Mahlon Mitchell (Dave Hoefler/
Flickr)
Mahlon Mitchell, president of the Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin, announced today that he will run in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor in the upcoming Wisconsin recall elections. Mitchell is aiming to defeat the sitting lieutenant governor, Republican Rebecca Kleefisch, who has been targeted right alongside Gov. Scott Walker in the second wave of Wisconsin recall elections.
Back in the autumn, there was some buzz about Mitchell potentially running for governor against Scott Walker, including a "Draft Mahlon" effort. The draft efforts now redirect to Mitchell's campaign website.
Mitchell is not the only Democrat running in the May 8 recall primary, as Ira Robbins, a private investigator and Some Dude from Milwaukee, has also declared his candidacy. However, for a sense of Mitchell's chances to become the Democratic nominee, watch this video of the firefighters marching in the occupied rotunda of the Wisconsin capitol building during the height of the protests in February 2011.
The protesters on the ground considered the firefighters true rockstars. Mitchell should be considered a virtual lock to become the Democrat who takes on Rebecca Kleefisch.