This Is How Democrats Win in Wisconsin
About this episode
Days after Biden's withdrawal, Wisconsin Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler explains how Democrats win the tipping-point state. Drawing lessons from Mandela Barnes's narrow 2022 Senate loss — where a late flood of attack ads defined Barnes before he could respond — Wikler argues Democrats must define their candidates early and sustain year-round organizing. He praises Harris's rapid consolidation of the party, discusses the VP selection and why the 'weird' attack on Vance lands, and explains Wisconsin's distinctive political culture: high civic engagement, ticket-splitting voters, and Tammy Baldwin's model of winning Republican-leaning areas through relentless retail politics. His core message: in a 50-50 state, victory comes from massive volunteer energy, early definition, and treating every voter as persuadable.