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Sen. Jennifer Shilling Re-Elected State Senate Minority Leader

Shilling: Democrats Need To Connect With Rural Voters

By
Jennifer Shilling
Tegan Wendland/WPR

La Crosse Democrat Jennifer Shilling has been re-elected as state Senate minority leader.

Shilling, who is facing a recount in her district election, was tapped by fellow lawmakers to lead the smallest number of senate Democrats the state Capitol has seen in decades. There will be 13 Democrats and 20 Republicans in the state Senate when lawmakers begin the next legislative session in January.

On Tuesday, Shilling pointed to the state’s political maps and voter ID law as reasons for Democrats’ performance in the election. She also said Democrats need to do a better job of connecting with rural voters.

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Shilling said her re-election as minority leader and the election of Sen. Janet Bewley, D-Ashland, as assistant minority leader shows Democrats are paying attention to northern and western Wisconsin.

“It is clear we need to make sure we are connecting with voters in rural parts of the state,” Shilling said. “We can talk to those voters on those issues and listen to them about what’s concerning to them and what their priorities continue to be in this state.”

Bewley ensured people across the state will be represented.

“I believe that Senator Shilling and I are going to look to all corners of the state to make sure that everyone feels represented fairly,” Bewley said.

Shilling also said Democrats need to tell voters about the work Democrats have done to support small businesses and the economy and remind voters what party is driving policy in the state.

“If voters continue to feel frustrated and continue to feel government is out of touch with them – the Republicans control everything,” she said.

Shilling said she expects the upcoming budget negotiations to be difficult and for Republicans to “overreach” during the next session.

Senate Republicans held their leadership elections earlier this month.

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