Democrat Party approval ratings cratered before socialist candidates injected some enthusiasm and raised the numbers. They have yet to internalize that triangulation doesn’t work, and there is no version of being a moderate that will win over Republicans.

Thoroughly and precisely calculating thousands of nomination signatures and pages is beyond the scope of my attention to detail, but I did scroll through a handful of candidates of interest and can share some interesting takeaways.

Of these few races, Stacy Smiter’s challenge to Felesia Martin in District 7 feels the most likely to impact the political balance on the board, especially around key budget issues, which is the most important part of the County Board’s work.

If every Wisconsin donor was a voter in the party primary, Francesca Hong won nearly half (49.5%) of them! She also has Tom Tiffany beat single handedly, and all Democrats combined are whooping the Republicans combined.  

Stripping affordability from criticism of capitalism and inequality is how centrists will try and steal fire from left populists, and flatten the clear differences between candidates. In the process, they render political discourse meaningless.

As in 2018, the humanitarian crisis in Wisconsin prisons could play a big part in Wisconsin’s 2026 governor and legislative races. It should be easy to create a strong contrast with the absurd and inhumane Republican position, but Democratic candidates will have to distance themselves from eight disastrous years of Democratic control of the DOC under Tony Evers.

We’re betting that Francesca Hong will not only re-invigorate disillusioned Democrats and left activists to whoop her milquetoast rivals in the primary, but will also tap into anti-elite sentiment across the political spectrum to clobber Tiffany in the general. It looks like she’s got a good start on both.

Pre-emptive compliance is the #1 way to cede power to fascism. The Common Council needs to act. Pass an ordinance, and if the fascists object? Take it to court. Fight back, you cowards.

The obstruction charge Patel is bringing against Dugan is dubious enough that they would have similarly retaliated against any but the most docile responses from others. The trouble is, Trump has been wading headlong into the murky waters of legal ambiguity for years, while Democrats stand on the edges, wringing their hands. When you are facing a problem, it is important to never be alone. Right now, Trump is attacking the judiciary, and the judiciary has been standing alone against him, just like Judge Hanna Dugan was left to stand alone. If she defeats the charges and resumes her position, Trump still won, because he got a judge suspended for months.