Wisconsin
UW experts weigh in on which issues could win Wisconsin in November
MADISON, Wis. — From political ads to national convention speeches, voters will hear a lot of messages between now and November. The question is: Will those voices impact voters?
If there is just a single issue that matters to most voters, it’s the economy. However, experts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison at Tuesday’s WisPolitics event said don’t count out what each party is pushing either.
UW-Madison Prof. Barry Burden discusses the demographic of independent voters. (Spectrum News 1/Mandy Hague)
By now, it comes as no surprise that Democrats are focused on abortion rights. At the same time, Republicans have narrowed in on immigration and the border, and voters don’t need to look for examples further than how the two presumptive presidential nominees have already evolved their positions on those issues.
“Trump [is] saying on abortion, ‘it’s up to the states,’ so it’s really kind of softening up that position from where he’s been in the past,” Susan Webb Yackee, who serves as director of the La Follette School of Public Affairs, explained. “Whereas, on immigration, I mean just last week President Biden issued this major executive order.”
However, with so many voters having made up their minds, a change in policy position is probably most influential among independent voters.
“They skew especially young, so it’s young people who are least likely to have attachments to either of the parties, who are not fond of either of the candidates and who have not bought into the traditional ways of doing politics and that I think is a worrisome sign for Biden,” UW-Madison political science professor Barry Burden said.
While young people have been especially vocal about President Joe Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war, experts said another less-talked about issue could have more of an impact come November.
Director of the La Follette School of Public Affairs Susan Webb Yackee explains why housing could be a significant voter issue in November. (Spectrum News 1/Mandy Hague)
“To me, it ties all back to the sleeper issue of housing,” Webb Yackee added. “Young folks not feeling like they can afford to buy a house. ‘I can’t afford the American Dream,’ and you’re trying to sell that to young folks in America, and sell your vision of tomorrow, and you can’t afford the American Dream.”
Though that issue, which stems from the economy, may be frustrating, for many people, so are the names on the ballot.
“Biden is doing better in polls that are of the most likely voters, but if you expand the universe a little bit to include people who are sometimes voters or are just registered voters but maybe haven’t voted in a while, Trump begins to do better,” Burden said. “So, keeping the electorate a little smaller, in terms of who participates, might help the Democrats.”
Burden added that it is probably best to pay attention to polls after Labor Day when Election Day is within 90 days.
A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect until noon today north of I-94 including Ozaukee, Washington, Dodge, Fond Du lac and Sheboygan counties.
There’s more fog this morning, but we are already seeing improvement from this time yesterday. Most areas south of I-94 have seen the snowpack disappear and there’s some slightly drier air leading to better visibility. A dense fog advisory continues north of I-94 where some snow is still on the ground causing that thick fog to stick around early today. It will improve in these areas too with winds picking up and snow continuing to melt.
Rain will be the other big story today with scattered showers in the morning becoming a steady rain in the afternoon and evening. About a quarter to half inch of rain will be likely, with areas west picking up the highest totals. Highs will hit the upper 40s today.
Low pressure will lift north Saturday giving us a mostly dry day outside of a lingering rain shower early. We might hit close to 50 in the morning but most of the day will be spent in the 40s. Another low pressure system will pass to our southeast on Sunday bringing just the small chance for rain, mainly towards the state line. A steady cooling trend will bring our temperatures back down to normal for the New Year.
FRIDAY: AM Fog/Drizzle, Rain Becoming Likely
High: 47
Wind: SE 10-20 mph
TONIGHT: Rain Likely, Breezy
Low: 44
Wind: SE 10-20 G 25 mph
SATURDAY: Mild, Slight Rain Chance Early, Mostly Cloudy
High: 50
SUNDAY: Mostly Cloudy, Slight Rain Chance South
High: 44
MONDAY: Mostly Cloudy
High: 43
TUESDAY: Slight Mix Chance South, Mostly Cloudy
High: 39
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MINNEAPOLIS — Authorities in western Wisconsin say a correctional officer died after a suspected drunk driver struck his vehicle on the morning of Christmas Eve.
The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office says Jeff Reynolds was driving westbound on U.S. Highway 29 around 2:44 a.m. on Tuesday when a driver in a northbound vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign on County Highway E, striking Reynolds’s vehicle.
Reynolds had been on his way to fill in a shift at the county jail at the time of the accident.
The suspected drunk driver, a 40-year-old man from Eau Claire, has been charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, the sheriff’s office says. He had his first court appearance on Thursday, where the judge set a $75,000 bond.
Three other people, including the suspect’s wife, were also injured in the crash.
The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office says Reynolds began his career there in 2007 and will be greatly missed.
The crash is under investigation by the Wisconsin State Patrol.
Better Know A Badger – 2025 three-star linebacker Cooper Catalano
MADISON, Wis. – It turned out that Luke Fickell had no reason to worry.
The University of Wisconsin head coach was hopeful that the results on the field wouldn’t cause members of his highly ranked third recruiting class to start rethinking their commitment or, worse yet, reopen their decision-making process entirely.
From the time the Badgers’ 2024 season ended without a bowl game for the first time in 23 years to the first day of the early signing period, Wisconsin’s staff only saw one prospect de-commit. Twenty-three kids signed paperwork to join Fickell’s program, a class that ranks 20th in the Rivals.com rankings with 10 four-star recruits from eight different states.
“To see guys not waver,” Fickell said. “That faith and belief that the games and what you see on Saturday isn’t everything. For those guys to hold with us and believe in us … relationships, trust, and belief in this process still win out.”
Adding to the depth in the middle of the defense, we look at the signing of Mukwonago (Wis.) High linebacker Cooper Catalano and how his addition improves the program.
Stats
Named the Wisconsin large school defensive player of the year in 2024, Catalano totaled 178 tackles, nine TFLs, three forced fumbles, and three interceptions. He finished his career with 583 tackles, obliterating the previous state record of 462 career tackles. A three-time conference defensive player of the year, Catalano earned all-conference honors during all four seasons of high school.
“The season was really successful,” Catalano said. “We had a young team my junior year. We had almost everybody returning except one of our receivers, so we had 21 players returning. To see the growth of everybody throughout the offseason was really cool. Everybody really bought in to what our coaches were preaching throughout the year. We had our leadership group that worked really hard throughout the winter and summer, and it showed throughout the season. It was a really fun right, even though it didn’t end how we wanted.
“I improved in my game is playing more in space and trusting my instincts. I was less technical in the way I looked at football and just playing loose and having fun out there … Breaking the tackle record was a really cool thing, but that takes a whole team, a great game plan, a great defensive line all four years. It’s a team effort, but that’s something that stood out to me that I’m very proud of. It’s something I’ll hold onto for a long time.”
Recruiting Competition
The third commitment in Wisconsin’s 2025 class, Catalano had offers from Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Northwestern, and Stanford.
“It’s been really quiet ever since I committed,” Catalano said. “I was able to reach out to all the programs that offered me a scholarship, get on the phone with most of them to let them know how much it meant to me that they reached out but ultimately my decision was in Madison. I am happy I went about it that way.”
Recruiting Story
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