Walker’s Reelection Now A Certainty
Foxconn deal would make him a 10 point favorite if Las Vegas offered odds.
Gov. Scott Walker. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
Governor Walker’s three statewide election victories were by margins of 5, 7, and 5 percentage points.
Prior to the Foxconn deal a reasonable forecast for 2018 would have been for another victory in that range. Despite the empty Democratic bench, and the absence of any clear agenda, a hardcore retains a strong dislike of the Governor. In my opinion that would limit any talk of landslide re-elect numbers for Walker.
Foxconn obviously changes the outlook. If Las Vegas were to take bets the opening line now would be -10, meaning Walker is a 10-point favorite to win. That would be the number likely to get enough bets on both sides that bookmakers could make their desired commission profit.
Could Walker approach Tommy Thompson landslide numbers from his last three elections (+16, +37, +21)? The answer depends on whether Wisconsin Democrats can descend to an even lower level of ineptness.
Following Tommy’s 7-point margin over incumbent Tony Earl in 1986 he clobbered a credible candidate in Tom Loftus and then simply swamped Chuck Chvala and Ed Garvey.
A factor helping Dems next year is the unity they will have in support of Tammy Baldwin. That will help in turnout, something that otherwise could be dampened if their candidate for Governor is weak.
And then of course there is the wild card of all times: Donald Trump. It is impossible to predict what might occur in the next year on the national level that could re-align the Wisconsin electorate, one that voted for him (and Ron Johnson) just nine months ago.
The Journal Sentinel’s Craig Gilbert has chronicled Wisconsin’s sharp partisan divisions, perhaps the greatest among the fifty states. That was not the case in the Thompson years, a factor that keeps Walker safely in the re-elect column but not yet approaching serious landslide speculation.
More about the Foxconn Facility
- Murphy’s Law: What Are Foxconn’s Employees Doing? - Bruce Murphy - Dec 17th, 2024
- With 1,114 Employees, Foxconn Earns $9 Million in Tax Credits - Joe Schulz - Dec 13th, 2024
- Mount Pleasant, Racine in Legal Battle Over Water After Foxconn Failure - Evan Casey - Sep 18th, 2024
- Biden Hails ‘Transformative’ Microsoft Project in Mount Pleasant - Sophie Bolich - May 8th, 2024
- Microsoft’s Wisconsin Data Center Now A $3.3 Billion Project - Jeramey Jannene - May 8th, 2024
- We Energies Will Spend $335 Million on Microsoft Development - Evan Casey - Mar 6th, 2024
- Foxconn Will Get State Subsidy For 2022 - Joe Schulz - Dec 11th, 2023
- Mount Pleasant Approves Microsoft Deal on Foxconn Land - Evan Casey - Nov 28th, 2023
- Mount Pleasant Deal With Microsoft Has No Public Subsidies - Evan Casey - Nov 14th, 2023
- Microsoft, State Announce Massive Data Center Expansion, Land Purchase - Joe Schulz - Nov 11th, 2023
Read more about Foxconn Facility here
The Contrarian
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I like what Rep. Jimmy Anderson said and also think he should consider running against Walker next year…
“Wisconsin taxpayers should not be subsidizing private corporations at the expense of our children, schools,
and roads. And despite Governor Walker’s alleged fiscal conservatism, the truth is that he is fine with spending
money so long as it doesn’t go to you, the real hard-working taxpayers of our state. The Republican-controlled
legislature and Governor Walker have consistently asked you to tighten your belt or have rejected other
opportunities to create family sustaining jobs, but when a multinational corporation wants a multibillion-dollar
handout, Governor Walker more than bends over backwards. All the while, our schools struggle to stay open,
Main Street is littered with potholes, and huge numbers of Wisconsinites cannot even drink the water coming
out of their taps. That’s not leadership”
What about the city of Milwaukee tax payers, did they not subsidize, Boston Store, ASQ building, the new Bucks Arena, the Grand Avenue, Manpower, the Intramodal, the Coulture, Miller Park, the Riverwalk, the Trolley,…..nice Argument, Rep. Anderson.
I’d put his odds at winning as dogcatcher in 5 years at 5% when all the bills and bonds start coming due. You can only play the Wizard of Oz for so long before someone sees behind the curtain.
So Jason- You have a problem with corporatism and subsidizing companies at the expense of property taxpayers? Then you must hate the Fox-con, because it allows for TIF districts to last UP TO 30 YEARS.
Let me remind you that George Mitchell was probably one of those clowns who was saying “This cements George Bush as a transformational, great president” when Dubya was standing in front of that “Mission Accomplished” banner in 2003. Do not get swept away by the GOPperganda and corporate cheerleading for this boondoggle that will make this already deficit-ridden state near broke within 2 years.
But Jake formerly of the LP, we have a unique opportunity to be the new Kansas but one without those pesky pollution laws.
Aka- “Bobby Jindal’s Louisiana,” Observer? Without New Orleans culture and with brutally cold winters? Sounds swell!
Perhaps Walker will authorize taxpayer money for a retractable dome over the complex. Hmm Brownback’s Kansas versus Jindal’s Louisiana would be a pickle but Louisiana has elected a Governor, John Bel Edwards, that has rejected Jindal’s changes. He is raising taxes and intends to cut the number of persons incarcerated for petty crimes.
George,
If I were a Republican legislator outside the Racine and Kenosha area, I would be afraid that voting for this could leave me open to an attack similar to the one that took down George Petak.
Hi Bruce,
First off, great piece on city debt and MacIver.
I don’t see a parallel between subsidies to Foxconn and the sales tax vote for Miller Park that took down George Petak. Opponents of the Foxconn deal will have trouble linking its supporters to a tax hike.
Devil’s in the details. I am ill-informed about the package that will be voted on next month.
BTW Bruce, my prediction about the outcome of next year’s election should not be construed as an endorsement. Only a prediction.
It’s certainly possible that the publicity and accolades will help Walker. But let’s say you live in western Wisconsin or the Fox Valley and found Trump’s faux populism enticing. How does a project in the southeast corner of the state, which is not scheduled to be completed until 2020, and which will require an influx of workers from elsewhere because Wisconsin lacks a workforce with the requisite experience, help you? I think it’s plausible that this won’t affect hte election much one way or another, except for giving Walker a line similar to his infamous “250,000 jobs” from 2010.
The bigger issue is the lack of a viable opponent (again). The Dems don’t have one. Evers has won a statewide election but I can’t imagine him beating Walker in a very different type of race. The rest have no chance whatsoever. Walker doesn’t need Foxconn to win next year.
I would think that if the Foxconn deal does not play out as expected but it still proves to be a tax burden for the entire state, Walker could be in real trouble. I think a Kathleen Vinehout could easily beat Walker. She’s not from Milwaukee or Madison. She’s a farmer. She’s a populist. She’s relatively unknown but still has more recognition than Mary Burke did when she was appointed as the Dem candidate. A successful Foxconn, of course, would change that.
What is Vinehout’s name recognition statewide? 5% I don’t see how she beats a formidable incumbent. Beating Walker easily is never going to happen.
Walker is in trouble. If look purely at state history only once in the last two generations did we have a president and governor of the same party whether Republican or Democrat share power together. (Thommy Thompson and G.H. Bush 88-92). Second, do not underestimate the left and its hatred for Trump. Will Trump campaign with Walker and is that a good thing. Third, the state economy seems to be surging in areas Trump did poorly in (Madison and Milwaukee) where he lost to Hillary 80-20. Walker may do better 75-25 but he needs to drum up the rural vote where the economic out look is fare at best. Fourth, Tammy Baldwin is on the same ballot as Walker and she is a fighter. My guess Walker and Baldwin both do not win. Who’s base will show? There are very few supporters of both Walker and Baldwin.
I think you mean the nation’s hatred of Trump.
Walker will win by 3-4 points. I used to think Baldwin would lose by 5+, but the Trump Whitehouse is far more catastrophic than expected. I think Baldwin still loses, but it’ll be close.
The electorate for mid-term elections are decidedly GOP, and Wisconsin has turned to a red state. Democratic candidates who attempt state-wide races will have to be rock stars to win.
Baldwin beat Tommy Thompson. So far there isn’t a Tommy Thompson in the GOP field. Not even close. Plus with Trump’s unpopularity and history showing that the party in the White House always loses seats, I think Baldwin wins (and so does Walker).
Baldwin did not beat Tommy Thompson. Obama beat Tommy Thompson. Obama was a unique politician such that he was able cobble together a juggernaut of political groups that could not be beaten. He was unique. I cannot see Walker winning by four points. If I was Tammy Baldwin’s manager I wouldn’t care who the Republican’s put up. Attack Walker and Trump. I would go to La Crosse, Janesville, and the northwest parts of Wisconsin and show how Walker took care of SE Wisconsin and left you with Crumbs. Bring up, freeway money, the Buck’s arena, Fox Conn, and Barrett’s silly Trolley to nowhere. Baldwin is running against the Walker wave of 2010 and 2014….that wave is flat in 2018.