We're well acquainted with Wisconsin's, er, troubled leadership. Heck, we enthusiastically backed the failed effort to recall Republican Gov. Scott Walker. Problem is, even anti-Walker voters were unhappy with the recall mechanism. He won on process, not substance. Lesson learned.
Of course, things didn't turn out so great for Wisconsin. Thanks to Walker, the jobs picture has been abysmal, and not getting any better. Indeed, Walker's much-heralded promise to create 250,000 jobs during his administration isn't going to happen. Who knew that destroying unions and cutting taxes wasn't the path to prosperity?
Walker fancies himself presidential material, so he's playing to the worst tea party impulses—opposing marriage equality, requiring ultrasounds for those getting abortions, eliminating state funding for Planned Parenthood, opposing minimum wage, and standing in the way of Obamacare expansion in his state. Needless to say, that's all history in a Burke administration.
There's plenty to care about even if you don't live in Wisconsin. There's the whole thing about Walker wanting to run for president. It would be fun to prematurely squash those dreams. But more tangible, President Barack Obama won the state by six points, yet Republicans hold five of its eight congressional districts. Yup, that dreaded redistricting again. If Burke wins, she's the incumbent in 2018, with all the advantages that entails. We hold the governorship in 2020, and we're well on our way to improving the map—worst case, the two parties negotiate a compromise map (better than current gerrymander) or a judge draws fairer lines (better than the current gerrymander). We win this seat, and it would be the equivalent of a 1-2 seat gain in the House. It's a 2 for 1 deal!
So let's get rid of Scott Walker, this time for good. Give $3 to Mary Burke!
Oh, and it's a winnable race.