With Wisconsin’s leadership on the line, voters head to the polls

While the state elections will decide Wisconsin’s state government, the midterm elections are also a referendum on the Trump administration and the direction of the country. Democrats’ efforts to shift control of Congress include key House races in Wisconsin.

In Superior, light rain cleared on a gray day by Lake Superior as Shelley Tuttle, 73, and her husband Jim headed to vote at the city’s government center. Tuttle said she’s probably voting Republican all the way down the ticket.

Tuttle said she thinks the immigration crisis has stabilized under the Trump administration, and she wanted to see Minnesota and other states held accountable for fraud. The state has faced multiple fraud investigations by state and federal authorities of its social service programs.

“I just have met several of the candidates, and I feel like they’re telling it straight, and they’re right on with wanting to make the policies along with Trump’s agenda, and that’s where I am on that,” Tuttle said.

She hopes that Republicans will retain control of the U.S. House and Senate in Congress. Tuttle said the party needs another two years and is confident the economy will rally.

Superior resident Joan Turner, 53, said she’s “fed up” with the way things are going with the economy. She planned to back Democrats this election, noting she typically votes for the candidate rather than the party.

“I’m retiring in a month, and it scares me,” Turner said. “Gas prices are through the roof, groceries through the roof. I don’t know how families can do it.”

Other voters backing Democrats said they want to see an end to the Iran war and more action to address rising costs, including utility bills. Superior resident Diana Waddell, 56, said she wants candidates who are “keeping data centers out of the town.” She said Republicans and Trump motivated her vote.

“I’m hoping to see a nice big blue wave in Wisconsin, and hopefully, we can get this country turned around and get things a little more reasonable, get people to get along again, and find a way to balance things,” Waddell said.

On Milwaukee’s west side, a steady stream of voters arrived at the polling place at the Milwaukee German Immersion School, where Democratic candidate for governor David Crowley had cast his vote early Tuesday morning.

Just after voting there, Dale Draeger said he voted a straight Republican ticket, including supporting Crowley’s opponent, Tom Tiffany.

Asked what he is looking for in this election, Draeger said he wants to see the country stay on course.

“Well, I guess I would say same, pretty much of the same,” Draeger said. “I want secure borders, a safe country. Obviously, we all know that the price of gas is a little high, but I’m sure that’ll come down. I believe that.”

At the same polling place, Hannah Kessler said she voted entirely for Democrats. She said she is looking for change. “Just to change how things are, to keep, make sure my kids have rights. Make sure we keep things moving,” she said.

Milwaukee resident Marvin Brown would not say who he voted for but said he’s looking for a change of tone.

“I believe if this election is the way it is, instead of everybody pointing a finger, maybe we should just come together in fellowship and balance.” Brown said.  “Instead of looking at the bad things, let’s look at the good things. Let’s look at the things we can unite.”

Turnout in the election is expected to be high. Hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites cast their ballots before Election Day. According to the Wisconsin Election Commission, 796,607 absentee ballots have been returned, including by 465,291 people who cast early in-person absentee ballots.

Crowley voter Melvin Jackson of Madison cast his ballot late Tuesday morning.

For Jackson, the war in Iran was top of mind, along with high prices for food and gas.

“I have a diesel truck too, and I might have to go back to gas,” Jackson said. “I’m disgusted with it, but hopefully the Democrats will win.”

He hopes Democrats will take control of Congress so “we can get some normalcy back in the world.”

“I think it’s out of control right now,” he added.

On Tuesday morning in Oshkosh, the parking lot of a senior center was packed as voters filed in and out of the polling place on the city’s south side.

Mary Weider of Oshkosh said she voted for Democrats this election largely because she preferred their positions on childcare.

“I definitely voted for David Crowley. I really like his plans and support his plans for universal childcare,” she said. “I know Tom Tiffany has said some things about childcare, but it’s more like deregulating to open more centers. … That would just cause more chaos.”

But Rick Metz of Oshkosh said he voted for Tiffany because he “wasn’t happy” with Crowley’s record leading Milwaukee County.

“I don’t want that in the top seat for our state,” Metz said. “Now, I am not so partisan that I wouldn’t vote for a better candidate. I lean to the right, but I reserve my right to vote for someone on the left.”

Those voting for Republicans this year largely said they felt Trump was doing a good job.

“I don’t have to like the guy, but I see the results and I’m happy with the results,” Metz said. “He gets criticized for everything.”

Democrats’ hopes of taking control of the House in the midterm elections include two key races in Wisconsin: the 3rd Congressional District, where GOP Rep. Derrick Van Orden faces challenger Rebecca Cooke, and the 1st Congressional District, where Democratic challenger Mitchell Berman is attempting to unseat incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil.

On Tuesday morning, the U.S. Department of Justice said it would be monitoring elections in all 50 states, including Wisconsin, with federal election monitors deployed in Milwaukee and Madison, where Democrats dominate the vote.

Wisconsin election officials said that’s not unusual, and that the number of federal DOJ observers assigned to Milwaukee and Madison this year is typical of past elections.