Leading Off
●WI-Gov: GOP Gov. Scott Walker hasn't announced if he'll seek a third term in 2018, though he says he's considering it. While Walker's presidential bid fizzled out well before the Iowa caucus, any Democrat knows that going toe to toe with the well-connected governor would not be easy. However, a number of Badger State Democrats have made noises about seeking the governorship.
State Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling, who held her seat in November by 61 votes, didn't rule out a bid earlier this month, saying it would be a family decision. State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, who took just 4 percent of the vote in the 2012 primary to face Walker, recently acknowledged that she's thinking about another run.
Back in May, Joe Parisi, the executive of Madison's Dane County, didn't rule out a gubernatorial run, though he said he was still seeking re-election in 2017. In July, ex-state Sen. Tim Cullen also said he was considering; back in 2012, Cullen briefly left the Democratic caucus even though it threatened the party's one-seat hold over the state Senate, so he may not be the ideal Democratic standard bearer. 2014 Attorney General nominee Susan Happ has also set up social media accounts ahead of an unnamed statewide bid. WISN, a local ABC affiliate, also recently mentioned Assemblyman Dana Wachs as a possible candidate, though he doesn't appear to have publicly talked about running yet.
Rep. Ron Kind's name is also periodically mentioned, though he also doesn't seem to have publicly expressed interest in running. Donald Trump performed well in Kind's rural central Wisconsin seat last month, and Democrats may have a tough time holding onto the 3rd District without him. However, Democrats may benefit from having a nominee with a rural base, and Kind may also want to get out of the House before his seat can get any worse.