Wisconsin Dem Gov Candidates Struggling To Address “Generational Divide” With Younger Voters

January 2, 2018

Lacking young candidates with energy and ideas to reinvigorate their party, Wisconsin Democrats find themselves struggling to reach younger voters with older, out-of-touch gubernatorial candidates, causing a “generational divide” that weakens the party. The Associated Press reports that the average age of the Democrat candidates for governor is 58, with “gray candidates” like Paul Soglin and Matt Flynn, both of whom are over 70, emerging as contenders for the party’s nomination. Meanwhile, Democrat activists bemoan the fact that Republicans “have a better structure in place to support and nurture younger candidates” while their party fails to do the same. With Democrats already struggling to unify with a lackluster field of second-choice candidates, the party’s troubling generational divide will only further complicate its path to victory in 2018.

The Associated Press reports:

“Democrats have long bemoaned not having enough young candidates, while the face of the Republican Party in recent years has been dominated by politicians in their 40s.

Gov. Scott Walker, House Speaker Paul Ryan and former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, also the former state and national GOP party chairman, range between ages 45 and 50. Walker, the oldest, was first elected governor on his 43rd birthday but has been in office continually since he was 25.

Wisconsin Democrats haven’t had the same youth movement, as evidenced by the decidedly gray field of governor candidates. The average age of the nine top tier contenders is 58 and two are in their 70s.

‘The pipeline for leadership hasn’t always been there,’ said Mandela Barnes, a 31-year-old candidate for lieutenant governor. ‘We are realizing that and taking steps to address it…’

Republicans also have a better structure in place to support and nurture younger candidates, [One Wisconsin Now Director Scott] Ross said.

‘They’re smart,’ he said. ‘The greatest thing that the GOP has done since the 1970s is invest in young talent.'”