WI-01: Steven Herr endorsed by Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Steven Herr was endorsed by Milwaukee's leading newspaper, the Journal-Sentinel:

It's probably a testament to Rep. Paul Ryan's strength in the 1st Congressional District that no Democrat elected official or major player opted to challenge the Republican congressman. But voters will still be able to make a solid choice in the Democratic primary when they go to the polls on Tuesday: Five concerned citizens took up the challenge dropped by their party leaders and are vying for the Democratic nomination to face Ryan in the November general election.

Of those five, and in a very close call, Kenosha businessman Steven Herr, 49, offers voters a good mix of real-world experience and support for Democratic values and positions. He supports a national health care system; a 24-month timeline for withdrawal from Iraq; higher vehicle fuel efficiency standards and public financing of elections. Herr runs a road-salt business in Kenosha and has an apartment there but lives weekends on his family's hobby farm in Brodhead. He told us he would move into the district on a permanent basis if elected.

In 2000, 2002, and again in 2004, a weak perennial candidate got the Democratic nomination and never received more than 35% of the vote.  That perennial candidate is running yet again, but hopefully the Democrats will be turning over a new leaf in southeast Wisconsin.  Please help Steven Herr get the nomination so we can give the voters of Wisconsin's first district a reason to vote Democratic again.

•  Milwaukee J-S wrong about one thing

  It isn't Paul Ryan's "strength" which scared off Party insiders from this race - he isn't God's gift to the voters - it's his money.  He's been able to accumulate a sizeable warchest because he had the weak perennial Democratic candidate (Jeff Thomas) to run against in 2000, 2002, and 2004.  He's raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from insurance companies, investment bankers, and assorted others who don't need help from the government.

  by CA Pol Junkie on Fri Sep 08, 2006 at 10:36:23 AM PDT

•  Congratulations

    Hope the Dems do some serious damage here.

  by oceanview on Fri Sep 08, 2006 at 11:13:57 AM PDT

  •  Thanks

    This is one of those districts that flipped to the GOP in 1994.  This is a good year to fight to get back those suburban, blue collar, and rural votes we lost 12 years ago.

    by CA Pol Junkie on Fri Sep 08, 2006 at 11:25:01 AM PDT

    •  Re-Districting Did Not Help

      After the 2002 census, this district became more Republican.  I believe the old map included Beloit and all of Janesville.  Now those areas, and their union voters, are part of Tammy Baldwin's 2nd district.

      The new 1st includes some swing suburbs in southern Milwaukee County (Oak Creek, Greenfield, Franklin) but also deep blue regions in bluer than blue Waukesha County (Town of Waukesha, Town of Vernon, Town of Eagle).  As a result, the district went 55-45 for Bush in '04.  

      I still think any candidate other than Thomas should at least be able to get up to John Kerry numbers.  Remember, Paul Ryan was W's leading cheerleader in the House for Social Security privatization.

      by evonhel on Fri Sep 08, 2006 at 11:40:44 AM PDT

      •  New Berlin especially

        Beloit was removed from the district, but the city of Janesville is still in the district.  New Berlin (or at least a big chunk of it) was added, and it votes 65% or so Republican.  The new district voted 51-46 Bush over Gore and 53-46 Bush over Kerry for a partisan rating of R+5 or so.  Hopefully enough of those Bush voters have realized their error.

        I still think any candidate other than Thomas should at least be able to get up to John Kerry numbers.  Remember, Paul Ryan was W's leading cheerleader in the House for Social Security privatization.

        Yup.  We at least need to make it competitive so Ryan has to burn through his warchest.  With a big wave, it's possible to win the district this year, but we at least need to soften Ryan up for 2008.  Steve Herr will be doing everything he can to make sure everyone knows about Ryan's continuing desire to privatize Social Security.

        by CA Pol Junkie on Fri Sep 08, 2006 at 12:28:31 PM PDT

•   Hopeful, but not confident

  The Milwaukee J-S endorsed Jeff Thomas' only primary opponent in 2004, but Thomas still won easily.  My guess is Republicans vote in large numbers in the the Dem primary for Thomas (Ryan never has a primary challenger) because Thomas has been such a pathetic general election candidate.  

  I'll do my part and vote for Herr on Tuesday, but I'm ready to groan and moan all over again about seeing Jeff Thomas against Paul "Never had a real job before becoming a Congressman" Ryan on the Novemeber ballot.

  by evonhel on Fri Sep 08, 2006 at 11:23:28 AM PDT

  •  I hear you...

    Steve will be going all out until polls close on Tuesday to get every vote.  All we can do is fight like hell and hope it's enough.  Thanks for your vote - please implore others you know in the district to vote for Steven Herr as well.

    by CA Pol Junkie on Fri Sep 08, 2006 at 11:28:44 AM PDT

•  I screamed at the WI dems

  for not supporting or searching for a solid candidate to run against Ryan over a year ago, and I don't even live in that district.

  I was met with shrugs & yawns: "Ryan is unbeatable." Bullroar. Look at the climate today. A dem running against Ryan could use the same rubberstamp ad that other candidates use.

  Good news for Steven Herr. Just like in WI-08, there are dems who can win. Primaries will be on 9/12.

  If Herr (or whomever) and Kagen (or whomever) don't win in WI-01 and WI-08 respectively, the dem party will have only itself to blame.

  by bleeding heart on Fri Sep 08, 2006 at 11:23:45 AM PDT

  •  rebuilding and taking back the Party

    The Party has certainly been having problems locally in SE Wisconsin lately, and is in need of rebuilding.  Hopefully some good nominees for Congress will help.

    by CA Pol Junkie on Fri Sep 08, 2006 at 11:30:42 AM PDT

    •  Whatever happened to Les?

      Wasn't this a solidly Democratic district back in the day?  Held by Les Aspen for many moons if I am not mistaken.

      This one wasn't lost to gerrymandering, but to DNCC apathy and the rise of right wing talk radio.  Time to take it back.

      by Uranus Hz on Fri Sep 08, 2006 at 11:38:22 AM PDT

      •  Les Aspin

        Les Aspin was appointed Secretary of the Defense by Clinton.  A Democrat whose name escapes me was elected in a special election to replace Aspin, but he was then beaten by Mark Neumann in 1994.  It was made a little more Republican in the 2000 redistricting, but a Democrat can still win here.

        by CA Pol Junkie on Fri Sep 08, 2006 at 12:19:09 PM PDT

•  Sigh

  Why is the Journal Sentinel using the GOP's preferred construction, "Democrat elected official"?  Can we start a collection to buy them an AP style guide?

  Can't say I miss the Journal-Sentinel in the least--not that Chicago papers are that much better (and certainly not their editorial pages).

  by Chicago Jason on Fri Sep 08, 2006 at 12:00:43 PM PDT