MILWAUKEE (WTAQ) - This summer’s recall elections could give the Democrats their best chance of taking back the majority in the state Senate not only for this year, but for the next session in 2013.
Zac Kramer of the Senate’s Democratic Committee told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that, “all this is for 2013.”
Republican strategist Mark Graul agreed, saying Democrats realize the only way they can win control is to grab it now instead of November. That’s when senators with more solid GOP voter bases will be up for election – and the new district maps the Republicans drew up are scheduled to be used for the first time.
In last summer’s recalls, Democrats reduced the GOP’s Senate majority to one vote, down from five in 2010. And UW-La Crosse political scientist Joe Heim says Democrats have better than a 50-50 chance to win back the Senate majority this summer. That’s because three of the expected four contests are in swing districts where voters have a history of changing the parties who represent them.
Only Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald’s district traditionally goes Republican – and no Democrat has emerged yet for Fitzgerald’s possible recall election.
The Democrats who announced for three other seats last week either are in the Legislature now or they used to be – and Fitzgerald says all three have clear records of raising taxes.
Meanwhile, Fitzgerald says he’ll consider putting up fake Democrats again, to force Senate primaries before the four GOP incumbents stand for election.
The Journal Sentinel says Republicans want to avoid Senate general elections on the same day as the gubernatorial recall, because a heavy Democratic turnout is expected that day.
