Dear Republicans, Beware! On January 16, 2018, a Democrat won a state election seat in a district that elected the republican President Donald Trump by 17 points with the message, “My message has always been be kind, be considerate and we need to help people when they’re down.”

Her message is what Democrats will be running on in the upcoming 2018 November elections. This is what your future looks like if you keep playing games with peoples lives, as with Republicans deliberately delaying fixes on DACA, CHIP, aid to Puerto Rico, funding for community rural health centers.

Here’s the rest of the story….

On January 17, 2018, James Hohmann of the Washington Post penned the following report, “The Daily 202: Unexpected defeat in rural Wisconsin special election sets off alarm bells for Republicans”

Excerpts:

“THE BIG IDEA: 10 months is an eternity in politics, but a stunning Democratic victory Tuesday in a special election deep in the heart of Trump country suggests a blue tsunami could be forming.”

“President Trump became the first Republican to carry Wisconsin in a presidential election since Ronald Reagan by running up his score in places like the rural 10th state Senate district, which includes a swath of five counties between Eau Claire and Superior along the Minnesota border.”

“Trump won there by 17 points in 2016. A special election was triggered when Gov. Scott Walker tapped a popular state senator, who had held the seat since 2000, to become his agriculture secretary. Last night, Democratic candidate Patty Schachtner won by nine points.”

— “Mostly under the radar, the special election had become a proxy war and Republicans significantly outspent the Democrats: Americans for Prosperity, backed by the billionaire industrialist Koch brothers, poured $50,000 into the race. Two other GOP-aligned groups funded by the business community contributed another $80,000.”

“The National Democratic Redistricting Committee, backed by Barack Obama and Eric Holder, spent $10,000. Tammy Baldwin, one of 10 Democratic senators up for reelection this year in a state Trump carried, recorded a get-out-the-vote message for Schachtner:”

“Her campaign focused not on attacking Trump but fighting the opioid crisis, improving access to health care and bringing good-paying jobs to the region.She didn’t need to talk about the president to benefit from an outpouring of progressive energy and conservative apathy.”

“She’s the chief medical examiner for St. Croix County, a former EMT and a member of the school board. She is also a trustee for the local food pantry and sits on the board for a community center that helps victims of sexual and domestic violence.”

“The first paragraph of the biographical page on Schachtner’s website notes that she is “a former member of the Wisconsin Bear Hunters’ Association,” and that “she and her family have enjoyed hunting in Wisconsin for generations.” She’s been married to her husband, Joe, for 39 years, and they have six grown children and nine grandchildren.”

“Asked whether her win is a harbinger of Democratic gains this fall, she told the Associated Press: “It certainly could be.” “My message has always been be kind, be considerate and we need to help people when they’re down,” she said. “We just need to be kind to people who are less fortunate and just help.”

— Bigger picture: The upset is the 34th Democratic pickup in the 2018 cycle. “Dave Weigel notes, “But on average, even in races that went against them, Democrats have improved on their margins from the 2016 rout.

— The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says control of the Wisconsin Senate is now in play, which has significant implications for 2020 redistricting: “Once she is seated, Republicans will hold an 18-14 advantage, with one district vacant. That seat belonged to Sen. Frank Lasee (R-De Pere), who joined Walker’s administration last month, and won’t be decided until November, when 17 of the state’s 33 Senate districts are up for election.”

— Liberals are pumped.

From a Democratic pollster at Global Strategy Group:

From the Democratic robo-poll firm:

From a writer for Daily Kos: