Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Democrats’ stances are similar

Two vying to run against Duffy for U.S. House

- Haley BeMiller

Amid what some have called a “blue wave” in Wisconsin politics, two Democrats are attempting to reclaim the 7th District congressio­nal seat from Republican Sean Duffy.

Brian Ewert and Margaret Engebretso­n will vie for the 7th District’s Democratic nomination in the Aug. 14 primary. Duffy, a Wausau Republican, was first elected to the seat in 2010 after the retirement of Democrat

Dave Obey.

The candidates tout characteri­stically Democratic policies and are not far out of step with one another on issues like health care and immigratio­n reform. But Ewert, a longtime doctor in Marshfield, and Engebretso­n, a Polk County attorney and military veteran, come from two distinct profession­al background­s that could inform what they bring to the job and how voters perceive them.

Engebretso­n served three years in the Navy and 21 years in the Naval Reserve and Minnesota Air National Guard. She also was an attorney focused on guardian ad litem work in Balsam Lake in western Wisconsin near the Minnesota border.

Ewert has spent 25 years in Marshfield working as a kidney doctor for Marshfield Clinic. He was also the clinic’s president from 2012 to 2014.

Ewert and Engebretso­n are the last Democrats standing after several expressed interest in seeking the nomination earlier this year. One of the more prominent candidates was Kyle Frenette, the longtime manager of indie music artist Bon Iver. Frenette dropped out of the race in late May after months of campaignin­g, citing “unforeseen circumstan­ces” in his life.

Bob Look, the widower of Wausau mass shooting victim Dianne Look, threw his hat in as well but came up short of the required signatures to appear on the ballot. However, Look is still campaignin­g as a write-in candidate for the Aug. 14 primary.

Democrats David Beeksma of Ashland and Dennis Paulaha of Hudson missed the deadline to file their paperwork. Ken Driessen of Hayward, who ran for the 7th District in 2016, will appear on the November ballot as a candi-

date for direct participat­ory democracy.

On the issues

In many ways, Ewert and Engebretso­n are aligned in values and policy views.

Health care has emerged as a priority in their campaigns, serving as a contrast to Duffy’s support of repealing the Affordable Care Act last year.

Both Democrats have advocated for a Medicare-for-all option, and Ewert lamented high costs that can cripple a family’s finances in the event of a medical crisis.

The two spoke out about immigratio­n policy and the Trump administra­tion’s controvers­ial practice of separating families at the border.

Engebretso­n said she was deployed to the border during her tenure with the National Guard and realized it’s not possible to build the wall that President Donald Trump has touted since his campaign.

“It makes no sense as far as being an effective safety measure, security measure, and it doesn’t make any sense as far as how much that would cost,” she said.

They also support a pathway to citizenshi­p for undocument­ed immigrants.

Ewert believes their legal status benefits American citizens, too, as it encourages immigrants to report crimes to law enforcemen­t and discourage­s employers who use the system to take advantage of all workers.

“It strengthen­s our communitie­s when they’re here legally,” he said.

Ewert and Engebretso­n criticized Trump’s trade policies that have resulted in retaliator­y tariffs on Wisconsin products such as ginseng.

Ewert contends Congress needs to take back its authority on tariffs to ensure the state is supported.

“The hard-working people in Wisconsin are being hurt by these policies,” he said.

Beyond that, the candidates have called for improved infrastruc­ture and broadband access in rural areas.

Ewert wants to tackle what he says is a student loan “crisis,” while Engebretso­n believes in raising the minimum wage and taxes on corporatio­ns to help address income inequality. The tax reform Duffy supported last year is exacerbati­ng those disparitie­s, she said.

“People are concerned about how this is corrupting our political system, and this problem needs bold action,” she said.

Hope for Democrats in the 7th?

Republican­s in Wisconsin have raised concerns about a so-called blue wave after Democratic victories in the state Senate and Supreme Court, both of which were felt in the 7th District.

Marathon, Lincoln, Oneida and St. Croix counties narrowly supported Democratic Supreme Court justice candidate Rebecca Dallet in April despite voting for Trump in 2016.

St. Croix County also backed Democrat Patty Schachtner in the 10th Senate District special election earlier this year.

Still, the 7th District has been viewed as heavily Republican since it was redrawn as part of statewide redistrict­ing in 2011. Duffy beat Democrat Mary Hoeft with 62 percent of the vote in his last re-election bid.

Ed Miller, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, said Ewert’s medical experience could boost his chances in August, as health care is a prominent issue nationwide.

But Engebretso­n’s legal and military experience give her an edge, he said, particular­ly in the “year of the woman.”

Indeed, women have been running for office in record numbers since the 2016 election. According to the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics, 468 women filed for U.S. House elections. That’s up from 272 women in 2016.

“Women have done better this year than they’ve done in the past,” Miller said.

Whoever wins the Democratic nomination will have to contend with a district that leans Republican. But it could shift left, Miller said, particular­ly if candidates highlight policies backed by Duffy that would hurt 7th District residents, such as privatizin­g Medicare.

“The idea that it’s hopeless for Democrats — I’m not so sure about that,” he said.

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