 election coverage, go to PBSwisconsin.org and click on news. Funding for “Here & Now” is provided by the Focus Fund for Journalism and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.