To hype up student’s on campus for the elections this November, UW-Eau Claire College Democrats hosted a Campus Kick-Off Rally.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin, State Assembly Rep. Jodi Emerson 2nd Congressional District Candidate Rebecca Cooke and 93rd State Assembly Candidate Christian Phelps were the main speakers at the Oct. 8 event, discussing different issues for Wisconsinites this voting cycle.
“There is a super minority for Democrats in the State Assembly,” Emerson said. “The Republicans could overturn at the drop of a hat. That’s how close it is.”
Emerson also said as a swing state, Wisconsin races are close between Republican and Democratic representatives. And for who is controlling the legislature, Emerson said it should not be so close to having a majority.
In 2011, the year before Phelps was old enough to vote, Gov. Scott Walker cut public school funding and then changed legislation maps to prevent the community do anything about it. Phelps said he saw the effects of this decision.
From 2016 to 2018, Phelps was a special education assistant and saw the effects of third-grade students with disabilities and professionals not getting the needed resources.
“Eight years ago, I started that job,” Phelps said. “And I know that every single budget that the Republican legislature in Wisconsin has passed since then has only fallen further behind inflation.”
Fellow Eau Claire native Cooke said the Democratic Party needs to step up in a big way to influence moderate and independent voters to get off the sidelines and expand the Democratic tent.
“We had two major hospitals closed in this community, so increasing healthcare access and affordability is a huge priority of mine,” Cooke said. “We need politicians that are not influenced by corporate special interests.”
Baldwin said her opponent, Eric Hovde, is working on repealing the Affordable Healthcare Act, which she helped write.
“[Hovde] celebrated when the Dobbs decision came down, overturning Roe v. Wade,” Baldwin said. “I’m leading the Women’s Health Protection Act, which is a bill that would restore Roe nationally.”
With Roe v. Wade being overturned in 2022, Emerson said Wisconsin fell back to its complete abortion ban from the 1849 law.
“[The law] that happened before women had the right to vote, before we had the right to have property and before we had the right to have a job, unless we had permission,” Emerson said.
Baldwin also discussed her passing the Respect for Marriage Act into law. This law recognizes any and all marriages in all 50 states in case the Republican Party decides to appeal other rights that were determined on the right of privacy.
“I have a plan — a plan that involves all of you working super hard to get me reelected to the United States,” Baldwin said. “There’s so much on the ground, but I don’t want anyone to ever forget your power in making a difference this election and beyond.”
Boggess can be reached at [email protected].