Here & Now

The Stakes in the 2023 Race for Wisconsin Senate District 8

Frederica Freyberg:

On April 4th, Wisconsin voters will elect the Supreme Court justice that will determine the ideological balance of the court. On that same day, voters in the northern Milwaukee suburbs will elect a state senator that could determine something equally as large. Whether Republicans in the Senate hold a two-thirds majority. “Here & Now” senior political reporter Zac Schultz has the story.

Jodi Habush Sinykin:

Hi. How are you? I’m Jodi Habush Sinykin. I’m running for Wisconsin State Senate.

Dan Knodl:

I’m Dan Knodl, state representative, running now for State Senator.

Zac Schultz:

The special election in the 8th Senate District has the potential to be overlooked on April 4th. After all, no matter the outcome, Republicans will still control the Legislature and Democrat Tony Evers will still be governor. If Dan Knodl wins, he will become the 22nd Republican in the Senate, giving them a two-thirds majority. But Republicans would still be a couple votes shy of two-thirds in the Assembly. So there’s no threat of them being able to override a veto from Governor Tony Evers.

Jodi Habush Sinykin:

Wisconsin is, in fact, at a tipping point.

Zac Schultz:

But Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin is trying to convince voters the outcome could impact the entire state.

Jodi Habush Sinykin:

I have some literature if I could give to you and just impress upon you the importance of the April 4th special election.

Man:

Sure.

Jodi Habush Sinykin:

Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

Zac Schultz:

That’s because a two-thirds majority in the Senate would give Republicans in the Legislature the power of impeachment, the ability to remove civil officers of the state from office for reasons of corrupt conduct.

Dan Knodl:

I would hope voters do have that in their mind. I will put it in their mind because it is important.

Zac Schultz:

Dan Knodl would be the 22nd vote and he’s eager to test out the legal limits of impeachment, even if any attempt would likely be challenged in court.

Dan Knodl:

I think we have to be honest that that is likely. I have requests out right now from people who are more constitutionally scholarly than I am to tell me, well, give me an opinion on what this authority might provide.

Zac Schultz:

A 2014 memorandum from the non-partisan Wisconsin Legislative Council makes clear the term “civil officers” is not defined. So the first question is whether this would only apply to appointed cabinet level officials or state board members or whether Republicans could try to impeach Governor Evers or Attorney General Josh Kaul or a member of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Dan Knodl:

That’s the question, and that we may not know the answer unless we test that and use that authority and see how it shakes out, but I will initially look at it. That really could involve any elected official, particularly elected officials, government officials as well appointed. So I would think it’s — I view it initially as all encompassing.

Jodi Habush Sinykin:

Those type of shenanigans, those political games of impeachment whether they’re tied up in court or not, it’s not what we need in Wisconsin.

Zac Schultz:

A win by Habush Sinykin would take impeachment off the table but that’s not what she’s campaigning on.

Jodi Habush Sinykin:

And I just wanted to see if you were supportive. If there’s issues you are interested in talking about.

Man:

Well, what issues are you running on?

Jodi Habush Sinykin:

I’m very much running on women’s right to choose and have healthcare options.

Zac Schultz:

Like Democrats across the country, since the fall of Roe v. Wade, she’s campaigning on abortion.

Jodi Habush Sinykin:

What I am continuing to hear the gravest concern to folks is women’s right to choose and women’s healthcare options in general. That’s really been number one.

Dan Knodl:

And to me being prolife is a positive thing.

Zac Schultz:

Knodl has been in the Assembly for 14 years and has represented large portions of the Senate district over that time. He says that representation extends beyond those already living here.

Dan Knodl:

So I believe I need to be the voice of not only those that are adults, but younger people and the unborn. They don’t have a voice.

Zac Schultz:

Republicans in the Assembly recently introduced a bill that would provide rape and incest exceptions for abortion in the first trimester and clarifies when an abortion can be performed to save the life of a mother.

Dan Knodl:

I don’t think people give enough credence to the current law which protects the life of the mother, which is a main factor. So — but I am also — I do support rape and incest exceptions.

Zac Schultz:

The bill will go nowhere as Governor Evers promised a veto and Senate Republicans said they won’t even take it up. Habush Sinykin says even supporting the Assembly bill puts Knodl out of line with most voters.

Jodi Habush Sinykin:

What they don’t appreciate is that Knodl, who is my opponent, is extreme on abortion.

Zac Schultz:

The 8th Senate District has been a safe Republican seat for decades. Republican Alberta Darling held the seat for 30 years but she resigned last fall, setting up the special election to fill out the last two years of her term. Over the last six years, the seat has followed the path of suburbs across the country and shifted more democratic.

Dan Knodl:

I have to admit, certainly there’s a shift that has been going on. Just look at the election cycles.

Zac Schultz:

Knodl says some of that shift has been people moving out of Milwaukee to get away from crime.

Dan Knodl:

And nobody can deny that there’s crime, rising crime problem in the city of Milwaukee and that extends out into the suburbs and so we feel that.

Zac Schultz:

Habush Sinykin is also talking about crime but says Republicans are to blame for short-changing shared revenue, preventing cities from hiring enough police officers.

Jodi Habush Sinykin:

This Legislature really under my opponent’s watch, they are part of this problem. They are not providing our law enforcement with what they need to keep us safe.

Zac Schultz:

Knodl has a different solution to battling crime in Milwaukee. He wants to see the Senate use its new impeachment powers to target Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm.

Dan Knodl:

I’ve had statements before calling for his resignation. I just don’t feel that — and when we see the revolving door, that’s where it comes to in Milwaukee and we see the court cases and we see the aftermath of people getting out without — with low bail, specifically and causing even more harm. That’s a problem and that goes to the prosecutor.

Jodi Habush Sinykin:

It’s a classic move to point to an individual, a representative trying to keep our community safe and blame them for the very things that their policies are causing.

Zac Schultz:

Reporting from Germantown, I’m Zac Schultz for “Here & Now.”