Ellison Outlines Path To Victory For Wisconsin Dems

A national leader of the Democratic Party says Democrats can win more statewide elections in Wisconsin by campaigning in all 72 counties.

U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, who became deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee earlier this year, was in Milwaukee on Saturday for the 2017 Democratic Party of Wisconsin’s Founders Day Gala.

During the event, the Minnesota congressman said his party shouldn’t ignore any part of Wisconsin.

“We cannot afford to get blown out in the so-called ‘red counties’ in Wisconsin. We got to keep it pretty close. If we work really hard, we might just win. But even if we don’t, we have to keep it close enough so that even in the blue areas, Madison and Milwaukee, we really run up the score and end up winning the state, right?” Ellison said to cheers from the audience of several hundred people.

Ellison later told reporters Democrats have the volunteers to be active in every county, with many activists partially inspired by President Donald Trump’s actions.

“But also, I think the people are just remembering what it means to be a Democrat,” Ellison said. “It means we have to have a fair economy. We gotta stand up for the working man and woman, and stand up for respect and human rights for everybody.”

Ellison rejects the idea that things look bleak for Wisconsin Democrats, even though Republicans have control of state government and won the presidential race in Wisconsin last fall — the first time a Republican has won the state in 32 years.

Ellison said it’s a time for hope and optimism, calling Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, “an awesome candidate,” as Baldwin runs for re-election next year.

The state GOP said Saturday that Democrats “embraced their disarray” by having the controversial Minnesota congressman as their Founder’s Day speaker. Republicans say Ellison is out of the mainstream on gun control and some other issues.