In just two weeks, voters in several state Senate districts will head to the polls to decide recall elections against six Republican Senators. A week after that, two Democratic Senators will face opponents in recall races.
As the dates of those races approach, UW-Madison political scientist Charles Franklin says a lot of money is being spent to get the message out to voters. Franklin says it could end up breaking spending records for previous state Senate races, due to the candidates and outside groups seeking to influence which party ultimately has control of the chamber.
The most expensive race could end up being in the state’s 10th Senate District. There, Republican incumbent Senator Sheila Harsdorf faces a recall challenge from Democrat Shelly Moore. Franklin says the cost of getting on the air in the Twin Cities TV market will likely drive the price of ad spending in that race much higher than other parts of the state.
Republicans are facing recalls over their votes in support of the Governor’s legislation that strips public employee unions of many of their collective bargaining powers. Democrats are on the ballot because of their decision to leave the state to prevent a vote on the bill.
John Colbert, WIBA