Here & Now

Key Races to Watch: State Senate

Frederica Freyberg:
While the race for governor will have the biggest impact on the direction of state government, control of the state Senate is up for grabs as well. In tonight’s closer look, “Here & Now” reporter Zac Schultz shows us three districts that will help decide which party controls the Senate.

Jeff Smith:
So I have a few favorite spots.

Zac Schultz:
Democrat Jeff Smith spends a lot of time on the campaign trail in his truck.

Jeff Smith:
Here’s a nice little service road.

Zac Schultz:
But the truck also doubles as a billboard.

Jeff Smith:
My campaign style is slightly different than most people.

Zac Schultz:
Add a lawn chair and it quickly becomes a mobile campaign office.

Jeff Smith:
So I created this idea of stop and talk.

Zac Schultz:
Smith is running in the 31st Senate District, which includes a lot of small towns in western Wisconsin and most of the city of Eau Claire.

Jeff Smith:
We have a really good chance of winning the State Senate.

Zac Schultz:
The 31st is an open seat because the incumbent, Democrat Kathleen Vinehout ran in the primary for governor instead. Republicans control the Senate with an 18 to 15 majority, but Democrats think they can pick up two seats to take control. But that requires them to hold seats like the 31st.

Jeff Smith:
And this is a 50/50 seat. So I’ll take that anytime.

Zac Schultz:
But Smith knows this isn’t a surefire win.

Jeff Smith:
People feel like they’re being ignored in rural Wisconsin.

Zac Schultz:
Outside of Eau Claire, this is Trump country.

Jeff Smith:
Many times people have come by and said, “Well, you’ll be the only one I’ll vote for on your side of the aisle.”

Zac Schultz:
The Republican in this race is Mel Pittman, who ran for this seat and lost in 2014. Pittman did not respond to multiple requests for an interview.

Caleb Frostman:
My name’s Caleb Frostman. I’m the new state Senator.

Man at door:
I know who you are. Congratulations.

Zac Schultz:
Another seat the Democrats need to control is the 1st District, from stretches from Lake Winnebago to Door County.

Man at door:
Got our vote last time.

Caleb Frostman:
I appreciate that.

Zac Schultz:
Democrat Caleb Frostman is the incumbent, but just barely. The Republican who used to hold the seat joined the Walker administration last December and the governor wanted to leave the seat empty. He was sued and a judge ordered Walker to call a special election, which Frostman won in June.

Caleb Frostman:
We are taking nothing for granted. Even with the win back in June, we’re treating this as if we’re the underdogs, which I think we are.

Zac Schultz:
Frostman says winning the special election will help win the fall election.

Caleb Frostman:
We started the special election with very little name recognition and we were able to win that race which was great. Now this summer between different legislative events, I think we’ve gained some name recognition.

Zac Schultz:
This is another Trump district, but Frostman says voters are changing their minds.

Caleb Frostman:
I heard from people that have been moderate and made the switch or have been moderate and stayed home.

Man at door:
Hi there.

Andre Jacque:
Hello there, Andre Jacque, your state representative.

Zac Schultz:
The election is the 1st Senate District will be a rematch of the special election, with Republican State Representative Andre Jacque.

Andre Jacque:
It was soundbites over substance in terms of what actually occurred.

Zac Schultz:
Jacque says the low turnout special election has no bearing on the fall.

Andre Jacque:
I have that question from a lot of people at the doors. But this doesn’t really count for anything or the one that really counts is in November. I’m like, “Well, yeah.”

Zac Schultz:
Jacque has represented the 2nd Assembly District for the last eight years, often pushing conservative legislation that gets him in trouble with his own party leadership. Like a ban on the sale of fetal tissue that could jeopardize UW research. And a full repeal of the prevailing wage. But Jacque sees that as a selling point.

Andre Jacque:
You know, even if I’ve had some flare-ups with leadership, I think people see me as somebody who’s going to be more fundamentally honest in terms of not playing into some of the political games.

Zac Schultz:
Jacque says he’s giving up a safe Assembly seat to make a bigger difference in the Senate.

Andre Jacque:
In the smaller chamber, you’re going to have a smaller majority and a greater opportunity to have your voice heard.

Chris Kapsner:
Hi. I’m Chris Kapsner. I’m in the neighborhood introducing myself. I’m an ER doctor running for state Senate.

Zac Schultz:
The opportunity to make a difference is what inspired Democrat Chris Kapsner to run for the Senate.

Chris Kapsner:
I was in my own little bubble, and my complacency washed away after November 2016. So I decided, okay, either step up or be quiet.

Zac Schultz:
Kapsner is running for the open seat in the 23rd Senate District, which is northeast of Eau Claire. It’s a conservative district, but Kapsner is a doctor, not a politician, and he thinks that makes a difference.

Chris Kapsner:
Don’t judge me on the letter behind my name, except for M.D. I’m good with those initials.
Hey, can I count on your support?

Man at door:
Yep.

Chris Kapsner:
Thank you so much. Remember my name. It’s Kapsner.

Zac Schultz:
Democrats across the state were energized when they won two Senate seats in special elections in the last year. But Kapsner isn’t sure whether that enthusiasm will translate to his race.

Chris Kapsner:
I’m cautiously optimistic. We might have the wind at our back. It’s still an uphill battle.

Zac Schultz:
The Republican in this race is Kathy Bernier. She also did not respond to multiple requests for an interview. Nor did Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald. Ever race is local but one common issue is transportation and roads.

Caleb Frostman:
It’s one of the more bipartisan frustrations I’ve heard about, are the state of our roads in the 1st Senate District.

Zac Schultz:
Democrats across the state have been attacking Republicans for not increasing funding for road construction in the last eight years.

Jeff Smith:
Politicians are basically cowards when it comes to raising taxes.

Zac Schultz:
Most Democrats support some increase in the gas tax.

Caleb Frostman:
A lot of folks are onboard to just fix it, but there are very few folks that have the political courage to just fund it.

Chris Kapsner:
Right now what I see is we’re ignoring it. There’s always a cost. There’s a cost for repairing the roads. There’s a cost for not doing it.

Zac Schultz:
Republicans have been fighting internally about how to raise revenue for roads without increasing taxes. Andre Jacque isn’t even conceding the roads are in bad shape.

Andre Jacque:
You know, I think that there’s always opportunities to make improvements.

Zac Schultz:
Jacque would like to see some sales tax revenue diverted into the transportation fund, but follows Governor Walker’s stance of not raising the gas tax without cutting taxes elsewhere.

Andre Jacque:
I could accept the governor’s framework of if we are going to increase revenues for transportation, that we would find some way to make those choices elsewhere in the budget to make sure that people’s tax burden isn’t increased.

Zac Schultz:
As much as they stick to the issues, these candidates know the top of the ticket and the national climate will impact their elections.

Caleb Frostman:
There is definitely some enthusiasm in the district that has come from the reaction to the national political scene.

Andre Jacque:
I don’t know what the Trump effect is.

Jeff Smith:
It’s kind of scary that it’s out of our hands.

Zac Schultz:
Jeff Smith was in the Assembly during the Obama wave and then lost in 2010, when a wave carried Andre Jacque into office.

Jeff Smith:
We really are at the mercy of what happens at the top of the ticket. I know that. I’ve been a victim of that. And I’ve been a benefactor of that.

Zac Schultz:
So all they can do is hope the top of the ticket helps and run their best race.

Chris Kapsner:
I don’t care if you’re Republican. I don’t care if you’re Democrat. My message is simple, strong, positive.

Andre Jacque:
I guess I don’t focus too much on other people’s races that are beyond my control.