Madison Mayor Paul Soglin Says He's in Wisconsin Gov Race—The Bernie Sanders Delegate Bets on Broad Reach

Madison, Wisc Mayor Paul Soglin

A Paul Soglin-Scott Walker race would be epic clash not seen since Feingold-Neumann, 1998

Updated - Madison, Wisconsin—Madison Mayor Paul Soglin says he'll enter the race for Wisconsin governor, making a formal announcement the second week of January, AP writer Scott Bauer reports, (Twitter).

Soglin's comments to Wisconsin media this week follow public statements made in June 2017 in which Soglin cited the success of Bernie Sanders' candidacy in Wisconsin's 2016 presidential primary as evidence independent candidates can win statewide office against the Democratic Party establishment.

Soglin was a Bernie Sanders delegate in 2016.

Sanders' performance with young, independent voters combined with appeal in the northern two-thirds of the state is cited by political observers as a formula for defeating the incumbent Scott Walker.

The right to vote is key in elections, a truism that escapes notice in much of Wisconsin's political culture.

Under Soglin's administration, Madison has recognized the right to vote, as Walker has worked to obstruct the right to vote.

This sets Soglin apart from the field where support for the right to vote is not a defining feature in stated policy objectives or campaign commitments thus far.

Candidates for the Democratic Party nomination are lining up fast as Walker is seen as a vulnerable incumbent.

Soglin will become the ninth major candidate declaring against Gov. Scott Walker, (R), who formally announced on Nov. 5.

"The other highest profile Democratic candidates for governor are: state Superintendent Tony Evers; state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, of Alma; state Rep. Dana Wachs, of Eau Claire; former state Rep. Kelda Roys, of Madison; statewide firefighter union leader Mahlon Mitchell; former state party chairman Matt Flynn; Milwaukee businessman Andy Gronik; and political activist Mike McCabe," reports the Wisconsin State Journal.

In the 2014 Democratic Party primary campaign, the state Democratic Party successfully discouraged candidates from running for office, a strategy that failed.

Today's AP report by Scott Bauer was augmented by the State Journal with silly facts.

Soglin is counting on social media to reach Wisconsin voters who care about public policy more than the fact Soglin has a mustache.

Writes Soglin this week:

I need your help. In a few weeks I plan to formally announce my candidacy for governor of Wisconsin. Social... https://t.co/2PagvkqBhs

— Paul Soglin (@Paulsoglin) December 26, 2017

Reports Abigail Becker in The Capital Times: "Soglin said Wednesday he will make an official announcement in the second week of January."

As noted in Mal Contends, a Paul Soglin-Scott Walker race would be an epic clash of cultures pitting an intellectual pragmatist with genuine vision in municipal policy, and roots in the Civil Rights Movement against a religious fundamentalist who is vindictive against swaths of the state opposing authoritarian rule, and has worked to transfer public resources of the Badger state to billionaires and special interests.

Soglin brings a large base of support to the 2018 race, critical to winning in a large field in the Primary.

In June, Republicans ridiculed Soglin's work for citizen action in the Civil Rights Movement, the environmental movement and anti-war movement as "left-wing."

Voter turn-out in the 2014 general election was some 57 percent.