about today’s presidential election?
We are not Steve Kornacki dripping sweat, sleeves rolled up as he works the Magic Board like a mad foosball player drilling down into an obscure precinct for tell-all electoral augury.
But we do have space to fill, lest we lose blog readers to a certain former mayor. So, yeah, we are working our pro edition Etch-a-Sketch for two counties in plum-colored Wisconsin: Waukesha and Dane counties. (Turns out we scribbled for daily newspapers in both.)
Dane County, anchored by Madison, flipped the Wisconsin Supreme Court leftward 18 months ago when it elected Janet (spell it with me) Protasiewicz, who ran a partisan campaign promising to legalize abortion without exception, gerrymander Wisconsin blue, and overturn Act 10. Essentially, she was Kamala Harris with a gavel.
Ms. Protasiewicz claimed an astounding 82% of the vote in Dane County — the second-most populous county in the state — where 62.3% of eligible voters went to the polls in a non-presidential election. (Compared to 39% statewide.) In fact, one of every five of her voters came out of Dane County. (We had more to say about it here.)
Waukesha County is all ‘meh’
Waukesha is Wisconsin’s third-most populous county. This prosperous Milwaukee suburb has long been the bell cow for state Republicans. Still contributes more GOP votes than any other county.
Four years ago, Trump took 59.6% of the vote in Waukesha county but the two Republican congressmen who share the county (Bryan Steil and Scott Fitzgerald) claimed 78.1% there that year. That’s some serious under-performance!
Conincidentally, Trump’s percentage of Waukesha’s vote in 2020 around matched his successful run four years earlier. But he managed 7,578 fewer votes against Joe Biden compared to his take against the Hildabeast in 2016. And Republicans count the votes there!
Meanwhile, Old Uncle Joe GAINED (all caps for emphasis) 34,963 votes in Dane County compared to Hillary’s haul in 2016. (She never visits!) Do the math: that’s a net gain of 42,541 votes for the Democrat. Consider that Trump lost Wisconsin (he did, guys, he really did!) by 20,682 last time.
A little fatigue?
Hillary was never that likable and was over-exposed while Trump was something new and exciting. Now the situation is reversed. This is the man’s third straight election and, if anything, he is more eccentric.
The new regime at Dane County GOP wants to improve that 18% to something like 24%. Indeed, Trump ventured into our county this time around — although no closer to Madison than Waunakee. Still, way back when, George W. Bush took just under one-third of Dane County’s vote against Al Gore. And he still lost the state!
Which is why Ol’ Sparky (our Eisenhower-era …) predicts that Trump loses Wisconsin. Not because we want Kamala Harris to win. (A pox on both!) But because his toxicity (there’s no other way to put this) trumps his better policy agenda.
Blaska’s Bottom Line: We’ll say it again: Trump would be leading by a country mile if he had gracefully admitted defeat four years ago and honored the counting of Electoral College votes on January 6. The man can’t bring himself to criticize the Proud Boys.
13 responses to “What can 2 WI counties tell us”
I’ve lost faith (after Walker lost in 2018 to that wimp Evers) that the GOP can win a statewide election in Wisconsin. Rojo’s narrow win two years ago being the exception. Ben Wikler and the rest of his Democratic regime here seem to have our number with their strong ground game, and it certainly doesn’t help that down ballot Republicans outpolled Trump by 60,000 votes in 2020. For these reasons I’m not holding my breath that Trump can squeeze out a victory in our fair state tonight. Hope I’m wrong, but the recent track record of the GOP leaves me no choice but to predict another narrow loss.
Go get your effing shinebox
Squire, I think you’re projecting: Trump would lead by a mile with YOU if he had “admitted defeat.. and Jan 6”. Those two issues don’t really resonate with most people and are far outweighed by the other more important issues. You’re kind of elitist that way: focusing on minutia while ignoring the big bread and butter issues that separate Trump from Harris.
That said, I copied Gotch and wrote you in for the uncontested Dane Co races.
Kooter, there are a lot of “Me’s” in Wisconsin. If I’m wrong, tell me why Trump ISN’T leading by a country mile!
Lying about elections and praising the Proud Boys will kill off America faster than expensive gasoline.
But thanks for launching my political comeback.
Agree, just ask the Progressives you are indirectly helping: deny elections and praising Antifa.
Do you believe that being on tv at a rally and giving the microphone a BJ got him a bunch of new voters?
If it wasn’t Jan 6 it would have been something else. The deep state would have come up with something else.
Abortion is the anchor in this election.
The Deep State invited the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers on January 6? Then why even bother to vote, One Eye? Is everything a conspiracy?
Just to pile on a little more, One Eye: You’re an example of how Trump has ruined America. Trump’s policies, mostly good (except for tariffs and no tax on tips). But this paranoid cynicism that he spreads like the clap. His acquiescence (if not outright encouragement) of political violence. The coarseness he brings.
I hate progressivism but Donald Trump is what keeps it alive another day.
Says the guy with “51 former U.S. intelligence agents” in his header.
Pfttttt … conspiracy nut.
Anyone so mind-numbingly imbecilic that they believe the despicable Lefty HAIL MARY that Trump was fellating a mic is too effin’ STOOPID (sic) to be allowed to vote.
C’mon, gobbling activity is reserved for aspiring stank skank ‘Hos launching political careers…like Kacklin’ Kamala.
The Gotch
Yep; a tRump man to the core. You love the rude, crude, twice impeached, 34 convictions, 6 bankruptcies and all-around pussy grabbing D-Bag. You must run your life just like he does.
I trust a pussy grabber more than somebody like you that has perfected the reach around.
How’s everyone doing?
The nation is sane.
Madison is still insane.
Remember the parable of the Chinese farmer.