>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.

>> THE THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART OF OUR HERE AND NOW 2022 ELECTION COVERAGE.

ONE WEEK CLOSER TO THE MID-TERM ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGNS ARE COURTING NEW VOTERS.

CLERKS ARE PREPARING FOR THE ELECTION IN WAYS THEY NEVER KNEW THEY'D HAVE TO.

AND CAMPAIGN MESSAGING HITS A NEW LOW.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG TONIGHT ON HERE AND NOW, A REPORT ON THE APPEALS POLITICAL PARTIES ARE MAKING TO LATINO VOTES.

WE CHECK IN ON THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

ELECTION INSPECTORS PREPARE FOR ACTIVE SHOOTERS.

AND A LOOK AT FEAR MONGERING MESSAGES AND ATTACK ADS.

IT'S HERE AND NOW FOR OCTOBER 21.

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

>> THE RAZOR THIN MARGINS OF WISCONSIN ELECTIONS MEANS NEITHER POLITICAL PARTY CAN TAKE ANY VOTER FOR GRANTED.

LEADING UP TO THE MIDTERMS, DOCTDEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AE MAKING THEIR APPEALS TO HISPANIC AND LATINO VOTERS WITH MORE THAN SPEAKING A FEW LINES OF SPANISH AT A RALLY, BUT WITH EXPENSE I AND LABOR-INTENSIVE DOOR-TO-DOOR CAMPAIGNS.

MARISA WOJCIK BRINGS US THE STORY.

>> THE LATINX VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT AND IT'S BEEN VERY CRITICAL IN WISCONSIN IN THE LAST MJOR RACES IN 2018 AND 2020.

>> LIKE EVERY ELECTION SEASON, CAMPAIGNS ARE GETTING OUT AND TALKING TO VOTERS.

BUT THIS YEAR'S MIDTERM ELECTIONS HAVE A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE HISPANIC AND LATINO VOTE IN WISCONSIN.

>> OUTREACH HAS BEEN SHOWN TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

ESPECIALLY DOOR-TO-DOOR CAMPAIGNS.

>> WE DECIDED TO START MOBILIZING THE LATINX VOTE.

>> CNN CNN IS THE CHRISTINE NUEMAN ORTIZ IS THE DIRECTOR OF VOCES DE LA FRONTERA AND THE ARM OF THEIR ORGANIZATION ENDORSES CANDIDATES.

>> CANDIDATES THAT STAND WITH US ON IMMIGRANT AND RACIAL JUSTICE, WORKERS RIGHTS, AND EDUCATION RIGHTS.

>> FOR VOCES, THOSE CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN DEMOCRATS.

AND HISTORICALLY HISPANIC AND LATINO VOTERS HAVE FAVORED THIS PARTY.

>> THEY VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATS AND IT'S BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT.

>> BEN MARQUEZ IS A POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR.

SPECIALIZING IN CHICANO AND LATINO STUDIES.

>> THE DEMOCRATS HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD STRATEGY FOR REACHING OUT TO LATINO VOTES.

THEY HAVE TO MAKE CONTACT ON THE GROUND.

THEY HAVE TO CONVINCE THEM THAT THE ELECTION IS IMPORTANT, THAT THEIR VOTE MATTERS, AND THAT THEY SHOULD GO TO ALL OF THIS TROUBLE TO GET OUT AND VOTE FOR A PARTY THAT OFTENTIMES IT DOESN'T DELIVER.

>> WHEN DEMOCRATS DON'T DELIVER, SUPPORT FOR THEM ISN'T GUARANTEED.

>> IN 2020, WE ACTUALLY HAD TO DROP OFF OF LATINO PARTICIPATION COMPARED TO 2016.

PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO JUST REJECT TRUMP, L LATINOS LIKE OTR VOTERS, WANT TO KNOW, WHAT DO YOU OFFER?

WHAT IS THE CHANGE THAT YOU OFFER?

>> ENTER REPUBLICANS.

>> HISPANIC VOTERS HAVE BEEN, BASICALLY, BEEN TAKEN GRANTED BY DEMOCRATS.

>> FLORIDA SENATOR RICK SCOTT CHAIRS THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATOR CORRAL COMMITTEE.

AND LAUNCHED THE OPERACION VAMOS CAMPAIGN IN BATTLEGROUND STATES.

>> THEY HAVE TO GET ENOUGH TO DENY THE DEMOCRATS AN ELECTION.

>> CONSERVATIVES BELIEVE THEY HAVE MORE TO OFFER BASED ON THE TOP ISSUES FOR HISPANIC AND LATINO VOTERS.

>> NUMBER ONE IS JOBS.

NUMBER TWO IS JOBS.

AND THAT'S NUMBER THREE AS WELL.

>> IT'S THEIR LIVELIHOOD, IT'S THEIR FAITH, IT'S THEIR KIDS, AND IT'S THE SAFETY OF THEIR COMMUNITIES WHAT THEY ARE FOCUSED ON.

>> REPUBLICANS HAVE A FEW STRATEGIES IN THEIR CAMPAIGN.

THE FIRST IS ON ISSUES.

AT THE DOORS IN SOUTH MILWAUKEE, HELDER TOSTE DOESN'T NEED TO PROMPT ANYONE ABOUT CANDIDATES, ELECTIONS, OR EVEN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, HE SIMPLY ASKS, WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IN THEIR LIVES?

[ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ] >> THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING AND THERE ARE A LOT OF ACCIDENTS HERE ON THIS ROAD.

CARS DRIVE FAST LIKE IT WAS A FREEWAY AND, TRULY, IT'S DANGEROUS.

THEY COME OUT TO PLAY AND SUDDENLY THE BALL GOES.

AND A CAR IS GOING BY AND IT'S VERY SERIOUS, VERY DANGEROUS.

[ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ] >> I HAVE A SON WHO IS HYPER ACTIVE IN A SPECIAL CLASS AND THEY GOT RID OF ALL OF THIS HELP IN THE CLASS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> ASSAULTS, SHOOTINGS, ROBBERIES, IT HAS INCREASED A LOT.

MORE THAN ANYTHING, IT'S SAFETY BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU ARE SEEING WHAT IS HAPPENING AND YOU START TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN.

>> THE SECOND STRATEGY POINTS A FINGER AT THE PARTY CURRENTLY IN POWER.

>> DO YOU THINK THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE HIS JOB?

GOOD JOB?

OR BAD JOB?

>> A BAD JOB.

BECAUSE HE HASN'T ACCOMPLISHED WHAT HE PROMISED.

>> THEY NEED RESULTS MORE THAN THEY NEED PARTY LOYALTY.

>> AND FINALLY, PERHAPS MOST ESSENTIAL, YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP.

>> YOU'VE LIVED HERE FOR 20 YEARS, HAS A POLITICAL PARTY EVER CALLED YOU OR CONTACTED YOU?

>> NOTHING.

>> AND WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT COMES FROM?

>> WELL, TRULY BECAUSE WE ARE MEXICANS.

THEY DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO US.

>> HISPANIC VOTERS ARE WAY MORE INCLINED TO VOTE REPUBLICAN, AS LONG AS REPUBLICANS REACH OUT AND TALK TO THEM.

THEY ARE FED UP WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AROUND THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

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, THEN WE ARE GOING TO WIN ELECTIONS.

>> ONE ISSUE THAT MAY SEEM COUNTER INTUITIVE FOR HISPANIC AND LATINOS TO SUPPORT REPUBLICANS ON IS IMMIGRATION.

MARIA SAYS IMMIGRATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR HER AND WHY SHE IS A DEMOCRAT.

[ SPEAKING IN LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH ] >> IT IS SOMETHING THAT HURTS.

BECAUSE WE CAME THE SAME WAY.

WE GOT LUCKY.

BUT WE ARE THE SAME.

>> MARQUEZ SAYS THIS IS TIED TO THE IMMIGRANT IDENTITY HAS BEEN SHOWN TO FADE OVER TIME.

>> WITH EACH SUCCEEDING GENERATION OF LATINOS LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES, THE FURTHER AWAY THEY GET FROM THAT, AND SO THE LATINOS HAD VOTED, YOU KNOW, VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP AND HIS ANTI-IMMIGRATION POLICY, SAW WHAT BORDER ENFORCEMENT WAS, AND HEARD ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW IMMIGRANTS ARE BEING TREATED, BUT THEY LOOK AT AND THAT AND SAY, WELL, THAT IS NOT ME.

>> EVEN MARIA SAYS ONE OF HER CHILDREN IS REPUBLICAN.

>> MOST OF MINE IS DEMOCRATS.

I KNOW OLDEST IS NOT.

>> THAT IS NOT TO SAY THE DEMOCRATS DON'T HOLD THE ADVANTAGE.

>> TWO OUT OF THREE LATINO VOTERS SEE THE VALUE IN A LARGE SOCIAL WELFARE STATE, CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTION, AND THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR THESE THINGS.

>> THE HISPANIC AND LATINO POPULATION HAS BEEN ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING IN THE UNITED STATES.

MAKING THIS SHIFTING VOTING BLOCK ALL THE MORE CRUCIAL.

>> FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS IN WISCONSIN, LATINOS HAVE BEEN THE LARGEST SEGMENT OF GROWTH.

>> ABOUT HALF, IF NOT MORE NOW, OF ALL WISCONSIN DARE ROADWAY DS ARE LATINOS.

THEY ARE FILLING THE VOID.

>> IN A STATE LIKE WISCONSIN WHERE ELECTIONS ARE FAMOUSLY CLOSE, CAMPAIGNS ARE TRYING TO REACH EVERY COMMUNITY, EVERY VOTER, OR EVERY PERSON WHO KNOWS A VOTER.

>> THERE IS A GENERATION OF CHILDREN OF UNDOCUMENTED PARENTS WHO ARE TURNING 18 EVERY YEAR THAT IS SIGNIFICANT.

11,000 IN 2020 TURNED 18, ELIGIBLE TO VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME, THOSE PARENTS ARE UNDOCUMENTED.

IN A STATE WHERE THE MARGIN IS 18,000 TO 23,000.

THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S DECISIVE.

BUT IF THEY FEEL THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH, THEN THEY FEEL LIKE DROPPING OUT.

>> IN ESSENCE, TURNOUT MATTERS.

>> BUT WE HAVE TO SHOW UP.

CANDIDATES HAVE TO SHOW UP AND WE HAVE TO TALK TO VOTERS.

ALL VOTERS.

>> IF THEY MAKE AN END ROAD TO THE LATINO POPULATION, THEY'VE GOT A WINNING FORMULA.

>> REPORTING FOR HERE AND NOW I'M MARISA WOJCIK.

>> IN THE SWING THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN WESTERN WISCONSIN, THERE HAVE BEEN NO CANDIDATE DEBATES IN THE TRUMP ENDORSED CANDIDATE MOSTLY DOESN'T DO INTERVIEWS WITH THE SO-CALLED "MAINSTREAM MEDIA" AND A FEW POLLS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN SHOW HIM IN THE LEAD OVER DEMOCRAT BRAD PFAFF.

IS THAT RACE A DONE DEAL?

WE TURN TO ANTHONY CHERGOSKY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO IS IT A DONE-DEAL IN FAVOR OF DERRICK VAN ORDEN?

OR COULD THERE BE A SURPRISE IN THIS SWINGY DISTRICT?

>> THERE COULD BE SURPRISES IN WESTERN WISCONSIN.

BUT I THINK IT IS MOSTLY A DONE DEAL.

YOU LOOK AT THE INVESTMENT THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS MAKING, AND THERE IS NOT MUCH INVESTMENT TO SPEAK OF WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THE MONEY TALKS.

YOU LOOK AT HOW THE PARTIES ARE ALLOCATING THEIR RESOURCES.

AND THAT TELLS YOU A LOT ABOUT HOW THE PARTIES VIEW THIS PARTICULAR RACE HERE IN WESTERN WISCONSIN.

>> SO WHAT DO BRAD PFAFF SUPPORTERS THINK OF THAT?

>> I THINK THEY ARE VERY UPSET.

I HAVE TALKED WITH MANY OF THEM.

THEY THINK THE PARTY HAS ABANDONED BRAD PFAFF.

THEY THINK BRAD PFAFF IS BEING LEFT TO FEND FOR HIMSELF.

CERTAINLY DEMOCRATS HERE HAVE A VERY NEGATIVE VIEW OF DERRICK VAN ORDEN THE REPUBLICAN.

BUT WITHOUT THE RESOURCES TO MAKE THAT CASE, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME PROBLEMS.

AS YOU NOTED, FRED RYKA, THERE ARE NO DEBATES, THERE ARE VERY FEW CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS.

THIS IS A RACE THAT IS RELYING ON THE 30-SECOND IS TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENTS.

SO THEY NEED THE MONEY TO FUND THOSE ADVERTISEMENTS.

THAT IS HOW THEY ARE PRESENTING THEMSELVES TO THE VOTERS.

>> WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE IDEA THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO DEBATES, THE TOWN HALLS THAT THEY WANTED TO PUT ON DIDN'T HAPPEN.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THAT KIND OF A CAMPAIGN?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD NOTE IT'S THE END OF A VERY LONG TRADITION THAT WE'VE HAD IN WESTERN WISCONSIN.

I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND POLITICS AND LACROSSE IN A VERY LONG TIME.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY CAN EVER REMEMBER THERE BEING NO DEBATE IN THIS PARTICULAR CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

IT'S A MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT.

IT'S A SITUATION WHERE THE CANDIDATES ARE JUST RELYING ON THAT PAID MEDIA.

AND THAT MAKES ME EXTREMELY WORRIED, FREDERICA.

IT MAKES ME WORRIED ABOUT THE LEVEL OF INFORMATION THE VOTERS WILL HAVE AS THEY CAST THEIR VOTE.

VOTERS RELYING ON PAID MEDIA, PAID ADVERTISEMENTS, AS A POLITICAL SCIENTIST, THAT MAKE ME NERVOUS.

I WOULD MUCH RATHER THERE BE DEBATES, UNSCRIPTED SITUATIONS WHERE YOU CAN REALLY GET TO KNOW THE CANDIDATES IN-DEPTH.

THE VOTERS ARE JUST NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF EXPERIENCE, THAT TYPE OF OPPORTUNITY IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

>> ON THE GROUND THERE, WHAT ISSUES DOES THIS RACE TURN ON THAT COULD BRING PEOPLE OUT TO THE POLLS?

>> ONE OF THE STRIKING ASPECTS OF THIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN THE LACK OF DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES.

FOR BRAD PFAFF, THE DISCUSSION HAS BEEN ABOUT DERRICK VAN ORDEN'S PRESENCE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ON JANUARY 6th.

AND ALSO BRAD PFAFF'SMENT SUPPORT FOR ROE VERSE WADE.

GOING BACK TO THE SITUATION.

DERRICK VAN ORDEN CAST BRAD PFAFF AS A CAREER POLITICIAN.

SOMEONE WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN GOVERNMENT AND HE CONTRAST HIMSELF WITH BRAD PFAFF BY TALKING ABOUT HOW HE IS A POLITICAL OUTSIDER.

SO WE HAVEN'T HAD MUCH DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES AT ALL.

IT'S MOSTLY ABOUT TRYING TO CREATE A PERSONA THROUGH THOSE HIGHLY POLISHED, HIGHLY PRODUCED TELEVISION COMMERCIALS.

>> DOES IT SEEM AS THOUGH THE JANUARY 6th TIE WITH DERRICK VAN ORDEN IS REALLY RESINATING AT ALL WITH VOTERS?

BECAUSE ONE RECENT HEADLINE SAID, VOTERS SHRUG OFF GOP CANDIDATES JANUARY 6th TIE.

>> I THINK DEMOCRATS HERE ARE FRUSTRATED THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MAKE THAT CASE AGAINST DERRICK VAN ORDEN.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME EFFORT BY DEMOCRATS HERE TO EMPHASIZE HOW DERRICK VAN ORDEN WAS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ON JANUARY 6th.

DEMOCRATS HAVE TRIED TO RAISE QUESTIONS AND RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY DERRICK VAN ORDEN WAS DOING IN D.C. ON THAT DAY.

BUT IN A CAMPAIGN THAT RELIES SO MUCH ON PAID ADVERTISEMENTS, IN A CAMPAIGN WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE UNSCRIPTED MOMENTS, INTERVIEWS, TOWN HALLS, DEBATES, YOU'VE GOT TO RELY ON THAT PAID ADVERTISEMENT AND RIGHT NOW THE DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO RUN A SUSTAINED CAMPAIGN FOCUSING ON JANUARY 6th AS THEY GO AGAINST DERRICK VAN ORDEN.

>> SO YOU'VE MADE AN INTERESTING POINT THAT THIRD WAS KIND OF THE LAST HOPE FOR DEMOCRATS OUTSIDE OF THEIR STRONGHOLD IN MADISON AND MILWAUKEE.

WHAT KIND OF AN EXAMPLE IS THIS OF A STATE DIVIDED BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL?

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A FANTASTIC EXAMPLE OF THE URBAN RURAL DIVIDE IF THIS DISTRICT DOES GO REPUBLICAN IN NOVEMBER.

BECAUSE THEN WHAT WILL WE HAVE?

IF THIS DISTRICT GOES RED, WE WILL HAVE A 6-2 SPLIT IN THE HOUSE DELEGATION FOR WISCONSIN.

WE'LL HAVE SIX REPUBLICANS, TWO DEMOCRATS.

WE'LL HAVE BOTH DEMOCRATS REPRESENTING THE MAJOR URBAN AREAS WAREAS.

A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW THE STATE IS SO DIVIDED BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL.

FREDERICA, I THINK THAT IS WHERE WE MAY BE HEADING THIS NOVEMBER.

>> ANTHONY CHERGOSKY, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FOR MORE OF OUR COVERAGE ON THE RACE IN THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG AND CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.

>> WITH GUIDANCE FROM ELECTION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, POLL WORKERS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE BEEN TRAINING FOR POTENTIAL DISRUPTIONS, EVEN VIOLENCE, ON ELECTION DAY.

IN ONE SMALL CITY IN SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN, THE ELECTION CLERK THERE HOSTED TRAININGS ABOUT WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF GUN VIOLENCE WHILE TRYING TO BALANCE BETWEEN CREATING AWARENESS AND SCARING THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF POLL WORKERS.

>> LET THEM KNOW IT'S AN ACTIVE THREAT, ACTIVE SHOOTER.

>> THIS IS ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING FOR A ROOM FULL OF ELECTION INSPECTORS IN THE SMALL CITY OF STOTEN.

>> STAY AWAY FROM THE DOORWAYS AND WINDOWS.

>> THEY LOOK ON AFTER ARRANGING THE TRAINING IN PREPARATION FOR ELECTION DAY.

>> YOU SEEM ALMOST EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS.

WHY?

>> THEY ARE MY RESPONSIBILITY.

THIS IS JUST A TOUGH TIME RIGHT NOW, TOO, BECAUSE ALL THE CLERKS ARE UNDER SO MUCH STRESS RIGHT NOW AND WORKING UP TO NOVEMBER 8th.

>> STRESS BORN OF RAPIDLY CHANGING VOTING PROCEDURES AND TODAY'S POLITICAL I HAVE INDUSTRIAL.

>> WE NEED A LANDSLIDE SO BIG THE RADICAL LEFT CAN NOT RIG IT OR STEAL IT.

>> WHERE A ROOM FULL OF POLL WORKERS COULD BE SITTING DUCKS.

IS IT TARGETED?

COULD IT BE?

WE HATE TO THINK THAT WAY, BUT I FEEL THAT THE ENVIRONMENT IS DICTATING THAT.

WE REALLY NEED TO BE AWARE.

AND BE PREPARED.

>> AND THIS BLOOD IS GOING TO SOAK INTO THIS GAUZE AND IT WILL START TO CLOT UP.

>> AWARENESS AND PREPARATION THAT ALSO INCLUDES TEACHING THESE ELECTION INSPECTORS HOW TO PACK GUNSHOT WOUNDS TO STOP BLEEDING.

>> WHEN YOU GO TO THE POLLING LOCATIONS, TAKE A GLANCE AROUND AND SEE, IS THERE A NEARBY ROOM WHERE I CAN BARRICADE MYSELF INTO THAT ROOM?

>> TRAINEES LEARN TO HAVE THEIR HEAD IN THE GAME AT ALL TIMES.

FROM CONSIDERATION OF BARRICADING AGAINST ASSAILANTS, TO HIDING.

>> AGAIN, WHEN YOU ARE HIDING, DON'T HIDE ALL TOGETHER.

YOU WANT TO BE SPREAD OUT AMONGST THE ROOM AS FAR AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AS YOU CAN.

BECAUSE IF YOU ALL GO INTO ONE SPOT, IT MAKES IT ONE REALLY BIG EASY TARGET.

>> OFFICER ALSO DESCRIBE HOW THE ELECTION INSPECTORS CAN SUBDUE SHOOTERS IF THEY ARE UP TO IT.

>> THIS IS A POINT WHERE YOU BELIEVE THIS PERSON IS POTENTIALLY GOING TO KILL YOU OR KILL SOMEONE ELSE.

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

>> FOR VETERAN POLL WORKERS WHOSE MASTERY LIES IN VOTING RULES AND REGULATIONS, LEARNING ACTIVE SHOOTER RESPONSE SEEMS A SAD REALITY OF THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE.

>> I THINK IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT OUR CURRENT POLITICAL SITUATION.

I WISH IT WASN'T THIS WAY.

IT IS.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THE TRAINING AND HOPEFULLY WE WON'T NEED IT.

>> INSPECTORS WE SPOKE WITH ARE KEENLY CONCERNED ABOUT UNSETTLED RULES AROUND ELECTION OBSERVERS AND SHIFTING RULES ON ABSENTEE BALLOT CURING.

MEANWHILE, U.S.

ATTORNEYS IN WISCONSIN ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT THEIR OFFICES WILL HANDLE COMPLAINTS ON ELECTION DAY INCLUDING THREATS OF VIOLENCE, FRAUD, AND VOTING RIGHTS CONCERNS.

THE FBI WILL ALSO HAVE SPECIAL AGENTS ON HAND.

ALSO TONIGHT, WHAT ISSUES ARE YOUNG PEOPLE SAYING ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM?

AHEAD OF THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS?

WE SPANNED OUT ACROSS THE STATE TO INTERVIEW STUDENTS INCLUDING THOSE FROM TWO PBS NEWS HOUR REPORTING LABS HIGH SCHOOLS.

HERE'S A SAMPLING OF WHAT THEY TOLD US 3.

>> THE MAIN ISSUES THAT MATTER TO ME ARE ABORTION RIGHTS, LGBTQ RIGHTS, AND PROBABLY GUN CONTROL.

>> I MEAN, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF BIG ISSUES RIGHT NOW.

I WOULD SAY THE THREE THAT MATTER TO ME THE MOST ARE THE ECONOMY, FOREIGN POLICY, AND PRIVACY.

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IS DEFINITELY GLOBAL WARMING.

BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT -- IF WE CAN VOTE OR WHO WE ARE IF THE PLANET IS DEAD.

>> THE BIG ISSUE THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME IS WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND ESPECIALLY OVER A BODY, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME LIKE THIS WHEN OUR BODIES ARE BEING CONTROLLED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

>> THE ISSUES HAS TO DO WITH THE COMMUNITY I'M A PART OF.

ISSUES THAT SURROUND IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LGBTQ ISSUES.

>> SOME ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME ARE CLIMATE CHANGE, OUR CHANGING ENVIRONMENT AND THE WORLD AROUND US.

I BELIEVE ABORTION SHOULD BE A RIGHT AND BE PROTECTED FOR EVERY WOMAN REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION.

>> I THINK A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

GUN CONTROL.

TAXES.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

LEGALIZATION OR DECRIMINALIZATION OF DRUGS.

BUT THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR ME IS VOTING RIGHTS.

JUST IN GENERAL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> THANKS TO THE PBS WISCONSIN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FOR HELPING GATHER THOSE YOUTH VOICES.

NOW TURNING TO THE U.S. SENATE RACE.

>> MANDELA BARNES DANGEROUSLY LIBERAL ON CRIME.

>> MANDELA BARNES HE STANDS WITH THEM.

NOT US.

>> MANDELA BARNES NOT JUST A DEMOCRAT, A DANGEROUS DEMOCRAT.

>> SO DIFFERENT AND DANGEROUS.

WE JUST SAW THE WORDS AND IMAGES IN CAMPAIGN ADS FOR REPUBLICAN SENATOR RON JOHNSON THAT ARE USED TO DESCRIBE HIS DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MANDELA BARNES.

MANY OBSERVERS SAY THIS KIND OF MESSAGING GOES WAY BEYOND BEING RACIALLY TINGED.

JOHNSON'S CAMPAIGN SAYS IT'S NOTHING OF THE SORTS.

THAT RON JOHNSON IS TALKING TO VOTERS ABOUT THE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO THEM INCLUDING OUT OF CONTROL CRIME.

HERE TO UNPACK THE DIVISION AND HOW WISCONSIN VOTERS MAY RESPOND TO THIS IS JOHN EASON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE KIND OF MESSAGING THAT WE ARE SEEING NOW IN THE WISCONSIN U.S. SENATE RACE?

>> I THINK IT'S REMINISCENT OF ADS WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST.

FROM WILLIE HORTON TO THE GOLD WATER CAMPAIGN WITH THE LONG BLACK SHADOW HAND REALLY REACHING OUT AND SPEAKING ABOUT CRIME.

AND EQUATING BLACKNESS WITH CRIME.

>> DO YOU THINK IT GOES BEYOND THOSE KINDS OF OLDER MESSAGES?

>> I THINK IT'S IRONICALLY RIGHT ON BRAND.

BUT I THINK GIVEN HOW HYPER POLARIZED WE ARE TODAY, THERE IS NO REAL TOWN SQUARE IN AMERICA THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO HAVE REAL CHECKS AND BALANCES, THAT THIS IS JUST RIGHT ON BRAND.

I DON'T THINK IT'S ANY WORSE.

>> I MEAN THE MESSAGES ARE CONNECTED TO, ON THE ONE HAND CRIME RATES, AND ON THE OTHER HAND, MASS INCARCERATION AND POLICING REFORM.

BUT YOU HAVE SAID, WHEN YOU HAVE GENERAL MISINFORMATION AND YOU THROW RACISM INTO THE MIX, THAT'S A PRETTY POWERFUL ELIXIR.

HOW SO?

>> RACISM -- THIS COUNTRY HAS A LONG HISTORY OF THIS.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO TRY TO DENY OR MINIMIZE HOW MUCH RACE OR RACISM, SPECIFICALLY, MATTERS.

BUT BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, FROM PEOPLE LEAVING SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, WHOLE CONTINGENCY SWATHS OF PEOPLE BEING SILOED WITHIN SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, AND OUR NEWS IS VERY SEGMENTED.

WHEN YOU ADD RACISM INTO THAT, YOU ADD -- YOU EVEN FURTHER DIMINISH THE BENEFIT OF DOUBT AND YOU FURTHER DEHUMANIZE PEOPLE.

>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE THIS TESTING OF BLACK MEN OF DANGEROUS IS NORMALIZED IN THE MAJORITY WHITE WISCONSIN?

>> I THINK IT HAS BEEN NORMALIZED AND NOT JUST A MAJORITY WHITE WISCONSIN, BUT THIS IS NORMALIZED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> SO JOHNSON'S ADS HAVE COINCIDED WITH HIS RISE IN THE POLLS.

OVERTAKING BARNES.

ONE PUN DENT TOLD US, WELL, IT WORKS.

THIS KIND OF ATTACK AD.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY, THOUGH, ABOUT TODAY'S, KIND OF, SCORCHED EARTH POLITICS?

>> IT'S NOT SO MUCH IT'S JUST ABOUT CRIME, IT'S THE FEAR OF CRIME.

AND THE FEAR OF CRIME WHICH IS LINKED TO BLACK PEOPLE, WE'VE SEEN THIS FOREVER, BUT IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT OUR POLITICS IN TERMS OF HOW WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE FORWARD.

RIGHT?

SO I'M HOPEFUL STILL BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY NEW VOTERS WHO MAY NOT BE CAPTURED IN THESE POLLS.

WE HAVE SO MANY YOUNG VOTERS WHO ARE GOING TO PRIMARILY VOTE DEMOCRATIC, THAT THERE MAY BE SOME HOPE FOR CHANGING THE TONE AND TENURE OF OUR POLITICS.

>> YOU FEEL AS THOUGH THESE KIND OF MESSAGES ARE KIND OF DIRECTED AT THE OLDER ELECTORATE?

>> THEY DEFINITELY ARE.

I THINK THIS IS SPEAKING TO PEOPLE WHOSE MINDS ARE ALREADY MADE UP.

I DON'T THINK THEY WILL SWAY MANY NEW OR YOUNGER VOTERS WHO, ESPECIALLY -- EVEN IN RURAL COMMUNITIES.

I THINK BECAUSE OF HOW WELL WISCONSIN'S EDUCATION SYSTEM IS COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, I'M JUST WAY MORE HOPEFUL.

BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE DON'T HAVE MUCH ROOM.

RIGHT?

TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE DON'T HAVE A BASE TO REALLY PUSH FORWARD AND PUSH PAST WHERE WE'VE BEEN.

NOT JUST IN WISCONSIN, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> BUT STILL HOW DIVISIVE IS THIS IN A STATE ALREADY KEENLY DIVIDED BY RACE AND POLITICAL LINES?

>> I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY DIVISIVE.

I THINK -- BUT THE PEOPLE WHO IT IS FUELING, THE ADS THAT THE MARKETS THEY ARE TARGETING, I THINK EVERYONE'S MIND IS KIND OF MADE UP ALREADY.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO SWAY PEOPLE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

I DON'T THINK SOMEONE IS GOING TO SEE THIS AND SAY THIS IS NEW INFORMATION OR I HAVE A BRAND NEW VIEW ON MANDELA BARNES.

>> PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE THEIR MINDS' MADE UP ALREADY, BUT HOW HURTFUL IS IT?

>> THIS IS PART OF WHY I'M HOPEFUL.

YOUNGER VOTERS, IN PARTICULAR, I'VE SEEN NOT ONLY IN MY CLASSROOMS BUT IN MENTORING GRADUATE STUDENTS AS WELL, YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE HOPEFUL, YOU WILL SEE THIS IN THE COMING DAYS AT THANKSGIVING DINNERS WHEN THEY ARE PUSHING BACK AGAINST THEIR, YOU KNOW, THE EXCUSE WE GET TO LET THE OLD DRUNK UNCLE GO OFF AND RANT ABOUT WHATEVER HE WANTED.

YOU SEE MORE FRICTION IN FAMILIES NOW AT HOLIDAYS BECAUSE YOUNGER PEOPLE AREN'T PUTTING UP WITH THIS ANYMORE.

>> ALL RIGHT JOHN, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG AND CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.

NEXT WEEK AHEAD OF HERE AND NOW, WATCH FOR SPECIAL ELECTION COVERAGE STARTING AT 7:00.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

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