IT'S FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A "HERE & " 2022 ELECTION SPECIAL.

>> GOOD EVENING.

I'M ZAC SCHULTZ.

TONIGHT.

JUST AHEAD OF "HERE & NOW," WE BRING YOU A SPECIAL PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTING THE BIGGEST STATEWIDE RACES IN WISCONSIN.

WE'RE ON THE TRAIL WITH THE CANDIDATES FOR THE U-S SENATE.

WE'LL LOOK AT HOW EDUCATION IS SHAPING THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

WHY THE RACE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST LAW AND ORDER.

AND WE HAVE A REPORT FROM MILWAUKEE PBS ON VOTING TRENDS IN SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN.

FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.

IN JUST 11 DAYS, VOTERS WILL GO TO THE POLLS AND DECIDE WHAT THE FUTURE OF WISCONSIN GOVERNMENT WILL LOOK LIKE.

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY EVERS SAYS HE HAS SPENT THE LAST FOUR YEARS PLAYING GOALIE.

VETOING HUNREDS OF BILLS PASSED BY A REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE.

IF HE WINS RE-ELECTION, HE CAN EXPECT MORE OF THE SAME IN HIS SECOND TERM, AS THE LEGISLATURE IS ALL BUT ASSURED TO REMAIN IN REPUBLICAN HANDS.

IF REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER TIM MICHELS WINS, YOU CAN EXPECT A VERY DIFFERENT SCENARIO.

AND HE HAS PROMISED TO, QUOTE, "TRANSFORM WISCONSIN FOR GENERATIONS TO COME."

THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IS AT STAKE IN THIS ELECTION, AS THE CANDIDATES HAVE VERY DIFFERENT VISIONS FOR HOW OUR SCHOOLS SHOULD OPERATE.

>> WE ARE GOING TO START THE CRT AND GET BACK TO THE ABCs.

REPUBLICAN TIM MICHELS' EDUCATION PLAN CAN BE REDUCED DOWN TO ONE LINE.

AND HE SAYS IT IN EVERY SPEECH.

WE ARE GOING TO STOP THE CRT AND GET BACK TO THE ABCS WE'LL STOP THE CRT AND GET BACK TO THE ABCs.

>> GOVERNOR?

>> CRT ARE NOT TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS AND ABCs ARE.

MOST PARENTS TEACH ABCS AT HOME.

CRT IS SHORT FOR CRITICAL RACE THEORY, A COLLEGE-LEVEL POLITICAL THEORY THAT USES RACE AS A LENS TO EXAMINE HISTORY.

BUT IN POLITICAL DICOURSE, CRT HAS BECOME PART OF THE ONGOING CULTURE WARS THAT DRIVE REPUBLICAN TURNOUT AT THE POLLS.

NOW IT'S ALL ABOUT THE ACRONYMS.

LGBTQ AND CRT AND BLM.

WHEN YOU START PICKING PEOPLE OUT, WHETHER IT'S BLACK KIDS BROWN KIDS, LGBTQ KIDS, WOKENESS.

ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU DIVIDED EVERYBODY.

AND NOW PEOPLE CAN GET EXCITED AND UPSET AND ANGRY.

THAT DOES NOTHING FOR A CONVERSATION.

AND IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEBODY THAT HAS NEVER WALKED THROUGH A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THEIR LIFE.

DEMOCRAT TONY EVERS IS COMFORTABLE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS EVEN IF THE KIDS EXCUSE HIM FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.

YOU LOOK LIKE SOMEBODY I KNOW.

GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN ME ON TV.

YOU LOOK LIKE JOE BIDEN.

JOE BIDEN?

WELL, THAT'S A COMPLIMENT.

>> PRIOR TO BECOMING GOVERNOR, EVERS SPENT HIS ENTIRE CAREER IN EDUCATION, AS A TEACHER, ADMINISTRATOR, AND AS THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT.

HE WANTS TO REINVEST MORE MONEY INTO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PROPOSING $2 BILLION IN ADDITIONAL SPENDING IN THE NEXT BUDGET.

>> WE NEED MORE RESOURCES FOR THEM.

NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

>> TIM MICHELS DID NOT AGREE TO AN INTERVIEW FOR THIS STORY, BUT HAS MADE HIS POSITIONS CLEAR IN NUMEROUS SPEECHES AND DEBATES.

>> OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS BROKEN IN WISCONSIN.

>> THE PROBLEM IS WE'RE ALREADY THROWING SO MUCH MONEY AT EDUCATION.

THAT'S BEEN THE FIX FOR THE LAST 10, 20, 30 YEARS.

MORE MONEY AT EDUCATION, AND IT'S NOT WORKING.

THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY.

WE'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

>> HIS SOLUTION IS WHAT HE CALLS UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE.

>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE EDUCATION REFORM.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE.

>> HIS WEBSITE IS LIGHT ON SPECIFICS, BUT THE POLICY WOULD LIKELY LIFT THE ENROLLMENT AND INCOME CAPS ON THE CURRENT VOUCHER PROGRAMS.

ALLOWING WEALTHY FAMILIES TO USE TAX DOLLARS TO PAY PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION.

EVERS SAYS THE PROBLEM IS WHEN VOUCHER DOLLARS LEAVE THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THEY STILL HAVE TO PAY THE LIGHT BILL.

AND THEY ARE REQUIRED TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.

>> THIS WILL BE LIKE A HALF BILLION DOLLAR PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.

>> MICHELS SAYS HIS PLAN IS NEEDED BY POINTING TO A HANDFUL OF MILWAUKEE SCHOOLS IN BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS THAT SAW READING SCORES CRASH DURING COVID.

>> BABY KEWONN AND THOUSANDS OF YOUNG BABIES LIKE KEWONN, AND BABY GIRLS, HAVE ZERO CHANCE AT BEING SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE UNLESS UNLESS WE CHANGE EDUCATION.

THAT'S WHY IT'S THE FOUNDATION OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

WE'RE GOING TO GET UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE, AND WE'RE GOING TO HELP GET MILWAUKEE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> THE PROBLEM WITH HIS ARGUMENT IS MILWAUKEE HAS HAD A VOUCHER PROGRAM FOR THREE DECADES.

UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE WON'T CHANGE THE SITUATION THERE AT ALL.

ATTACKING SCHOOLS MAY BE GOOD POLITICS, BUT EVERS SAYS IT'S DANGEROUS POLICY.

>> WHAT DOES THAT DO TO OUR INSTITUTIONS IN THE MEANTIME?

IT DESTROYS THEM.

SO IT'S POLITICS AT ITS WORST.

>> AND THE POLITICS MAY TURN INTO POLICY.

EVERS VETOED A REPUBLICAN BILL LAST YEAR THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED PARENTS TO SUE THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS OVER THINGS LIKE THE USE OF NAMES AND PRONOUNS FOR TRANSGENDER KIDS.

MICHELS WOULD SIGN IT.

>> IF MY OPPONENT IS GOVERNOR, ALL 128 BILLS THAT I DID VETO OVER THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS WILL BECOME THE LAW OF THE LAND IMPACTING VOTING RIGHTS, IMPACTING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, IMPACTING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, YOU NAME IT.

WISCONSIN WILL BE A DIFFERENT PLACE.

>> WE KNOW THEY'RE INDOCTRINATING OUR CHILDREN.

>> IN HIS SPEECHES TO MORE CONSERVATIVE AUDIENCES, MICHELS' RHETORIC BECOMES MORE INFLAMED.

>> THAT IS A CULTURAL SHIFT THAT THE LEFT WANTS.

IT'S PART OF THEIR DESTROYING AMERICA.

>> AT ONE SPEECH, MICHELS LINKED PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH A NUMBER OF MOVEMENTS CONNECTED TO BLACK AMERICA.

>> WE BELIEVE THIS COUNTRY IS ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE TOWARDS SOCIALISM.

IT'S BEING CLOAKED BEHIND CRT AND BLM AND DEFUND THE POLICE.

>> IT'S ALL DOG WHISTLE POLITICS.

>> TO EVERS, THE RACIST UNDERTONES SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF HARM THAT'S DONE BY DIVIDING PEOPLE, DIVIDING PEOPLE AND DIVIDING PEOPLE.

THAT'S HOW TRUMP DOES IT.

THAT'S HOW MY OPPONENT DOES IT.

>> AT THAT SAME EVENT, FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS PRAISED MICHELS.

>> I REALLY BELIEVE EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE IN FLORIDA YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO IN WISCONSIN AND THEN SOME.

[CHEERING] >> EARLIER THIS YEAR DESANTIS SIGNED A BILL CRITICS CALLED THE "DON'T SAY GAY" BILL, WHICH PREVENTS ELEMENTARY TEACHERS FROM TALKING ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY WITH STUDENTS.

>> WE DON'T NEED RON DESANTIS TO COME TO WISCONSIN AND TELL US HOW TO DO THINGS.

>> EVERS SAYS THE POLITICS OF DESANTIS AND MICHELS AREN'T GOOD FOR WISCONSIN SCHOOLS.

>> I READ THAT HE SAID, IF MY OPPONENT'S ELECTED, WE CAN BE LIKE FLORIDA.

WELL, WHOOP-DE-DO?

EXACTLY WHO THINKS THAT'S A GOOD IDEA?

>> SO HOW DOES MICHELS WANT STUDENTS EDUCATED ON ISSUES OF RACE AND GENDER?

>> WE'RE GOING TO LET PARENTS DECIDE, NOT A COUPLE OF WOKE EDUCRATS, THAT ARE SAYING ‘THIS IS WHAT IT IS NOW, WE'RE GOING TO START TEACHING THIS,' THAT THIS IS BAD AND THIS IS GOOD.

>> OBVIOUSLY, HE BELIEVES THAT THAT THERE'S THIS LIBERAL CABAL AND EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE THAT IS WOKE, WHATEVER THAT MEANS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE KIDS SEE THEMSELVES REPRESENT PPED IN THE HISTORY THAT WE TEACH.

>> STATE SUPERINTENDENT JILL UNDERLY WROTE AN EDITORIAL THIS YEAR SAYING "CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS NOT A SUBJECT BEING TAUGHT IN K-12 SCHOOLS."

BUT SHE SAYS, "IF WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY ASKING IS, ARE WE TEACHING STUDENTS ABOUT RACE AND RACISM?

” THEN THE ANSWER IS AND SHOULD BE YES.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAS MICHELS UPSET.

>> I DISAGREE WITH THE STATEMENT FREDERICA THAT EVERYTHING IS BEING TAUGHT PROPERLY RIGHT NOW.

PARENTS HAVE COME TO ME AND SHOWN ME THE STUFF THAT'S BEING TAUGHT TO THEIR KIDS IN SCHOOL AND THEY'RE OUTRAGED AND THEY DON'T LIKE IT.

>> EVERS SAYS MICHELS IS TRYING TO USE THAT CONFUSION AND OUTRAGE TO GET ELECTED.

>> IT BOTHERS ME BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T DEFINE IT.

AND THEN WHEN PEOPLE GET ANGRY WITH EACH OTHER, IT'S JUST THE WAY IT'S DIVIDING PEOPLE.

AND THERE IS POLITICAL SENSE AND DIVIDING PEOPLE.

IF YOU DIVIDE PEOPLE, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE AND YOU DIVIDE THEM IN SUCH A WAY THAT 51% OF THEM BELIEVE YOU.

YOU GET ELECTED.

>> THE RACE FOR A SEAT IN THE U.S. SENATE BETWEEN INCUMBENT RON JOHNSON AND CHALLENGER MANDELA BARNES MAY DECIDE WHICH PARTY CONTROLS THE CHAMBER.

HERE & NOW REPORTER STEVEN POTTER HAS THIS REPORT ON THE CONTEST BETWEEN WISCONSIN'S SENIOR SENATOR AND THE LT.

GOVERNOR.

>> THE COST OF EVERYTHING IS UP.

NUMEROUS POLLS SHOW INFLATION IS THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN AMONG VOTERS.

DOVER NOT BELIEVE THE LIES.

>> POLITICAL CANDIDATES, INCLUDING REPUBLICAN RON JOHNSON AND DEMOCRAT MANDELA BARNES, WHO ARE COMPETING FOR A SEAT IN THE U.S. SENATE, WANT WISCONSIN VOTERS TO KNOW THEY'RE LISTENING.

>> ALL ACROSS THE STATE, PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED.

THEY'VE BEEN CONCERNED WITH RISING COSTS.

>> THEY'D LIKE SOME RELIEF FROM INFLATION.

>> BARNES IS CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE STATE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND JOHNSON IS SEEKING HIS THIRD TERM IN THE SENATE.

THEY HAVE VERY DIFFERENT PLANS FOR ADDRESSING INFLATION.

>> SENATOR JOHNSON SAYS THE PROBLEM IS HIGH GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

>> STOP SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY.

YOU KNOW, INFLATION'S PRETTY EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CAUSED IT.

IT'S MASSIVE DEFICIT SPENDING.

IT'S PRINTING DOLLARS.

YOU HAVE WAY TOO MANY DOLLARS CHASING TOO FEW GOODS.

>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BARNES SAYS SOME TARGETED TAX CHANGES ARE NEEDED.

>> WE NEED A MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT.

AND WE CAN ACHIEVE THIS BY MAKING SURE THAT THE WEALTHIEST AMONG US PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.

THAT'S HOW WE GET TO A PLACE WHERE FAMILIES CAN HAVE A LITTLE MORE ECONOMIC SECURITY.

>> UW-MADISON POLITICAL SCIENTIST ELEANOR POWELL SAYS THE PAIN THAT PEOPLE ARE FEELING FINANCIALLY MIGHT MOTIVATE THOSE WHO DON'T USUALLY VOTE IN MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

>> BETWEEN THE PANDEMIC, THE ECONOMY AND INFLATION, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REALLY HURTING, AND THAT COULD BRING OUT A LOT OF SORT OF MORE DISCONTENTED VOTERS.

>> BUT THERE'S ANOTHER ISSUE THAT POWELL SAYS IS HIGHLY-MOTIVATING IN THE CONTEST BETWEEN BARNES AND JOHNSON.

AND THAT'S ABORTION.

>> PARTICULARLY WOMEN AND YOUNGER VOTERS, ARE REALLY UPSET BY THE OVERTURNING OF ROE VERSUS WADE AND SORT OF ABORTION POLITICS, WHICH HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY CONSEQUENTIAL HERE IN WISCONSIN, BECAUSE WE HAD THIS SORT OF PREEXISTING BAN DATING BACK TO THE 1800S ON THE BOOKS.

AND SO THIS HAS MOBILIZED A LOT OF ENERGY ON THE LEFT.

AND IT'S NOT REALLY ENTHUSIASM.

>> IT'S REALLY ANGER AND MOBILIZATION.

>> BARNES IS CALLING FOR A NEW FEDERAL LAW ALLOWING ACCESS TO ABORTION.

TO ACHIEVE THIS, HE WANTS TO END TO THE FILIBUSTER IN THE SENATE.

THE FILIBUSTER IS A TACTIC USED TO PREVENT A BILL FROM PASSING BY STALLING IT WITH PROLONGED DEBATE.

>> THE REALITY IS WE NEED TO END THE FILIBUSTER TO CODIFY THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE INTO LAW ONCE AND FOR ALL.

AND WE CAN DO THIS IF WE FLIP WISCONSIN AND ADD ONE MORE SEAT TO THE 50-50, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, MAJORITY THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

>> JOHNSON, WHO OPPOSES ABORTION EXCEPT IN CASES OF RAPE, INCEST, OR IF THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER IS AT RISK, SAYS INDIVIDUAL STATES SHOULD USE REFERENDUMS TO DECIDE IF ABORTION SHOULD BE ALLOWED.

>> AND IN 50 STATES, PEOPLE USE THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION.

HERE'S THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION OF THIS PROFOUND MORAL ISSUE.

AT WHAT POINT DOES SOCIETY HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT LIFE?

YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE RIGHTS OF A WOMAN VERSUS A RIGHT -- THE RIGHTS OF AN UNBORN CHILD?

UNLIKE OTHER STATES WISCONSIN DOES NOT ALLOW DIRECT REFERENDUMS.

>> SENATOR JOHNSON, YOU KNOW, SPEAKS VERY WELL TO THE REPUBLICAN.

THE SORT OF TRUMP WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BARNES IS YOUNG.

HE SORT OF REPRESENTS A SORT OF NEW GENERATION IN AMERICAN POLITICS.

SO HE REALLY, YOU KNOW, IS TRYING TO SPEAK TO YOUNGER VOTERS, VOTERS OF COLOR, VOTERS WHO OFTEN FEEL THAT THEIR INTERESTS AREN'T BEING WELL REPRESENTED IN WASHINGTON.

>> BARNES AND JOHNSON TOOK VERY DIFFERENT PATHS INTO POLITICS.

MANDELA BARNES WAS BORN AND RAISED IN MILWAUKEE AND IS VERY PROUD OF HIS WORKING-CLASS ROOTS.

>> MY MOM WAS A TEACHER AND MY DAD WORKED THIRD SHIFT.

>> AFTER WORKING IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, HE RAN FOR OFFICE AT THE AGE OF 25, WINNING A SEAT REPRESENTING MILWAUKEE'S NORTH SIDE IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY.

>> AFTER TWO TERMS THERE, BARNES RAN UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR THE STATE SENATE IN 2016, BEFORE WINNING ELECTION AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN 2018 WITH DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TONY EVERS.

>> IN HIS RUN FOR THE U.S. SENATE, BARNES SAYS HIS GOAL IS TO HELP MIDDLE-CLASS AMERICANS.

>> AS I LOOK AROUND THE STATE, TIMES ARE GETTING TOUGHER FOR PEOPLE.

THINGS ARE MORE DIFFICULT.

IT'S HARDER AND HARDER TO GET AHEAD.

ACCESS TO THE MIDDLE CLASS HAS BEEN DENIED TO SO MANY PEOPLE.

>> ON THE OTHER SIDE, RON JOHNSON, WHO LIVES IN OSHKOSH, IS EQUALLY AS PROUD OF HIS WORKING-CLASS BACKGROUND.

>> AS A YOUNG MAN, HE SHOVELED DRIVEWAYS, MOWED LAWNS, DELIVERED PAPERS.

>> AFTER A SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN PLASTICS MANUFACTURING, JOHNSON FIRST RAN FOR U.S SENATE IN 2010, BEATING LONGTIME DEMOCRATIC SENATOR RUSS FEINGOLD.

HE BEAT FEINGOLD AGAIN IN 2016.

>> IN THE SENATE, JOHNSON HAS SERVED ON THE HOMELAND SECURITY AND BUDGET COMMITTEES.

>> IN 2016, YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD ONLY RUN FOR TWO TERMS.

IN JANUARY, YOU DECIDED YOU WOULD RUN AGAIN.

WHAT MADE YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND?

>> OUR NATION IS COMING APART.

TRUST ME, IT WAS MY PREFERENCE AND MY WIFE'S VERY STRONG PREFERENCE TO SERVE OUT THAT SECOND TERM AND JUST RETURN TO A PRIVATE LIFE.

I THINK I'M IN A POSITION WHERE I'VE HAD A GREAT DEAL OF SUCCESS AS A U.S.

SENATOR.

I'VE HELPED IMPROVE THINGS.

>> WHILE BOTH CANDIDATES ARE TRYING TO STAY ON MESSAGE WITH WHAT THEY CAN OFFER VOTERS IF ELECTED, JOHNSON AND BARNES ALSO HAVE PLENTY OF CRITICISM FOR EACH OTHER.

>> HE IS A RADICAL LEFTIST.

I KNOW HE'S TRYING TO HIDE THAT FROM WISCONSINITES.

>> THIS IS ABOUT AN OUT-OF-TOUCH POLITICIAN WHO HAS FAILED TO DELIVER FOR WISCONSIN.

HE'S PUT HIMSELF AHEAD OF ALL OF US EVERY CHANCE.

>> BUT THE CANDIDATES AREN'T THE ONLY ONES GETTING INTO THE MUDSLINGING.

OUTSIDE GROUPS ARE RUNNING THEIR OWN POLITICAL ATTACK ADS.

>> RON JOHNSON USED HIS OFFICE TO SCOOP UP MILLIONS FOR HIMSELF.

>> MANDELA BARNES SUPPORTS DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

>> POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR ELEANOR POWELL SAYS VOTERS SHOULD BE VERY LEERY OF ANY ADVERTISING THEY SEE OR THINGS MAILED TO THEIR HOMES.

>> POLITICAL ADS ARE IN THIS REALLY FUNNY EXEMPT CATEGORY WHERE PEOPLE CAN SAY WHATEVER THEY WANT AND THERE'S NO OBLIGATION FOR ANYTHING TO BE FACTUAL.

BUYERS SHOULD BEWARE.

VIEWERS SHOULD BEWARE THAT JUST BECAUSE IT'S ON TV DOES NOT MEAN IT'S TRUE.

>> WE KNEW THE OTHER SIDE WOULD MAKE UP LIES ABOUT ME TO SCARE YOU.

>> YOU'VE SEEN THE ADS ATTACKING ME.

THEY'RE ALL LIES.

>> STILL, BOTH CANDIDATES DO HAVE THEIR CONTROVERSIES.

>> JOHNSON HAS COME UNDER FIRE FOR SPREADING MISINFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19 AND A PLAN TO GIVE THEN-VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE A FAKE SLATE OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.

>> BARNES HAS TAKEN HEAT FOR PAYING HIS PROPERTY TAXES LATE AND FOR THE HIGH COST OF HIS STATE SECURITY DETAIL.

>> CURRENTLY, THE POLITICAL MAKE-UP OF THE U.S. SENATE STANDS AT 50 DEMOCRATS, 48 REPUBLICANS, AND 2 INDEPENDENT SENATORS WHO LEAN LEFT.

GIVEN THAT CLOSE SPLIT, POWELL SAYS ELECTION RESULTS IN THIS STATE ARE KEY.

>> THE CONTROL OF THE SENATE HINGES ON A SORT OF RAZOR-THIN MAJORITY RIGHT NOW.

HERE ANOTHER WISCONSIN, WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DETERMINE WHO CONTROLS THE SENATE.

WISCONSIN COULD BE THE BALLGAME HERE.

>> IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THIS RACE, YOU SHOULD SHOW UP ON ELECTION DAY BECAUSE WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> WE TURN NOW TO AN ELECTION THAT CAN GET OVERSHADOWED BY THE RACES FOR GOVERNOR AND U.S. SENATE.

WISCONSIN'S ATTORNEY GENERAL IS OFTEN CALLED THE STATE'S TOP COP.

AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR BOTH THE INCUMBENT, DEMOCRAT JOSH KAUL, AND THE CHALLENGER, REPUBLICAN ERIC TONEY.

BUT WHICH PARTY CONTROLS THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS A MUCH BIGGER IMPACT ON OTHER HOT-BUTTON ISSUES LIKE ABORTION AND ELECTIONS.

>> I THINK PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

IT'S BEEN MY TOP PRIORITY SINCE I TOOK OFFICE, AND IT CONTINUES TO BE.

>> JOSH KAUL HAS DECIDED THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE HIS TOP PRIORITY.

POLITICS HAS BEEN HIS TOP PRIORITY.

AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED A PROSECUTOR AND NOT A POLITICIAN AS OUR TOP COP.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LEADS WISCONSIN'S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

AND WHILE THAT MAY SOUND IMPOSING, DOJ IS TYPICALLY NOT ON THE FRONTLINE OF THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME.

THEY OFTEN PLAY A SUPPORT ROLE, STEPPING IN TO ASSIST LOCAL POLICE AND COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS WHEN NEEDED.

>> WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS FOCUS ON MILWAUKEE COUNTY.

ERIC TONEY WANTS A MORE DIRECT ROLE.

IF ELECTED, HE PLANS TO ASK THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE AUTHORITY TO STEP IN AND PROSECUTE ANY CASE IN MILWAUKEE.

>> IT'S EVIDENT THAT WE NEED MORE RESOURCES AND TO HAVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE ASSIST WITH THAT ON THAT TYPE OF VIOLENT CRIME.

>> JOSH KAUL SAYS IF THE LEGISLATURE IS GIVING MORE AUTHORITY TO THE DOJ, IT SHOULD APPLY STATEWIDE.

BUT HE ALSO CAN'T THINK OF CASES WHERE THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS CHOOSING NOT TO PROSECUTE VIOLENT CRIMINALS.

>> I CAN'T THINK OF EXAMPLES WHERE, YOU KNOW, DA'S THINK THAT THERE IS A PROSECUTION THAT SHOULD BE BROUGHT AND THEY'RE CHOOSING NOT TO.

FOR THE RECORD, TONEY CAN'T LIST ANY EXAMPLES OF THAT EITHER.

BUT HE KNOWS MILWAUKEE HAS A BUDGET SHORTFALL.

>> THE MAYOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL THIS YEAR IS FOR LESS POLICE OFFICERS THAN THE YEAR BEFORE.

AND SO OUR DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CAN BE A RESOURCE TO AUGMENT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN MILWAUKEE WITH DCI AGENTS AND PROSECUTORS TO ADD MORE TO OUR DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

>> KAUL SAYS THE WAY TO FIGHT CRIME IS FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO FULLY FUND SHARED REVENUE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, SO THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE CAN AFFORD MORE OFFICERS.

>> WHAT WE REALLY NEED, THOUGH, IS NOT JUST A SHIFT IN AUTHORITY.

WE NEED TO GET RESOURCES TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

TONEY SAYS REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE MORE LIKELY TO FUND HIS DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THAN INCREASE SHARED REVENUE TO MILWAUKEE.

>> WHAT WE NEED IS SOMEONE THE LEGISLATURE TRUSTS TO PARTNER WITH TO DEPLOY THOSE RESOURCES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

KAUL SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLING TO STAND UP TO REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

ESPECIALLY ON ELECTION ISSUES.

>> THIS IS A CLEAR CONTRAST IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE.

IF YOU WANT A CANDIDATE WHO YOU CAN COUNT ON TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY, I THINK MY TRACK RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF AND MY OPPONENT'S TRACK RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY.

>> KAUL REPRESENTED THE STATE IN NUMEROUS LAWSUITS FILED BEFORE AND AFTER THE 2020 ELECTION.

AND SAYS A REPUBLICAN COULDN'T BE TRUSTED TO DO THE SAME.

>> THAT'S A REAL CONCERN THAT I HAVE, IS THAT IF THERE IS REPUBLICAN CONTROL, THAT THEY WOULD OVERRULE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

AND I'M WORRIED THAT IF ERIC TONEY WERE A.G., THAT HE WOULD POTENTIALLY SUGGEST THAT, YOU KNOW, FALSELY THAT LAWS WERE BROKEN, OR THAT THERE WAS FRAUD.

AND AGAIN, HE HAS SUGGESTED THAT LAWS WERE BROKEN IN 2020, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS HAS BEEN LITIGATED IN CASE AFTER CASE AFTER CASE.

>> THAT'S INCREDIBLY DISINGENUOUS AND DISHONEST OF OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL TO MAKE STATEMENT LIKE THAT.

ERIC TONEY IS ONE OF THE FEW REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES THIS ELECTION CYCLE TO CLEARLY STATE DONALD TRUMP LOST WISCONSIN IN 2020, AND THAT THERE WAS NO WIDESPREAD VOTER FRAUD.

>> I'VE BEEN THE MOST VOCAL STATEWIDE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE SAYING WE CANNOT DECERTIFY THE ELECTION, THAT IT'S NOT LAWFUL, THAT THERE WAS NOT A LEVEL OF FRAUD THAT WOULD HAVE OVERTURNED THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION.

>> THAT DOESN'T MEAN TONEY AND KAUL AGREE ON ELECTION ISSUES.

TONEY SAYS THE MEMBERS OF THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION COULD HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED FOR THE GUIDANCE THEY ISSUED TO LOCAL CLERKS.

>> WEC EXCEEDED THEIR LAWFUL AUTHORITY AND DIRECTING THESE CLERKS TO EFFECTIVELY BREAK WISCONSIN LAW.

>> KAUL SAYS NO MATTER TONEY'S PRIOR STATEMENTS, HE WOULDN'T TRUST HIM IN 2024.

>> WHAT WE'VE SEEN, THOUGH, IS ON ISSUE AFTER ISSUE, REPUBLICANS IN WISCONSIN HAVE BEEN UNWILLING TO STAND UP TO DONALD TRUMP.

TONEY SAYS IN 2024 HE WILL FOLLOW THE LAW.

>> I WILL ENFORCE THE RULE OF LAW, NOT JUST WHEN IT'S POPULAR AND NOT JUST WHEN I I WILL NOT INJECT MY PERSONAL LEAVE ON OTHERS ANDLY FOLLOW THE LAW.

HE SAYS THAT APPLIES TO ANOTHER AREA OF CONTENTION IN THIS ELECTION.

ABORTION.

SPECIFICALLY, ENFORCING WISCONSIN'S 1849 LAW THAT BANS ALL ABORTION, EXCEPT TO SAVE THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER.

>> I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR AS A DA AND AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, I'M GOING TO ENFORCE THE LAW.

AND RIGHT NOW, THAT MEANS WE HAVE AN ABORTION BAN ON THE BOOKS HERE IN WISCONSIN.

AND I WILL ENFORCE THAT AS A DA AND I WILL ENFORCE AND DEFEND THAT AS OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

>> JOSH KAUL HAS FILED A LAWSUIT SEEKING TO OVERTURN THE 1849 LAW, AND HAS SAID HE WILL NOT ENFORCE THE LAW AS ATTORNEY GENERAL.

>> THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS ABOUT 100 INVESTIGATORS, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF PROSECUTORS, PUTTING THOSE RESOURCES TOWARDS GOING AFTER DOCTORS OR NURSES OR SPOUSES OR PARENTS FOR VIOLATING THAT 19TH CENTURY ABORTION BAN.

ON TOP OF THAT WOULD BE SHIFTING RESOURCES FROM PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> NOT ONLY WOULD TONEY ENFORCE THE 1849 ABORTION BAN, HE WOULD ASK THE LEGISLATURE T ALLOW ADJOINING COUNTIES TO BRING CASES IF THE LOCAL DA WON'T PROSECUTE.

>> WE NEED TO GIVE OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL THE AUTHORITY TO PROSECUTE.

THEY ALREADY WOULD HAVE THE TECHNICAL AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE IT.

AND I THINK ANOTHER APPROACH WOULD BE ALLOWING FOR ADJOINING COUNTIES TO BE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE AND ENFORCE THAT ABORTION BAN IN WISCONSIN.

>> WHAT WE DO IN WISCONSIN IN THESE ELECTIONS MAKES SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE.

THE MARGINS ARE SMALL, BUT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE HUGE.

JOSH KAUL THINKS THIS IS THE TYPE OF ISSUE THAT SWINGS ELECTIONS AND MAY MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN A TIGHT RACE.

>> I DO THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT THE ELECTION.

I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE VOTED REPUBLICAN WHEN THEY WHEN THEY KNEW THERE WAS A CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION FOR ACCESS TO SAFE AND LEGAL ABORTION, WHO ARE NOW SEEING HOW EXTREME REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING MY OPPONENT, ARE ON THIS ISSUE.

TONEY SAYS IN THE END, IT WILL COME DOWN TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> JOSH KAUL HAS BEEN LOCKSTEP WITH TONY EVERS, WHERE WE NEED AN ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT IS GOING TO STAND WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE RULE OF LAW.

STATE-WIDE RACES COULD HINGE ON THREE KEY NATIONAL VOTING TRENDS PLAYING OUT IN THE MILWAUKEE METRO AREA, WHICH IS HOME TO A LITTLE LESS THAN HALF OF THE STATE'S VOTERS.

SCOTTIE LEE MEYERS FROM MILWAUKEE PBS BRINGS US THIS REPORT.

>> DEANGELA BESTER, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR RACIAL AND GENDER EQUITY, IS ONE OF THE LEAD ORGANIZERS BEHIND THIS VOTER REGISTRATION PARTY AT THE SHERMAN PHOENIX MARKETPLACE.

DEMOCRATS HOPE EVENTS LIKE THIS COULD LEAD TO HIGHER TURNOUT AMONG BLACK VOTERS, A KEY CONSTITUENCY FOR THE PARTY.

>> SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS JUST, AGAIN, EDUCATE THE VOTERS HERE IN MILWAUKEE AND EVEN ACROSS THE STATE ABOUT MAKING SURE TO REGISTER TO VOTE, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

>> MILWAUKEE'S BLACK VOTER TURNOUT WAS DOWN IN 2020.

STRICTER VOTING LAWS AND THE PANDEMIC ARE THE TWO BIG REASONS EXPERTS OFTEN CITE FOR THE DECLINE.

THAT'S WHY BESTER AND HIS TEAM ARE KNOCKING ON A LOT OF DOORS RIGHT NOW.

>> WE'RE HOPING TO KNOCK ON ABOUT 40,000 DOORS TOTAL IN THE STATE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE STARTED IN AROUND JUNE THROUGH ELECTION DAY.

WE WANT TO HAVE AROUND 15,000 CONVERSATIONS WITH VOTERS.

AND WE'RE HOPING TO GET, YOU KNOW, 70% TURNOUT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH.

>> REPUBLICANS HAVE LOOKED TO INCREASE THEIR SUPPORT AMONG HISPANIC VOTERS WITH A NEW INITIATIVE CALLED OPERACI ÓN ¡VAMOS!, WHICH LAUNCHED IN SEVERAL KEY SWING STATES INCLUDING WISCONSIN.

LATINO VOTERS HAVE TYPICALLY FAVORED DEMOCRATS, BUT NOT ALWAYS BY WIDE MARGINS.

THEY'RE NOT LEAVING IN DROVES BUT THERE IS A MEASURABLE SHIFT.

>> I KNOW THAT HISPANIC VOTERS HAVE BASICALLY BEEN TAKEN FOR GRANTED BY DEMOCRATS.

>> U.S.

SENATOR RICK SCOTT OF FLORIDA IS HELPING TO LEAD THESE OUTREACH EFFORTS, WHICH HAVE SENT CAMPAIGN WORKERS TO KNOCK ON DOORS IN NEIGHBORHOODS IN MILWAUKEE AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE, TRYING TO MAKE INROADS WITH WISCONSIN'S LARGEST MINORITY GROUP.

>> HISPANIC VOTERS ARE WAY MORE INCLINED TO VOTE THEY WANT A BETTER ECONOMIC MARKET.

THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE INFLATION.

THEY WANT TO LIVE IN SAFE COMMUNITIES.

IF WE TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES THAN WE'RE GOING TO WIN ELECTIONS.

>> DURING OUR INTERVIEW WITH DEB DASSOW, THE CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OZAUKEE COUNTY, PEOPLE KEPT COMING INTO THE OFFICE REQUESTING YARD SIGNS.

YOU'RE PROBABLY SEEING MORE IN THE AREA THAN EVER BEFORE.

THOUGH STILL RED, OZAUKEE COUNTY RECENTLY SAW THE BIGGEST INCREASE IN DEMOCRATIC VOTERS IN THE STATE.

WAUKESH COUNTY IS SECOND ON THAT SAME LIST.

IT'S PART OF THE PURPLING OF THE SUBURBS.

I DO GET A SENSE THAT IT'S CHANGING.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT'S NOT A INORMOUS SWING.

BUT WE ARE JUST PICKING UP A COUPLE PERCENTAGE POINTS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

AT THE CENTER OF THIS SURBAN SWING ARE WOMEN, WHO DASSOW SAYS HAVE ENERGIZED THE PARTY AFTER THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE.

>> I HAD A WOMAN STOPPED IN RIGHT AFTER THE DOBBS DECISION.

SHE CAME IN WITH HER TWO LITTLE CHILDREN.

SHE HAD ON A “MY BODY, MY CHOICE ” T-SHIRT ON AND SHE SAID “I'VE NEVER VOTED FOR A DEMOCRAT BEFORE.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A LIBERTARIAN.

” SHE WAS YOUNG.

I'D SAY IN HER THIRTIES.

AND SHE SAID, SHE GOES, “SIGN ME UP.

WHAT CAN I DO?

ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M ZAC SHULTSDS.

STAY TUNED, COMING UP NEXT IS OUR REGULAR EPISODE OF "HERE & NOW" WHERE WE HAVE MORE 2022 ELECTON COVERAGE.

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