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Volume 7, Issue 14, Aug 19, 2024
 Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, Eau Claire, Wis. 
Published the first business day of each week
Business Advocate Past Issues
Public Meetings Calendar
Chamber Events Calendar
The Chamber's Advocacy Principles
The Chamber's 2024 Business Issues Agenda
"Talking Po!nt" Podcast
How to become a Chamber investor
Contact: Scott Rogers, VP Governmental Affairs
rogers@eauclairechamber.org
Chamber Business Hours: Mon-Thu 7:30a-4:30p, Closed Fridays in July

In this issue:
 • Phelps, Plouff win Dem Assembly primaries, Republican incumbents 
    defeat challengers
 • Cooke prevails in Democratic Congressional primary to face Van Orden
 • Wisconsin voters turn down Constitutional amendments
 • This week: Zoning meeting, County Board, "Avenues of Possibilities" Tour
 • WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson stepping down for UW-Madison position
 • National and economic stories
 • Food for thought
 • Mark your calendar
Note on article links: A subscription is required for those marked with "$"
Publications known to have article limits or other access restrictions for non-subscribers are marked with "+"

Last chance to register...
Eggs & Issues: Washington Update with the US Chamber
   Hear the latest on federal policy issues and their impact on business from John Kirchner, Vice President, Midwest Region, Congressional and Public Affairs Division, US Chamber of Commerce. Get the insights into what's really happening in Washington that you won't see in the media, the US Chamber's priorities on key business issues, and a preview of what's at stake in the fall election. Benefit from timely insights as the Democratic convention concludes and as the November election draws closer.
 • Friday, Aug 23, 7:00-8:30 a.m., CVTC Business Education Center
    Click here for details and to register

Pints & Politics: Making a Difference - Your Voice in Government
   Understand how government works, what decisions are made at each level (local, state, and federal), and how to be effective when you want to weigh in on an issue that’s important to you. Includes information on offices and issues on the November 5 General Election ballot. 
Presented by the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association, REALTORS® Association of Northwestern Wisconsin, and Young Professionals of the Chippewa Valley.
 • Tuesday, Sep 10, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Chamber offices
    Click here for details and to register

Eggs & Issues: Fall Election Outlook with Bill McCoshen
   With the November 5 election approaching, join us to preview the election's outlook for key offices at both the state and federal levels. We'll hear from Bill McCoshen of Michael Best Strategies, one of the state's top political experts. He will assess Wisconsin's statewide and legislative contests to provide us with clues to watch for as the campaign unfolds.
 • Friday, Sep 27, 7:00-8:30 a.m., CVTC Business Education Center
    Click here for details and to register

All upcoming 2024 Eggs & Issues programs

Last week's Primary sets stage for Nov 5 election
   August 13 brought higher-than-usual turnout for a Primary Election in Wisconsin, the most in 60 years with over 26% statewide and 27.4% in Eau Claire County. By contrast, however, turnout for the Nov 5 General Election is expected to be in the 70-80% range.
   Last week's Primary included competitive races locally for Democratic nominations for Congress and State Assembly, as well as a statewide vote on two Constitutional Amendments, both of which were turned down.
More information: 
County says ‘referendum questions brought out a lot more people’ to Aug. 13 primary election (Leader-Telegram $)
Local election officials estimate record August primary voter turnout (WQOW News 18)
Eau Claire sees higher turnout than expected for August primary drive thru voting (WQOW News 18)
Turnout in Wisconsin election tops 26%, highest in 60 years for fall primary in presidential year (AP)

Phelps, Plouff win Democratic nominations for State Assembly
Reps. Armstrong, Hurd, and Summerfield beat back challengers in Republican primaries
   Locally, State Assembly races featured two primaries on the Democratic side, and in three districts on the Republican side, for the right to appear on the November ballot:
   District 92. Former Rep. Joseph Plouff of Menomonie won a close race with Caden Berg, a former Chippewa County Board Member, for the Democratic nomination to face Republican Rep. Clint Moses of Menomonie on Nov 5.
   District 93. Christian Phelps of Eau Claire won a close contest with Nickolas Butler of Fall Creek to face Republican James Rolbiecki, a Town of Washington Board member. Incumbent Republican Warren Petryk is not seeking reelection after serving seven terms.
  District 67. Rep.  Dave Armstrong, Rice Lake, defeated Jimmy Swenson, Barron, in the Republican Primary and will face Democrat Jeffrey Foster, Colfax.
  District 68. The Republican primary was won by Rep. Rob Summerfield, Bloomer, over Clifford Taylor, Ladysmith. The Democrat running is Richard Pulcher, Lublin.
  District 69. Rep. Karen Hurd, Thorp, won the Republican contest vs. Lori Voss of  Abbotsford. Also on the ballot this fall will be Democrat Roger Halls, Stanley, and Independent Joshua Kelley, Greenwood.
  District 91, Democratic Rep. Jodi Emerson will be on the ballot in November with Republican Michele Skinner, an Eau Claire County Board member. Both were unopposed in the Primary. 
More information:
Phelps outlasts Butler in Assembly race (Leader-Telegram $)
Rolbiecki, Phelps turn towards November in race for State Assembly (WQOW News 18)
Interview: Eau Claire native Christian Phelps speaks on winning 93rd assembly district primary (WEAU 13 News)
Cooke, Phelps Win Local Democratic Primaries (Volume One)
Wisconsin primary voters oust more than a half-dozen legislators, setting stage for Dem push in fall (AP)
Spiros beats Rozar in 86th AD GOP primary (WisPolitics.com)
Gustafson defeats Schraa, Behnke beats Schmidt in GOP primaries (WisPolitics.com)
Wisconsin Primary Election 2024: Election Results and Analysis (Hamilton Consulting)
Full State Assembly Primary Election Results (Journal-Sentinel +)
Full State Senate Primary Election Results (Journal-Sentinel +)
August Primary Results (Leader-Telegram $)
Wisconsin primary: What we can tell from results, what we can’t (The Cap Times)

Has your Assembly district changed? All new maps now in place.
   The state has adopted all new maps, which are different than those used in the most recent 2022 election. To see which district in which you vote, click the link below to access the interactive map on the Wisconsin Legislature's website. Check the box at the upper left to select "Assembly Districts (2024)", then zoom in to find your location and your district.
Link to 2024 legislative maps (Wisconsin Legislature) 

Cooke wins Democratic Primary for Congress
   In the 3rd Congressional District, Rebecca Cooke of Eau Claire won a three-way Primary with State Rep. Katrina Shankland, Stevens Point, and Eric Wilson, Eau Claire, to challenge incumbent Republican Derrick Van Orden, Prairie du Chien, in the fall.
   In the 8th District in Northeast Wisconsin, vacated by the resignation of Congressman Mike Gallagher, businessman Tony Wied of Green Bay won a three-way Primary vs. former State Sen. Roger Roth and State Sen. Andre Jacque. In the 7th District, Kyle Kilbourn won the Democratic Primary vs. Elsa Duranceau for the right to face Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany this fall. 
More information:
Democrat Rebecca Cooke wins 3rd District primary (WPR)
Cooke wins primary, turns focus to facing Van Orden (Leader-Telegram $)
3rd Congressional nominees look to general election (WQOW News 18)
Candidates for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District speak on some of the issues impacting voters (WEAU 13 News)
Cooke passes through Eau Claire on 'Unity Tour', Van Orden comments on primaries (Leader-Telegram $)
Democrats in Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District rally support for Rebecca Cooke after primary victory (WKBT News 8000)
Democrats vow to unite against Derrick Van Orden after primary exposed tensions (Journal-Sentinel +)
DCCC: Rebecca Cooke added to coveted ‘Red to Blue’ program (WisPolitics.com)
Derrick Van Orden could face tight election against a Democratic challenger: Poll (Washington Examiner)
Blue Dog Democrats aim to grow their ranks with Cooke (Politico)
Trump-backed Tony Wied wins GOP primary in congressional seat vacated by Mike Gallagher (Journal-Sentinel +)

Constitutional amendments defeated
   Voters last Tuesday rejected two proposed amendments to the Wisconsin Constitution which would have limited the Governor’s current powers and given the legislature more control over funds received from the federal government. 
Voters reject amendments to restrict governor’s power to spend federal funds (WPR)
Wisconsin constitutional amendments defeated. Here's what it means. (The Cap Times)
Wisconsin Democrats say defeat of GOP amendments bodes well for November (WPR)
Robin Vos: GOP should 'double down' on constitutional amendments (The Cap Times)

Other election stories...

Contenders in key Wisconsin Senate race come out swinging after primaries (AP)
Sen. Baldwin visits Chippewa Falls, talks to rural leaders (Leader-Telegram $)
In post-primary interview, GOP Senate nominee Hovde attacks economy, Democrats’ messaging (Wisconsin Examiner)
Sen. Tammy Baldwin launches rural leaders campaign in Chippewa Falls (WKBT News 8000)

Biden to Pass the Torch to Harris as Democratic Convention Begins (Wall Street Journal +)
WEAU Political Analyst John Frank Previews Democratic National Convention (WEAU 13 News)
Harris plans Tuesday visit to Milwaukee (WisPolitics.com)
Wisconsin's prominent DNC delegates include Tony Evers, Tammy Baldwin, Ben Wikler (Journal-Sentinel +)
With DNC in Chicago, Kamala Harris to travel north to Milwaukee Tuesday (Wisconsin State Journal +)
JD Vance to visit Kenosha Tuesday as Harris, Walz rally in Milwaukee during DNC (Journal-Sentinel +)
Vance slams Biden administration border policies during Milwaukee campaign stop (WisPolitics.com)
JD Vance agrees to debate Tim Walz on Oct. 1 (Axios)
High Taxes, Big Spending, Low Unemployment: Tim Walz’s Economic Record (Wall Street Journal +)
How Harris is remaking the 2024 election (Politico)
‘Thou shalt not forget Wisconsin’: Haunted by 2016, Democrats are all in on the Midwestern battleground (WPR)

In Dane County executive race, Melissa Agard, Dana Pellebon advance (The Cap Times)

RFK Jr., Cornel West clear first hurdle to appear on Wisconsin presidential ballot (WPR)
Election officials keep Green Party presidential candidate on Wisconsin ballot (AP)

Bipartisan group seeks to improve voter confidence in elections ahead of November (Wisconsin Examiner)