Back to Top Return to Inside this Edition Election Season is Off and Running By Joe Murray On July 11th, more than 230 legislative candidates filed the required paperwork with the state Elections Board to get their names on the September and November election ballots. The party that controls the Legislature in January of 2001 will not only decide legislative priorities, but will also redraw district lines during the reapportionment process. But the political big picture is really made up of many smaller campaign-related events and trends that take place during an election year. McCallum Fundraising Soars Lieutenant Governor Scott McCallum s fundraising for the first six months of 2000 was remarkably strong. McCallum, along with Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen, is gearing up to run for Governor in 2002.
Insiders view early fundraising success as a measure of the candidates future political potential.
State Senator Brian Rude s resignation from the Legislature after 17 years set off quite a scramble for the Senate s only open seat. On the Democratic side, State Representative Mark Meyer from La Crosse will have to wait until after the September primary to find out which Republican he will face in November. Democrats believe they will capture this longtime Republican seat. But Republicans vow to hold this seat and even claim this could be the race that determines which party will control the State Senate next January. Fitzgerald Endorsement Jeff Fitzgerald, Republican Assembly Candidate from Beaver Dam, has been endorsed by Wisconsin Right to Life, the state s largest pro-life organization.