The election is more than 14 months away, but there’s plenty of speculation about Madison School Board member Mary Burke running for Governor next year as a Democratic challenger to Governor Scott Walker. Political scientist Charles Franklin says Burke is getting some publicity, but it’s still early.
“In terms of the buzz and the conversation, she has been at the center of it,” says Franklin. “We’ve heard a couple of other names occasionally put forward, but I think that this far out it’s probably premature to say that the nomination is absolutely hers.”
Other potential Democratic candidates include Madison businessman Kevin Conroy, state Senator Kathleen Vinehout, Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris, and Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca. State Representative Brett Hulsey of Madison has also said he’s considering a run.
Burke, a former state Commerce Secretary, is a member of the family which founded Wisconsin-based Trek Bicycle, and would be able to self-finance a campaign.
John Colbert, WIBA