The race to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin’s Second District, which includes Beloit and much of Rock County, has turned into a nasty fight between legislative colleagues, one championing experience and pragmatism, the other touting passion and exuberance.
The Wisconsin State Journal reports that eyes turned to 47-year-old state Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, when Baldwin announced in September that she would run for the U.S. Senate. The 14-year legislator replaced Baldwin in the Assembly and seemed the obvious choice to fill her seat
But an hour before Pocan announced his candidacy, state Rep. Kelda Helen Roys, D-Madison, sent out a statement entering the race. The 33-year-old was first elected to the Assembly in 2008 with Pocan's help, and was seen as a potential rising star.
"Roys seems to be making a kind of Democratic tea party argument," said Mordecai Lee, UW-Milwaukee political science professor and former Democratic state lawmaker. "It will be interesting to see if that can overcome Pocan's establishment support."
Also running are Matt Silverman, 30, a Madison lawyer, and Dennis Hall, 63, a security consultant.