DANE COUNTY, Wis. — With just days to go until Election Day, Republicans and Democrats across the state knocked on doors, hoping to reach voters.
Republican Assembly candidate for the 42nd District Rebecca Witherspoon went door to door in DeForest Saturday, hoping to get out the vote and promote her own campaign.
“This is a little bit of a tougher district,” Witherspoon said. “It’s leaned slightly left, but it’s still very much winnable by either party. So Nov. 5th is gonna tell us whether or not I did enough.”
Witherspoon is a member of the DeForest Village Board. She said issues she would tackle if elected include prices and inflation, crime, education and energy security.
Her opponent, Democrat Maureen McCarville, is a member of the Dane County Board. She spent the day canvassing in Vienna, DeForest and Windsor. McCarville said the issues she’s focused on include cost of living, women’s health care, funding for schools and mental health services, and honoring veterans.
She said the excitement from voters she’s met with is palpable.
“People are really tuned in,” McCarville said. “You know, they’re motivated to vote. They see a lot of really big issues that are, you know, on the line.”
Canvassers on both sides said they hoped to reach out to voters who hadn’t yet cast their ballots and encourage people to make a plan to vote.
In Madison, Gov. Tony Evers, D-Wisconsin, met with Democrats before their canvassing efforts began.
“There’s a lot of energy and a lot of people doing good work last minute,” Evers said. “We’re a purple state. It’s going to be close.”
Both sides said they were feeling the urgency as the days dwindle down. Each side feels greeting voters face to face could be the deciding factor in earning more votes.
“Some probably voted for the other side and that’s okay,” Witherspoon said. “I thank them, and I say, I’m so glad you got out and voted, because that’s how you get your voice heard, or at least one of the ways.”
“Some of these races, especially local ones, all the way up the food chain, but especially at the local levels on up, they can be determined by a handful of votes here or there, and that makes all the difference in the world,” McCarville said.
Witherspoon and McCarville said they’re feeling positive about their odds.
“[From] social media, knocking on doors, word of mouth and just in general, the vibes that I’ve been getting, I’m feeling very positive about this,” Witherspoon said.
“I’ve been campaigning since we started gathering signatures back in April,” McCarville said. “I have had very good reception at the doors.”