Democrats are riding high after last Tuesday's elections, with wins at multiple levels of government across the country — from the New York City mayor's race to Prop 50 in California to US House and governor wins in Virginia and New Jersey, respectively. Is it a sign of things to come, despite being an off-off year election? Do Republicans need to change course or was this a blip on the radar?

This conversation was recorded Friday, as the US Senate now is currently voting to end the government shutdown.

Democrats are riding high after last Tuesday's elections, with wins at multiple levels of government across the country &mdash; from the New York City mayor's race to Prop 50 in California to US House and governor wins in Virginia and New Jersey, respectively. Is it a sign of things to come, despite being an off-off year election? Do Republicans need to change course or was this a blip on the radar?
This conversation was recorded Friday, as the US Senate now is currently voting to end the government shutdown.

From La Crosse to Madison to D.C., La Crosse County Democratic Party chair William Garcia and WIZM's Rick Solem break down the politics impacting Wisconsinites.

From La Crosse to Madison to D.C., La Crosse County Democratic Party chair William Garcia and <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/">WIZM's</a> Rick Solem break down the politics impacting Wisconsinites.

The Democratic Voice Podcast

From La Crosse to Madison to D.C., La Crosse County Democratic Party chair William Garcia and WIZM's Rick Solem break down the politics impacting Wisconsinites.

The Democratic Voice

Democrats win big in last week's elections — where to go from here

A bit of a precarious position Republicans have put Democrats in with the ICE killing of Alex Pretti — a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA and a lawful gun owner from Green Bay. To defend Pretti's death, the GOP has abandoned the one thing they claimed to be most loyal to — the 2nd Amendment and the idea that it exists specifically to prevent the government from treading on U.S. citizens. So now it's Democrats who have to oddly defend the standards that Republicans have upheld — though it's more about ICE killing a US citizen and there being no transparency, let alone repercussions for those actions. 

A bit of a precarious position Republicans have put Democrats in with the ICE killing of Alex Pretti &mdash; a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA and a lawful gun owner from Green Bay. To defend Pretti's death, the GOP has abandoned the one thing they claimed to be most loyal to &mdash; the 2nd Amendment and the idea that it exists specifically to prevent the government from treading on U.S. citizens. So now it's Democrats who have to oddly defend the standards that Republicans have upheld &mdash; though it's more about ICE killing a US citizen and there being no transparency, let alone repercussions for those actions.&nbsp;

How quick the GOP is to flip on the 2nd Amendment

They fly under the radar until they end up on the ballot. The 2026 midterm elections will see three more Wisconsin Republican constitutional amendments for voters, trying to rile up their base with culture war nonsense. We discuss the absurdity of each amendment, the word salad written by the GOP to manipulate voters into confusion, and how this is just another reason why Democrats need to take control of the Legislature. In 2023 and 2024, the Wisconsin GOP put seven constitutional amendments on the ballot. The rest of the midwest — Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Minnesota — had a total of six. 

They fly under the radar until they end up on the ballot. The 2026 midterm elections will see three more Wisconsin Republican constitutional amendments for voters, trying to rile up their base with culture war nonsense. We discuss the absurdity of each amendment, the word salad written by the GOP to manipulate voters into confusion, and how this is just another reason why Democrats need to take control of the Legislature. In 2023 and 2024, the Wisconsin GOP put seven constitutional amendments on the ballot. The rest of the midwest &mdash; Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Minnesota &mdash; had a total of six.&nbsp;

Wisconsin Republicans put 3 more ridiculous constitutional amendments on ballot 

Following the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis mother by an ICE agent on Jan. 7, the federal harassment of Minnesota residents has only intensified. We discuss the ongoing military-style occupation of Minneapolis, the administration’s racially-profiled focus on the Somali community, and the growing dangers to both citizens and refugees, as President Donald Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act.

Following the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis mother by an ICE agent on Jan. 7, the federal harassment of Minnesota residents has only intensified. We discuss the ongoing military-style occupation of Minneapolis, the administration&rsquo;s racially-profiled focus on the Somali community, and the growing dangers to both citizens and refugees, as President Donald Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act.

Democrats win big in last week's elections — where to go from here

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