(The Center Square) – Scott Walker sees a lot of similarities between next year’s governor’s race and his first in 2010.
“It’s wide open,” the former governor said in a radio interview on Thursday. “The last time was 15 years ago, in 2010, when we pushed Jim Doyle out of the race. He was still the incumbent, and still thinking he was going to run. And in that first half of 2009 we outraised him. And then a couple days, about this time, a report came out that he wasn’t running again. That opened things wide up.”
Walker, a Republican, went on to win the race, and Wisconsin has had a sitting governor on the ballot in each election since. Second-term Democratic Gov. Tony Evers recently said, however, he won’t seek reelection.
While it will be an open seat in the governor’s mansion, Walker said he’s waiting to see how open the Democratic primary may be next year.
“In 2009 Barack Obama and others basically strong-armed everybody but Tom Barrett out of that race,” Walker added.
He said so far, “that’s not the case.”
Two Democrats are officially in the race – Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez. Walker said Rodriguez began her campaign with a mistake when she said she got an early heads-up from the governor about his decision to retire.
“I’m amazed on that story, by the way, that they are denying that,” Walker explained. “If you have confidence in your lieutenant governor of course you’re going to give her a heads up. Why wouldn’t you if you believe in that person?”
Walker said Rodriguez has some “problems to deal with.”
He also said Attorney General Josh Kaul, if he runs, would be a formidable candidate.
However, if there are too many candidates, and a truly wide-open primary, Walker warns that could hurt Democrats next year.
“That’s not what the Democrats want,” Walker added. “They want all of their money behind one candidate. They’re not going to get it in this case.”
Walker started the week by announcing that he is not running again, despite a tease on social media.
There are two Republican candidates – businessman Bill Berrien and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann. A third or fourth may get in soon as well.
“We can win, but it’s not going to be easy,” Walker said.
