MADISON, Wis. — After historic spending and turnout in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, we are now getting a better idea of what Republicans and Democrats will need to focus on heading into the midterms next year.

The first poll released in the wake of the state Supreme Court election earlier this month shows the economy is a top issue for Wisconsinites living under a divided government.

What You Need To Know

  • The latest Badger Battleground Poll, designed and commissioned by Platform Communications as part of a collaborative bipartisan effort, found the economy is a top concern for Wisconsinites headed into the midterm election

  • Forty percent of Wisconsin voters expect the economy to worsen, while 25% expect it to improve and 28% expect it to stay about the same

  • Results showed President Donald Trump holds a 46% favorable-49% unfavorable rating, while Gov. Tony Evers has a 49% favorable-42% unfavorable rating

  • The state’s partisan self-identification was evenly split, with 36% self-identifying as Democrats and 35% self-identifying as Republicans, while 23% claimed neither affiliation

“If there is near-term pain, people feel it, they are going to be second-guessing whether [this] is the right person. 'Do we need the other party to be in charge?' What I am hopeful for is a short resolution to get our economy stronger and better both here in Wisconsin, nationally, and globally,” Keith Gilkes, a Republican strategist who consulted on the poll, explained.

As part of a bipartisan effort, Platform Communications put out the latest Badger Battleground Poll that showed 40% of Wisconsin voters expect the economy to worsen, while 25% expect it to improve.

Meanwhile, 28% said they expect it to stay about the same.

Republicans believe the status of the economy will be short-term pain for long-term gain, while Democrats are optimistic about their own opportunity.

“Once people start feeling and seeing in their real lives this turbulence, as Keith calls it, they are going to have a really negative impact,” Tanya Bjork, a Democratic strategist who consulted on the poll, said. “I mean this is an administration and Republican Congress that is considering cutting $880 billion out of health care.”

While the latest Badger Battleground Poll showed both political parties enjoy almost universal support from those who identify with that party, each side has its own problems.

Two polls released in March from NBC News and CNN showed favorability for the Democratic Party sank to an all-time low.

“I think people are dissatisfied, and I think people are dissatisfied with everybody. They are dissatisfied with the Trump administration and what Republicans are doing,” Bjork added. “They are very dissatisfied with Democrats’ response to what Trump is doing, so I think what we’re seeing right now is people are very dissatisfied with what’s happening on both sides.”

The results of those polls were released mere weeks before a record-breaking state Supreme Court race in which the conservative-backed candidate, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, lost by double-digit margins.

“For the Republican Party, it’s just always this constant battle,” Gilkes said. “What are our ideas, what is our agenda, we’ve just got to focus on putting together what that is, both at a state level, in order to potentially win the governorship, and we just have not done that.”

Related Stories