The Governor’s Race is Incredibly Tight. Where do the Candidates Stand?

Hello, fellow Wisconsinites. Election Day is just around the corner, and if you are a college student like me, you may not have done much research on the candidates for Wisconsin governor. Most of my information on the two candidates has come from attack ads, so I am doing a deep dive into the two candidates, Wis. Gov. Tony Evers and businessman Tim Michels, and looking at their positions on issues important to college students.

College voters are critical to Wisconsin. College voters make up about 6.9% of the eligible voting population in the state. That is why it is so important for college students to get out and vote and be educated about their candidates.

According to a poll by the La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison some of the top political issues are healthcare, education, climate change and crime. Another source is the Marquette Law School poll that details how concerned Wisconsin residents are about issues in the state.

Climate Change

Based on research by Stateatrisk.org, Wisconsin is projected to see an increase in the severity of widespread summer drought of approximately 145% in the next 30 years. This is a problem for Wisconsin, a state that earns $104.8 billion annually from agriculture. In the La Follette School of Public Affairs poll, 71% of 18 to 29 year olds believe that climate change is a big problem

At the gubernatorial debate, Michels expressed doubt that climate change exists.

“Climate change, there’s a lot of discussion about that,” Michels said. “Has the temperature gone up? Temperature has always fluctuated throughout the history of this world. And we can’t just say it all happened because of man’s actions in the last 100 years.”

Evers says he wants to bring clean energy to the state. Evers has formed a task force he says will help combat climate change and create a cleaner and safer state. At the gubernatorial debate, Evers said that if Wisconsin is able to increase its solar power, it has a better chance of fighting climate change.

“We’re going to continue our efforts with solar (power), and we’re going to continue our efforts to mitigate climate change,” Evers said

Healthcare

Healthcare is important to Wisconsin residents, including young voters. In the La Follette School of Public Affairs poll, 64% of 18 to 29 year olds said that healthcare is big issue. In Marquette Law School’s poll showed 78% of registered voters were very concerned or somewhat concerned about Healthcare in Wisconsin, specifically abortion policy. Healthcare also became a bigger topic of concern with the Supreme Court’s June 24 ruling to overturn Roe V. Wade. This turned the legality of abortion over to the states. Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion law then went into effect, which made abortions illegal in the state.

Many attack ads against Michels focus on his anti-abortion stance. Michels originally said that he supports the 1849 ban and would do everything to keep it in place. However, on September 23, during an interview with WISN-AM radio, Michels stated that if the legislature passed a bill that allowed exemptions for rape and incest victims, he would sign it.

Evers supports removing the abortion ban and believes that abortion should be legal.

“I support women’s right to make those decisions,” Evers said at a September roundtable discussion at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Evers has been pushing since June to overturn the 1849 ban and says he will not sign any bill that does not clearly change the state’s law on abortion.

Education

In the La Follette School of Public Affairs poll, education is important to 62% of 18 to 29 year olds in Wisconsin. In the Marquette Law School Poll, 89% of registered voters were very concerned or somewhat concerned about education in Wisconsin, specifically public schools.

Michels’ plan for education is to use taxpayer money to allow children and families to choose where they want to go to school. Michels’ plan is for any child in Wisconsin to be able to qualify for a voucher that allows them to go to private schools. Michels places blame on the Milwaukee Public School system for low test scores. Speaking to the Rotary Club of Milwaukee in a forum, Michels said that reading scores showed that MPS is failing.

Evers wants to spend more money to improve the public schools in Wisconsin, but blames state legislators for holding up funding.

“In fact, Republicans have cut more than $4 billion of my education budgets over the last decade,” Evers said at the Wisconsin Public Education Network Summer Summit. Evers wants to dip into the a state budget surplus for the education system.

Evers also wants to legalize marijuana and use the money it generates to help fund schools. If marijuana is legalized in Wisconsin, Evers estimates it will generate $165 million in revenue.

Crime

Crime is a growing concern in Wisconsin. In the Marquette Law Schools poll, 78% of registered voters were very concerned or somewhat concerned about crime, while 82% were very concerned or somewhat concerned about gun violence. Neighborhood Scout gave Milwaukee a five on their crime index, indicating it is safer than only 5% of U.S. cities.

Michels has made additional funding for Milwaukee Police a big part of his campaign. Michels has stated that he wants to work with lawmakers and legislators to increase police funding and the size of the police forces across Wisconsin.

“We’re going to get crime down and we’re going to make sure law enforcement has the funds needed,” Michels said in the gubernatorial debate on October 14.

Michels has made it a point to attack Milwaukee District Attorney John Chisholm and Evers.

“Governor Evers should not have allowed this to happen,” Michels said, speaking at a press conference after the Kenosha unrest on the two-year anniversary of the Jacob Blake shooting. “And by his inaction he allowed this to happen.”

Milwaukee is currently facing record homicide rates. According to the Milwaukee Homicide Database put out by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee has had 184 homicides so far in 2022, 23 more than last year at this time.

Evers says he is trying to increase funding for the Milwaukee Police Department, but Evers insists the Republican-led legislature is blocking him. Earlier this month, Evers proposed a $105 million plan to boost public safety efforts across Wisconsin. Evers’ plan calls for an 8% increase to a fund that local government officials can access to pay for essential services. Also in the proposal is $10 million in funding for public safety costs, with more money going to bigger cities and $3.5 million to pay for State Patrol officer’s overtime costs.

“In order for those great people that work in the city of Milwaukee to do their work, they need the support financially from the state,” Evers said in the debate.

“This will be my first time voting in the governor’s race,” said Demani Safford, a UWM student. “I plan on voting for Tony Evers. His position mirrors my views better, I like his stance on health care, climate change, and his plans for the education system here in Milwaukee.”

Safford, who is Black, does have concerns about Evers, however.

“I am concerned about his plan on crime. There has been more crime in Milwaukee recently, making me feel like he isn’t doing the best job stopping crime. Regardless, I plan to vote for him.”

“Evers has my vote,” said UWM student Jason Majerus. “I like his views better. I think he’s the better candidate, and frankly, Tim Michels and some of his positions scare me.”

To register to vote and find a polling place near you, visit https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Register-To-Vote.