Name: Battle lines set for Wisconsin GOP's super-majority push
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Battle lines set for Wisconsin GOP's super-majority push

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You have permission to edit this article.© 2020 Lee EnterprisesBattle lines set for Wisconsin GOP's super-majority pushShare thisPlease subscribe to keep reading. You can cancel at any time.Already a subscriber?or .Loading&amp;hellp;Sign Up Today and Support Local JournalismEnjoy more articles from La Crosse's Most Trusted Information Source. Subscribers can log in for unlimited digital accessFILE - In this Aug. 9, 2011, file photo, former Republican State Senator Dan Kapanke answers questions in Onalaska Wis.FILE -This May 13, 2019, file photo shows Brad Pfaff, former secretary, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, in La Crosse, Wis.Kelda Roys stands outside the Capitol in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, June 26, 2018. Roys emerged from a seven-way Democratic primary in Madison to replace state Sen. Fred Risser, who has held the seat since 1962. No Republicans are running, so Roys' primary victory earns her the seat.FILE - In this May 17, 2017 photo, Brown County Supervisor Staush Gruszynski speaks at a Brown County Board of Supervisors meeting at City Hall in Green Bay, Wis. Gruszynski is now Wisconsin Democratic legislator.MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin's primaries set the battle lines for a push by Republicans to secure veto-proof legislative super-majorities, locking in high-stakes match-ups against Democrats around the state.After Tuesday's primary, Republicans head into November with solid control of both the Assembly and Senate thanks to district boundaries they drew in 2011. Their goal now is to flip three seats in each house. If they succeed, they'll win a two-thirds majority in both the Assembly and Senate, which translates to enough votes to override Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' vetoes.That would largely remove the governor from the political equation for the next session, which figures to be pivotal for the next generation of Wisconsin politics. Republicans are due to redraw district boundaries next year to reflect population changes recorded in the 2020 census and will define districts to their liking so they can maintain legislative control for another decade. Evers would be powerless to stop them if his vetoes can't stand.The state Democratic Party has launched a “Save the Veto” campaign and has been raising money for its candidates at an astonishing clip; the party last month reported raisingTuesday's primary set one-on-one match-ups in four of the six key races. Here's a look at where things stand:KAPANKE vs. PFAFFOne of the hottest contests this November figures to be for an open seat in western Wisconsin's 32nd Senate District.Former state Agriculture Secretary Brad Pfaff emerged from a three-way Democratic primary on Tuesday. Pfaff after Republican senators fired him from his post last year, an unprecedented move that reduced Evers to sputtering profanity to reporters.Pfaff will face a familiar Republican foe in November. Dan Kapanke, the La Crosse Loggers baseball team owner, bested Pfaff to win the seat in 2004 before losing it to Democrat Jennifer Shilling in a 2011 recall spurred by his support for then-Gov. Scott Walker's labor union restrictions. He lost again to Shilling by just 61 votes in 2016.The district looks like a toss-up this time around, too. Trump won the district in 2016 but Ron Kind, the district's long-time Democratic congressman, will be on the ballot and he's been campaigning with Pfaff. In another telling sign of how close the race is, Kapanke and Pfaff are neck-in-neck in fundraising, with each raising around $212,000 as of the end of July.SCHACHTNER vs. STAFSHOLTAbout 100 miles up the Mississippi River from the 32nd lies the 10th Senate District, where Republicans are looking for revenge after losing the traditionally conservative seat to Democrat Patty Schachtner in a special election two years ago.State Rep. Rob Stafsholt easily handled Somerset store owner Cherie Link in a GOP primary Tuesday to earn the right to face Schachtner in November. Campaign finance reports show Stafsholt had raised $80,000 compared to Schachtner's $140,000.HANSEN vs. WIMBERGERRepublicans also have their sights set on the open 30th Senate District in northeastern Wisconsin. Democrat Dave Hansen had held the seat for 19 years before announcing his retirement earlier this year, but the area is traditionally conservative. Hansen's nephew, Jonathon Hansen, defeated Sandra Ewald in the primary to win the Democratic nomination. He will face Republican attorney Eric Wimberger in November. Wimberger had raised just $16,000 as of the end of July compared with Hansen's $58,650.VINING vs. LEEDemocrat Robyn Vining won southeastern Wisconsin's 14th Assembly District by just four-tenths of a percentage point in 2018 and Republicans see her as vulnerable. Bonnie Lee, a Wauwatosa ministries director, easily survived a three-way GOP primary on Tuesday and will face Vining in November. Vining had raised nearly $140,000 as of the end of July compared with Lee's $89,000.THE RESTTwo other Assembly seats that Republicans have targeted didn't have any primaries on Tuesday. Democratic incumbent Beth Meyers will face Republican James Bolen in a battle for far northern Wisconsin's 74th District. Democratic incumbent Steve Doyle will take on Republican Kevin Hoyle in western Wisconsin's 94th District. Both Meyers and Doyle had easily out-raised their opponents as of the end of July, with each of them reporting six-figure fundraising numbers. Neither Republican reported raising more than $18,000.———Follow Todd Richmond on Twitter at https:twitter.com/trichmond1Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Get local news delivered to your inbox!MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Democratic leaders expressed hope Monday that President Donald Trump’s executive order requiring states to pay …LAKE DELTON, Wis. (AP) — A popular Wisconsin Dells attraction will remain closed for the rest of the season after two employees tested positiv…FILE - In this Aug. 9, 2011, file photo, former Republican State Senator Dan Kapanke answers questions in Onalaska Wis.FILE -This May 13, 2019, file photo shows Brad Pfaff, former secretary, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, in La Crosse, Wis.Kelda Roys stands outside the Capitol in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, June 26, 2018. Roys emerged from a seven-way Democratic primary in Madison to replace state Sen. Fred Risser, who has held the seat since 1962. No Republicans are running, so Roys' primary victory earns her the seat.FILE - In this May 17, 2017 photo, Brown County Supervisor Staush Gruszynski speaks at a Brown County Board of Supervisors meeting at City Hall in Green Bay, Wis. Gruszynski is now Wisconsin Democratic legislator.© Copyright 2020 , 1407 St. Andrew St., Suite A100 La Crosse, WI&nbsp;| &nbsp;|Powered by from .{{title}}{{summary}}You don't have any notifications.Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.Topics

You have permission to edit this article.© 2020 Lee EnterprisesBattle lines set for Wisconsin GOP's super-majority pushShare thisPlease subscribe to keep reading. You can cancel at any time.Already a subscriber?or .Loading&amp;hellp;Sign Up Today and Support Local JournalismEnjoy more articles from La Crosse's Most Trusted Information Source. Subscribers can log in for unlimited digital accessFILE - In this Aug. 9, 2011, file photo, former Republican State Senator Dan Kapanke answers questions in Onalaska Wis.FILE -This May 13, 2019, file photo shows Brad Pfaff, former secretary, Wisconsin...

Battle lines set for Wisconsin GOP's super-majority push

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