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Lee wins 2nd Congressional nod

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Chad Lee

Chad Lee won the chance to challenge incumbent Democrat Tammy Baldwin for Wisconsin’s 2nd District congressional seat Tuesday.

Lee defeated Peter Theron, who lost to Baldwin two years ago.

Theron arguably had better name recognition than Lee, at least at the start of the race for the Republican nomination.

Lee won in Rock County on Tuesday, 2,540 to 1,623. He won the northwest corner of Walworth County, 242 to 238.

Now comes the hard part. Baldwin is well financed, well known and representing a district that usually votes heavily for Democrats.

Lee said Tuesday that he’s excited to take up the challenge. He said is youth—he is 27—could help him garner a significant portion of the vote on college campuses. The district includes UW-Madison, UW-Whitewater and Beloit College.

Lee said he has a good strategy and a dedicated group of hard-working activists working for him.

“I feel we have all the tools necessary to put up a good fight and even defeat Tammy Baldwin,” Lee said.

Lee, a small-business owner from Mount Horeb, has gotten his name out in part with some imaginative stunts, including big posters of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, likening Baldwin to Pelosi and “bailouts.”

Most recently, Lee challenged Baldwin and President Obama to a debate when Obama visits Madison on Sept. 28.

That debate, obviously, is not going to happen.

Like many Republicans nationwide, Lee is hoping that linking his opponent to Pelosi will win him votes.

Lee said Baldwin is vulnerable because she has voted with Pelosi more than 90 percent of the time in the past three years.

“I think the 2nd District is tired of seeing our jobs go to other states,” Lee said, and tired of seeing college-educated students leave because they can’t find jobs here.