What to Watch in the Wisconsin and Minnesota Primaries

Primaries in Wisconsin and Minnesota on Aug. 13 will test a variety of candidates in the Upper Midwest. Some races will play out on battleground territory that is being heavily contested this presidential cycle.

In “America’s Dairyland,” Democrats are fighting for the chance to face Rep. Derrick Van Orden (D-Wis.) in the fall. Meanwhile, Republicans are vying for former Rep. Mike Gallagher’s (R-Wis.) vacant seat in both a regular and special primary.

To the west—left of Wisconsin geographically and in its political orientation—Minnesota will witness several competitive primaries that are likely to determine the outcomes of safe seats. Most notably, Israel critic Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) will determine her political future after Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-Minn.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.) were defeated in their primaries earlier this year.

Here’s what you have to look forward to on Aug. 13:

Wisconsin

3rd District

Wisconsin’s Third includes much of the Driftless Area—a hilly, forested landscape that dodged the glaciers during the most recent Ice Age.

Helmed by freshman Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), it’s a plausible pickup for Democrats come November, though more favorable to the GOP; the Cook Partisan Voting Index rates it remaining red at R+4, while Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball also judges it as a “likely Republican” race.

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Van Orden will face no primary challengers. But the Democratic primary has been fierce.

Fundraising leader Rebecca Cooke, a businesswoman and member of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, has battled with state Rep. Katrina Shankland, using outside money to launch attack ads that Shankland has called false. Shankland has benefited from outside money provided by activist David Hogg’s PAC, Leaders We Deserve.

The third Democrat in the race, Eric Wilson, weighed in on the primary.

“I don’t think the mudslinging is helpful,” Wilson told The Epoch Times, on a street corner in Chippewa Falls on Aug. 11. The information technology professional was making use of the warm Sunday afternoon to go door to door.

A woman who answered at one house told Wilson that she backs Democrats. She pledged her vote to him.

“Ground game makes a difference,” he said.

8th District

Wisconsin’s Eighth, a tougher venue for Democrats than the Third, will see both a regular and special primary to fill former Rep. Mike Gallagher’s (R-Wis.) seat.

In May, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers called for a special primary and special election for the district to be held on the same dates as the regular primary and general election, Aug. 13 and Nov. 5.

The races have identical slates of candidates.

Republican businessman Tony Wied has received the endorsement of former President Donald J. Trump. He’s competing against state Sen. André Jacque and former state Sen. Roger Roth.

Dr. Kristin Lyerly, an obstetrician-gynecologist, is running unopposed on the Democratic side.

Senate

Republicans are also competing in a Senate primary to challenge Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) in November.

Incumbent Rep. Ilhan Omar—a Somali-American refugee and the first hijab-wearing federal lawmaker—has for years attracted criticism for her positions on Israel.

The Omar-Samuels faceoff comes after two of Omar’s fellow “Squad” members—Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.)—lost high-profile Democratic primaries to well-financed, pro-Israel candidates.

Populist candidate Royce White and establishment favorite Joe Fraser are among those vying for the GOP nomination.