To all Kossacks: Please take note that these Congressional District Information Diaries are not meant to evaluate whether or not the districts are beatable. They are meant for Kossacks and others to share information on any knowledge they have on the districts.
There have been recent Congressional District Information diaries where Kos user comments are talking about "how this person will never be beaten," or "even a scandal wouldn't change anyone's minds." To be frank, we're not looking for this kind of feedback. We want real, inside information about the Congressional Districts we cover in our diaries.
We'd like to reach out to any of you Kossacks from Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District for information. Feel free to add your understanding of the communities, issues, etc.
This isn't going to be much of a diary. You can add anything you want about Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District. Keep in mind this diary is just for information purposes. Let's not get too carried away with whether or not any of these Knowledge Democrats information gathering diaries mean the Congressional districts in questions are winnable by Democrats or not. Were here to assess districts across the country, no matter how "deep reed" or "red" or Republican-occupied they are.
What issues directly affect people in Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District? My colleague Augustin and I are working on the Knowledge Democrats project and I've started working on a wiki page for the 1st Congressional congressional district in order to assist in our long term efforts to promote progressive candidates in that district, whether at the local, state or federal level. We understand this district may in fact have a bit conservative constituency but we're looking to reach out to any Kossacks, Democrats or progressives in the state anyway. It helps for long-term planning.
We also know that the current representative of the district is well, you know, Mr. Tea Party former would-be Vice Presidential pick by Mitt "Android" Romney, Paul Ryan.
And we also know Rob Zerban, Paul Ryan's challenger in 2012, heavily campaigned and got the best showing against Ryan in all of the elections Mr. would-be Budget Guru has faced, even while Ryan didn't campaign a single time in 2012 in his own district:
U.S. House, Wisconsin, District 1 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Rob Zerban 43.4% 158,414
Republican Paul Ryan 54.9% 200,423
Libertarian Keith Deschler 1.7% 6,054
Misc N/A 0% 167
Total Votes: 365,058
Source: Wisconsin Government Accountability Board "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"
http://gab.wi.gov/...
Also, taking politics out of the equation, let others know if you've been to Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District and can point out some good restaurants, venues and places to spend time in there.
So far, we only have the basic information as well as information on factory plants closing in the past, as well as the 2012 Congressional Campaign by Rob Zerban. What issues should be documented? What important links / articles / information should be added to the wiki page?