Heading into the final days of summer, electioneering continues to pick up with the September 14th Wisconsin primary just weeks away. GOP gubernatorial candidates Scott Walker and Mark Neumann recently held their last public debate. The winner of the primary faces Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in the general election. The latest Rasmussen Report poll shows both GOP candidates slightly leading Barrett, with Neumann leading Barrett 48 – 44%, and Walker leading Barrett 47 – 44%. Barrett has one primary opponent, Tim John of Oconomowoc, but polls show that Barrett is solidly in control of that race.Candidates in both the Senate and Assembly continue to hold fundraisers and knock on doors as just a handful of races in both houses could ultimately decide which party controls each chamber. The biggest battle on the Democratic side in next month’s primary election involves the 7th Senate District race in Milwaukee where incumbent Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee) is on the receiving end of considerable negative campaigning from a number of groups who support his more liberal opponent, Milwaukee County Supervisor Chris Larson. Environmental and progressive groups are upset with what they perceive as Sen. Plale’s involvement in the “Clean Energy Jobs Act’s” ultimate demise, which those groups supported.

While candidates run for office, state agencies are rushed to issue a slew of regulations before the September 1 deadline. Any proposed rule sent to the Legislature after September 1 must be reviewed by the next Legislature. With a new incoming Governor and potential power shifts in either house, many state agencies worked feverishly to meet the September 1 deadline. Below is a discussion of DNR rules recently adopted by the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board.

Hamilton Consulting will continue to provide election updates through the primary and general elections. Read more in the Sept. 2 issue of Political Tidbits.