DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) – A local political science professor discusses how the results of Tuesday’s special Senate election in Alabama could effect next year’s contest in the Badger State.
St. Norbert College’s Charley Jacobs says Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin can take notes from Doug Jones victory over Republican Roy Moore.
“In Alabama, get out to vote was incredibly important, especially among the African American community. I think if Tammy Baldwin creates a solid campaign with the kind of resources necessary to hit the ground running, she should be in okay shape.”
He says Baldwin should focus her campaign on issues like taxation and the budget, not more recent social ones that have divided the country.
Jacobs weighs in on what Republicans need to do ahead of 2018 races, such as the challenge for Baldwin’s seat in Wisconsin, where candidates like State Senator Leah Vukmir and Marine Corps veteran Kevin Nicholson have already expressed interest.
“(The Republican Party) is going to have to vett these candidates well, and they’re going have to find individuals who are squeaky clean and willing to toe the line when it comes to Congressional Republican politics.”
Jacobs notes the party will likely be best off avoiding candidates who are closely associated with President Trump, since they will likely draw more scrutiny from the media and the Democratic Party.
He expects many legislative candidates may keep their distance from the president.
Jacobs says Tuesday’s result sends a clear message to the White House.
“It is a signal that the public is willing to listen to alternatives to Trump, as well as the establishment voices in Congress.”
However, with Moore spending weeks having to deny sexual misconduct allegations from several women and with Republicans having been a perfect 4-0 in special elections to fill Trump Administration officials’ seats in the legislature, Jacobs says the president’s endorsement of Moore can’t be analyzed too heavily.
“I think that there was a unique case here with unique conditions. As a result, I’m not sure how much we should take away from the injection of the administration and the president.”
