Wisconsin: Mark Pocan Wins Primary to Succeed Tammy Baldwin

State Rep. Mark Pocan handily defeated fellow state Rep. Kelda Helen Roys tonight. He led 70 percent to 23 percent when the Associated Press called the race.

Pocan was widely expected to win the primary for the Madison-based 2nd district and will almost certainly come to Congress in the fall. The two were vying for a safe Democratic open seat to replace Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D), who is running for Senate.

Wisconsin: Mark Pocan Favored in 2nd District Democratic Primary

Rep. Tammy Baldwin's retirement to run for Senate led to a contested Democratic primary in Wisconsin's 2nd district. (Tom Williams CQ/Roll Call File Photo)

Voters head to the polls today in Wisconsin, and for Democrats, all of the action will take place in the 2nd district primary to replace Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D), who is running for Senate.

State Reps. Mark Pocan and Kelda Helen Roys are the main competitors, and most Wisconsin political observers give the edge to Pocan.

Both  candidates for this Madison-area district are in the state Assembly and have similar policy positions. Pocan has picked up high-profile Congressional endorsements, while Roys has the backing of EMILY’s List.

The winner will be virtually assured of coming to Congress in the fall. Baldwin has remained neutral in the contest.

Wisconsin: Kelda Helen Roys and Mark Pocan Exchange Criticism Over Ad

Wisconsin Assemblyman Mark Pocan (D) changed tactics in his race to succeed Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D) in Wisconsin’s second district, launching a new television ad that defends his record and seeks to discredit criticism leveled by his primary opponent.

State Assemblywoman Kelda Helen Roys (D) wasted little time before responding. Her campaign called the spot as a “false, negative attack ad” that went against Pocan’s promise to run a clean campaign. Pocan had previously devoted his television advertising time to highlighting his accomplishments.

“He’s been telling voters that he was going to run a clean campaign and he caved,” said Roys campaign manager Rick Coelho. “It fits in with our core message that he caves when the going gets tough.”

The Pocan campaign said that it stands by the ad and responded to the Roys campaign in a statement to Roll Call.

“Our ad speaks for itself. Mark is running a positive campaign about providing real results to Wisconsinites,” said campaign manager Dan McNally in the statement. “We hope it sets the record straight after Rep. Roys’ attacks on his strong record as an effective progressive.”

Full story

Wisconsin: Negative Ads Dominate Airwaves

Congressional candidates and outside groups in Wisconsin have picked up the pace of TV and radio attack ads as the state’s primaries loom three weeks away.

Roll Call counted 10 attack ads released in the past 11 days, including three spots released today.

Most of the ads focus on the race for the state’s open Senate seat. Ads from both sides of the aisle have targeted the GOP primary’s perceived frontrunners, former Gov. Tommy Thompson and businessman Eric Hovde.

The Club for Growth and former Rep. Mark Neumann, who is also competing in the GOP primary, have been especially critical. Majority PAC, which supports Democrats running for the Senate, and EMILY’s List targeted Hovde and Thompson in hopes of aiding presumptive Democratic nominee Rep. Tammy Baldwin. Full story

Wisconsin: Pocan and Roys Launch First Major TV Ads

Wisconsin Democratic Assembly members Mark Pocan and Kelda Helen Roys launched their first major TV ads this week in the race to succeed Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D) in the state’s 2nd district. The spots for both candidates are positive portrayals of themselves and both avoid taking on their opponent directly.

Pocan’s ad, which is part of a more than $55,000 broadcast and cable buy, portrays the him as someone whose political leadership has been influenced by his own experience with business.

“My parents taught me how to run a business and how to treat employees and customer fairly,” Pocan says in the ad. “I practice those lessons everyday in my own union print shop.”

Roys released two ads that will play in rotation on broadcast and cable portraying her as willing to stand up to the establishment. The value of the Roys ad buy is roughly equal to the Pocan buy, according to a Wisconsin Democratic operative with knowledge of the campaigns. Full story

Wisconsin: Candidates Boycott ‘Beer and Brats Summit’

Wisconsin Democratic Assembly members Mark Pocan and Kelda Helen Roys, candidates in the August primary to replace Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D), declined to attend Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s “Beer and Brats Summit” held Tuesday.

The legislators said that while they appreciate bipartisan efforts, they believed this particular event was frivolous and insincere.

“I think we should focus on passing public policy to help those struggling Wisconsinites,” Roys told Roll Call. She said that only after significant bipartisan policy efforts are made would she be willing to attend such an event.

Pocan raised similar doubts about Walker’s outreach. Full story

EMILY’S List Endorses Two in Competitive Primaries

Tulsi Gabbard is one of the candidates who got the full stamp of approval from EMILY's List. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

EMILY’s List announced today it is fully endorsing two female candidates locked in competitive Democratic primaries in Wisconsin and Hawaii.

The group, which helps elect women that support abortion rights, is backing state Rep. Kelda Roys in Wisconsin’s open 2nd district and Honolulu City Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard in Hawaii’s open 2nd district. Roys is the former executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin and Gabbard is a veteran and former state representative. Full story