David Michael Miller
It’s been a pretty terrible five and a half years for Wisconsin Democrats. Hard to believe the Dems controlled both houses of the state Legislature and the governor’s office as recently as 2009. When Scott Walker swept into power riding the anti-Obama backlash of 2010, Republicans took over all three branches of state government, redistricted the state to hold onto control, and launched their historic attack on unions, public schools, reproductive rights, voting rights, environmental regulation, open government and our general quality of life.
You know the rest of the story.
The Dems failed at two attempts to unseat Walker. They failed to stop the overwhelming assault on civil society. And now, with another round of elections fast approaching, progressives still talk about “messaging” and “building a bench.”
Republicans, in contrast, despite their fascinating meltdown at the national level, are running the table in Wisconsin. They have a lot of young people in high places, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and party chairman Reince Priebus. Walker’s presidential run was a bust, but that hasn’t stopped him from ramming through the further privatization and pillaging of the state, with a lot of help from millions of dollars invested by the Bradley Foundation, the Kern Foundation and Americans for Prosperity.
I don’t want to be a total downer, but things are not looking great for Dems, progressives and anyone else who likes the idea of functioning public schools, a great university system, clean parks, nice lakes, health care or the right to vote.
Against this backdrop, I attended a forum on building the Democratic bench recently, which The Progressive magazine co-sponsored, along with Emerge Wisconsin, New Leaders Council and Wisconsin Progress — three groups that are doing the hard work recruiting and training candidates to try to take back citizen control of our government.
These groups’ efforts are unimpeachable. They are in the trenches trying to get smart progressives to consider public service, and they are supporting their campaigns and achieving some victories.
But what do you say to young people who are willing to devote their time to local community service when, at the state level, there appears to be very little infrastructure to bolster the opposition against a right-wing juggernaut?
I asked the panelists at the forum this question, and they looked pained. But then they started talking about some of their favorite candidates, and about the dedication of these young teachers, farmers and community activists to local issues. Most get involved in public work by running for nonpartisan offices, and at the very local level, they make common cause with their neighbors — including conservatives — on doing what’s best for their communities.
It occurred to me that if we can bring that community spirit up the chain to higher office, it would fix a lot of what has been going wrong in our state.
But first, the Dems need a couple of Hail Marys.
They need to run a charismatic candidate for governor who can win this time. Not only would that be a significant psychological victory, it is the only real chance for changing Republican-gerrymandered districts in 2020 — the next census year. Unless Walker is defeated in 2018, there will be a whole generation lost to further consolidated Republican power. The Assembly and Senate will draw the districts, but the governor can veto them.
One Wisconsin Now also has a shot to win its lawsuit against the egregious efforts to deny citizens the right to vote.
These two possible victories — getting a new governor and beating back voter suppression — are critical to rebuilding our progressive state and giving the nascent progressive bench a chance to get in the game.
Finally, we need elected leaders and state officials who are committed to supporting the talent that we have. One word that came up repeatedly when I talked to veteran staffers and organizers frustrated with the lack of traction on our side was “lazy.” Ouch. Mark Pocan, who has traveled the state and now travels the nation supporting his fellow progressives, models an alternate vision. It’s scary how much the progressive side of politics in Wisconsin looks less like a team than like a collection of individuals.
Considering the significant infrastructure on the other side, that just won’t work.
This is a state that is still majority Democratic, though redistricting masks it. It is still a progressive state, although we are losing ground as quality of life declines and people move away. (One big reason people are leaving: We now lead the nation in cuts to higher education.)
Ultimately, community-minded progressives who are willing to seek office will be the ones to turn things around. But they need a little help.
Ruth Conniff is editor of The Progressive.
