As I See It
Does primary election predict the future?
What does the August primary tell us about prospects for the November election? We know that past results aren’t necessarily a predictor of future results, but gains made by Democrats in the recent election can’t be ignored. Perhaps most telling is the rejection of two Republican-authored amendments to the state Constitution, which would have limited the power of Governors to spend federal money. It was another attempt to restrict the power of Governor Tony Evers, and voters saw it as another underhanded attempt by the Legislature to grab even more power. It lost overwhelmingly, by a margin of 57% to 43%. That doesn’t mean Kamala Harris will defeat Donald Trump by the same big margin in Wisconsin in November, but Democrats are encouraged and Republicans are nervous. Consider also the losses of Wisconsin candidates endorsed by Donald Trump, like election-denier Janel Brandtjen who captured only one-third of the vote in her primary to retain her seat in the Legislature. Statewide, Democrats are eyeing possible gains in the Assembly and Senate, in part because of the fairer legislative voting maps the courts adopted, correcting the Republican’s abuse of power under previous maps. Nothing is guaranteed in November, but Wisconsin Democrats once again have something to smile about.
Roy
August 19, 2024 at 7:39 am
It’s the Democrats time to cheer and it’s nice you joined in, Scott. It’s DNC convention week, for those watching, the apogee of popularity for Ms. Harris. You’re aware, of course, that at this point in the campaign in 1988 George H.W. Bush was 17 points behind Michael Dukakis in the polls.
Dukakis was the liberal newcomer from Massachusetts who put on a helmet and sat in a tank in the photo. A lot can and will happen in the weeks ahead. Of course, that was back in the day when people voted on Election Day, when all the determining evidence on whom to vote for was in. Not today, when early voting is done before events surface that can cause voters to change their mind. Not to mention cast ballots sitting somewhere for weeks before they are counted.
Libertarian Guy
August 23, 2024 at 12:10 pm
If primary elections predicted the future, then Democrat nominee, Joe Biden would be on the ticket and running against Donald Trump. Vice President Harris, remember, was the first Democrat candidate to drop out of the 2016 election. In this election cycle she has not received a single vote in any primary. But none of that matters because the Democrats are simply cheering for their team and joyful, like football fans cheer for their team. Unfortunately, political office, and most certainly the presidency has far reaching implications for our future as a country in the world, unlike cheering for one’s favorite football team. Most unfortunately, that’s what our election process has been reduced to. Pick a team and cheer loudly and absolutely do not concern yourself with policy or political ideology. Capitalism versus Communism? That’s very important, but the media and Democrats don’t care as long as their team wins. Seeing them cheering for a person who threatens to change our way of life in the media who does not do its job to keep the public informed is very scary. The first amendment/Free Press was the founders way to make sure we are protected from the ruling elite. But the corporate media is now bought and paid for by the Democrat party so they no longer function as the founders intended.