We did it!
We, the people of Milwaukee, the radicals, the defenders of humanitarian values, and most of the voters, we stood up to genocide deniers, cop-lovers, and Republicans. We stood up to them and we won.
First, we all came together to beat back the Republican power grab. Most voters on both sides of every Milwaukee area primary came together, along with 57% of people across the state to shut down the constitutional amendments. That is huge. Democrats have been winning statewide races and the thoroughness with which we slapped down those muddle-mouthed referendums portends great things for the general election. I’m calling it now: even though Governor Evers bet against Wisconsin by giving Republicans a still-red-skewing map, we will elect a blue assembly in November. I love seeing Democrats tell Republicans to kick rocks. If that happened as often as it should, none of the division and strife in the Democratic Party would be as contentious (or expensive) as it has been this election season.
Second, huge ups to Ryan Clancy’s voters, small dollar donors, door knockers, and yard sign showers. That race was about more than Clancy. It was about the direction of the Milwaukee Democratic Party. Would war-mongering Zionists, police-boot licking hypocrites, reactionary centrists, and regressive austerity peddlers within the party land a potentially fatal blow to Wisconsin’s reborn socialist caucus? Would Darrin Madison and Francesca Hong spend the next two years worried that they’re next? No! Cuz Milwaukee fought back.
We beat Jarrod Anderson decisively. As of yet, according to the Clancy campaign, there has been no concession speech or phone call. Anderson’s facebook post acknowledging his defeat does not mention Clancy. He says nothing about cooperation, goodwill, or the future of the district. It’s not surprising that the guy who wanted our votes even though he doesn’t cast his own for others would also lack the class or grace to formally concede after losing by 10 points, but it is a troubling sign. This suggests that his recruiter, Ann Jacobs, and the rest of his backers will continue to sew division and try to cut down Clancy while the rest of us focus on going for that big beautiful blue assembly. Clancy recognizes the need for healing in the district, and plans to host listening sessions in the district to keep the conversations he had on doors going. It will not be easy. The stubborn, dishonest people who ran Anderson’s campaign need to be reminded of—or perhaps introduced to—the shape of Milwaukee’s soul and of our fighting, working class spirit. Fortunately, Clancy is dedicated to doing hard work, and we will support him in it.
We can breathe a sigh of relief and declare decisive victory on these two very important parts of Tuesday’s primary, but that is not all the wins I have to write about!
COMPLICATED VICTORIES
Everyone who is for the people of Milwaukee against the machine politicians, everyone who wants to fight the Republicans who vilify our city, everyone who knocked doors and made donations to challengers of the reactionary status quo, we missed those seats, but won a different kind of victory. In Milwaukee, we saw five earnest, young, passionate, righteous, first-time candidates run. Even though they won’t take the seats they ran for, they won, for us, a glimpse of Milwaukee’s future.
Enrique Murguia and Deisy Espana gave us a vision of a south side represented by working class Latine immigrants and passionate activists rather than a moderate Republican dressed as a Democrat and her untested business friend. In West Allis, Nate Keiso showed us how a dedicated labor organizer and social worker can bring bold ideas and vision to his working class community. We caught a glimpse of a northside represented by Brandon Williford, a compassionate, healthcare activist, and Amillia Heredia, a queer, Afrolatina mental health and child advocate. These are people who, despite missing the offices they ran for, will not quietly allow the status-quo of institutional neglect and systemic racism that plagues our city to continue.
On Tuesday we showed that Milwaukee remembers the bright spots in our socialist history. Milwaukee loves grounded, rough-edged, non-conformists. This is a rusty union town, a place where people don’t just make money, trade status, and grind through life. Milwaukee is a place where people live, and party, and fight, and laugh. Where we assert and defend ourselves, instead of submitting before the machines of racial capitalism and bipartisan compromise.
There are remnants of Milwaukee’s labor and immigrant history buried underneath this city. The Bayview Massacre, the 11 anarchists, the 500 nights of civil rights marching, the socialist mayors and leaders all echo in Milwaukee’s sewer tunnels and our many parks. At the risk of sounding romantic and idealistic, I heard those echoes on Tuesday night. The ashes of Milwaukee’s history stirred, the embers flared, and, if we tend these delicate licks of flame, we can raise a phoenix to defend our city. We can stand up to the state politicians who want us hurt and controlled. We can build the beloved community every resident of Milwaukee deserves.
Milwaukee Beagle has more to say about Tuesday’s election, watch for articles and analysis of the races and their finances, coming soon. We are also going to move toward the next fight. Milwaukee’s city and county budget processes are beginning now. The November election looms. Everyone who fought with us to score wins on Tuesday needs to keep fighting, and those who tried to get in the way, need to turn their energies around and help us clobber the Republicans in November.
Let’s fuckin’ do it!
