The ballots are finally set.
After a bit of confusion, some political infighting and a few honest mistakes along the way, candidates across Wisconsin now know whether they're officially on — or off — the ballot. The first hurdle on the road toward November has been cleared.
This election cycle is shaping up to be an interesting one. We have competitive races from the top of the ticket to the bottom, an open congressional seat drawing plenty of attention, and legislative majorities in both houses potentially in play. At the same time, there are still eight uncontested legislative races — two state Senate and six Assembly, which is a reminder that politics can look very different depending on where you live.
As summer settles in and Wisconsinites fire up the grill between rainstorms, candidates will be spending their weekends knocking on doors, marching in parades and introducing themselves to voters. The campaign season is officially underway.
And if you need a reminder of how much is at stake, just follow the money. Political observers project Wisconsin could see hundreds of millions of dollars spent on advertising before Election Day, ensuring that no television, mailbox, phone or social media feed will be safe between now and November.
For many candidates, getting on the ballot was the easy part. The real race starts now.
So, grab a brat and enjoy the summer while it lasts! Wisconsin politics rarely disappoints.
