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Ahead of the states August 9 primary, the Supreme Courts Roe decision supercharged competition among the leading Democratic contenders to take on Johnson. Their jostling illustrates the partys intense focus on picking the best candidate to capitalize on progressive energy over the high court ruling, which halted Planned Parenthoods abortion procedures in the state.

We need people who are willing to step up to get rid of the filibuster and to pass the laws in this country that we so desperately need, said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). We need pro-choice fighters.

Warren, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) are backing Mandela Barnes, Wisconsins 35-year-old lieutenant governor whos led the polls for months. However, 34-year-old Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry is catching up down the stretch after spending millions of his own dollars.

Thats not all: Sarah Godlewski, the 40-year-old state treasurer, and Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson, 46, fill out the top tier of candidates in a state with a history of surprising Democratic primaries.

All four candidates offer a generational contrast from the tempestuous Johnson, who at 67 is running for his third term after twice beating former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.). Each Democratic candidate wants to eliminate the filibuster to preserve Roe, and none believe in any abortion restrictions.

The biggest difference among them is on adding seats to the Supreme Court, a liberal goal that Nelson supports, Barnes is open to and Godlewski and Lasry oppose.

Progressive Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) agreed that little separates the quartet on abortion. But with the stakes so high for Democrats, all four are going full-tilt to present themselves as the primary fields biggest abortion rights advocates.

Barnes, whod be the states first Black senator if elected, says his record in Wisconsin politics is as a very dear friend to Planned Parenthood. Lasry says his wifes work for Planned Parenthood in Wisconsin allows him to see firsthand every day the fight for abortion rights. Godlewski says she can more effectively prosecute the case against Johnson as the Democratic primarys only woman, while Nelson touts his ratings with abortion rights groups.

The race has a decidedly Midwest-nice vibe, with the candidates generally staying publicly trained on Johnson rather than each other though theres plenty of trash-talking behind the scenes. And since Democrats need to beat Johnson to have any hope of executing their agenda next year, party leaders are trying to keep it that way.

If anyone does anything unfair, I call them first, personally. And if they dont stop doing it, Ill call them out publicly. I havent had to do that yet, the second part. Ive had to do the first part a couple of times, said Pocan, who is neutral in the Senate primary and described his role as just trying to keep peace.

That may become more difficult as national attention turns to the four-way swing-state skirmish. In an interview, Barnes sharply questioned nominating a wealthy candidate like Lasry or Godlewski to take on Johnson, himself a wealthy conservative businessman.

If our case to voters is that our multimillionaire is better than Republicans multimillionaire? I dont see that as a winning message. People are tired of the millionaires club. They want people in Washington to understand exactly what theyre going through, Barnes said.

Asked to respond, Lasry said he doesnt want to engage in a sideshow but took a subtle shot himself.

What voters are tired of is these career politicians with no record of accomplishment ... just always looking for the next thing to run for, Lasry said.

In this Oct. 24, 2020, file photo, Milwaukee Bucks senior vice president Alex Lasry, left, and then-Bucks guard George Hill walk through a Milwaukee neighborhood during a voter canvassing effort.|Steve Megargee/AP Photo

Godlewski said she launched her campaign with abortion-access messaging, adding a jab that when you look at other people in this race, they just decided to talk about it recently.

But if theres anyone truly testing Pocans peacemaker skills in the Senate primary, its Nelson, whos running as the purest progressive.

Its one thing to be a defender of womens reproductive rights in a blue part of the state, quite different in a red or purple part of the state, Nelson said of his time in the state legislature. Mandela was there for two terms, but he represented one of the most Democratic and pro-choice districts in the state. You know, whoop-dee-doo.

Barnes led the latest Marquette University poll with 25 percent of 369 Democratic primary voters, while Lasry had 21 percent, Godlewski 9 percent and Nelson 7 percent. Several Democrats recalled Feingold coming out of nowhere in 1992 to win the partys Senate nomination with iconic ads claiming an endorsement from Elvis and declaring he wouldnt stoop to his opponents mudslinging.

In other words, people in the state warn that a whole lot can change in six weeks, and all four candidates look competitive with Johnson. Moreover, more than a third of the primary electorate is undecided, a sign that Wisconsins primary is under-the-radar just five weeks before Election Day.

That race has been competitive all along. And not a lot of people have been talking about it, said Sen. Ben Ray Lujn (D-N.M.), who said the Senate Democrats campaign arm is smart to remain neutral.

According to the candidates, however, the Roe reversal as well as Johnsons anti-abortion position and confusing answers about his staff forwarding a false-electors note on Jan. 6 has brought the messy primary to the forefront of voters minds. Barnes said he had his best fundraising day ever the day of the Supreme Court decision, and Lasry said it crystallized the stakes of this election against Johnson.

It really shook up the race, Nelson said. The pro-choice side has been on defense for the last 50 years, and now theyre on offense.

Johnson praised the Supreme Court decision on abortion but said it will be up to the states to figure out specific abortion policies. Thats proven difficult in Wisconsin, which has a Democratic governor, a GOP-controlled legislature and an 1849 law restricting abortion. As Godlewski put it: Were not going to be able to get this done at the state level. So our only hope is to get this done at the federal level.

Thats going to require a straight flush from Democrats: keep the House, protect all of their Senate incumbents and pick up two seats, probably including Wisconsin. With anti-filibuster John Fetterman winning Pennsylvanias Democrat Senate nomination already, that makes the primary in Americas Dairyland among the most vital political dates left on the calendar this year for Democrats.

Unless we take out Ron Johnson, were never gonna have the majority in the Senate, Pocan said. Were trying to keep everyone focused on the prize.

The rest is here:
The Democratic primary that could determine the future of abortion rights - POLITICO