Attack ads have already begun, even though Wisconsin’s election for U.S. Senate is more than a year away. Incumbent Democrat Tammy Baldwin faces re-election in late 2018. Many names have been mentioned as potential challengers, but so far, no Republicans have formally announced their intentions.
Maybe you’ve noticed one of the ads already targeting Wisconsin’s Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin. One airing online blasts her for supporting former President Obama’s nuclear arms agreement with Iran. The ad is sponsored by a group called Restoration PAC. Another group is airing a radio ad in Milwaukee, accusing Baldwin of being slow to respond to reports of excessive opioid medication at the Tomah VA Hospital.
Christopher Murray says it’s actually not unusual for the opposing party to air attack ads 18 months before an election. Murray's a political scientist at the Les Aspin Center for Government, based in Washington D.C.
“The national party would certainly like to take her out, so the money that is out there in the political environment for this type of thing is not surprising that it’s being directed at her already,” he says.
As for who might challenge Baldwin, the GOP’s highest profile candidate - Congressman Sean Duffy - announced in February that he would not run. His decision leaves several other Republicans considering a bid, including state Sen. Leah Vukmir, Madison business owner Eric Hovde and U.S. Marine veteran Kevin Nicholson.
Murray says he isn’t surprised potential hopefuls are giving the race plenty of thought. He says incumbents are difficult to beat, and typically the party of the president is at a disadvantage. So the scenario bodes well for Baldwin.
“Midterms are traditionally bad for the president’s party and they’re going to have to grapple with that and decide whether they want to mount a race, and that may entail giving up a seat that they currently occupy, mount a race that is probably going to be difficult for them to win,” he says.
Yet, Murray does not envision the GOP taking a pass on such an important race.
Republican Party of Wisconsin spokesman Alec Zimmerman predicts a field of good candidates will emerge later this year to challenge Baldwin. He says the GOP plans to capitalize on a couple weaknesses he perceives.
“She’s been in Washington for nearly 20 years and she’s defended the Washington status quo at every turn,” Zimmerman says.
Baldwin has spent most of her time in Washington as a member of the House; she was first elected to the Senate in 2012. Despite her tenure, Zimmerman believes the national GOP will now target the Democrat, knowing Wisconsin went for Donald Trump, in 2016.
“We’re a red state after last November and you have Tammy Baldwin as the last major statewide elected Democrat here and I think that has to put it as a high priority for national Republicans as well,” Zimmerman says.
“We will be supporting very fervently Tammy Baldwin. She’s exactly the kind of woman and the kind of fighter that we need in the Senate," Leila McDowell says. She's with Emily’s List, a national organization committed to electing women to political office.
McDowell thinks Democrats in turn will place high priority on Wisconsin. “When we look at the types of policies (such as health care) that are being run through the Senate and run through the House, we need voices like Tammy’s to stand up and stop these because it’s going to not just affect people of Wisconsin but people across the country,” she says.
