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Tidal wave offers Milwaukee new generation of lawmakers

Here’s one way to measure this year’s political tidal wave among city of Milwaukee Democratic legislators: For the first time in 35 years, no one with the last name of Coggs will be serving in either the Assembly or Senate in the next session.

New legislative districts, retirements and losses by two veterans in Aug. 14 primaries ended the careers of seven Milwaukee Democrats—including Sen. Spencer Coggs, who was elected city treasurer in the spring, and his cousin, first-term Rep. Elizabeth Coggs.

The Coggs political machine in Milwaukee began in the 1950s with former state Rep. Isaac Coggs.

Collectively, the seven departing Milwaukee legislators have more than 105 years of Capitol experience. They are also almost half of the 15 Democrats seen as Milwaukee-first lawmakers.

Some of the seven were effective advocates for Wisconsin’s largest city, even in a Capitol controlled by Republicans.

The two who lost Aug. 14 primaries—Reps. Jason Fields and Peggy Krusick—were ousted by younger Democrats who accused their political elders of not fighting hard enough.

First-time candidate Daniel Riemer, who beat the 29-year veteran Krusick, said on his campaign website: “I’m running for the Assembly to bring a new energy to the needs of this (7th) District. I just want to work hard for change in the community that made me who I am.”

Krusick survived a primary challenge two years ago, but her independence angered many of her fellow Milwaukee Democrats. Krusick was also hurt because some Republicans who backed her in the past voted instead in the four-way Republican U.S. Senate primary.

Mandela Barnes, who ousted the eight-year veteran Fields, summarized his challenge this way on his campaign website:

“I am running to provide strong progressive leadership for inner-city Milwaukee. … In the last year, working-class people, and even people looking for jobs in the state of Wisconsin, have been the target of a litany of attacks by a radical right-wing agenda. We have been the test case for a broader agenda going on around the entire country.”

Sen. Lena Taylor, co-chair of the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee, is now the most powerful Milwaukee lawmaker. Elections Nov. 6, however, will determine whether Taylor keeps that leadership job.

In an election-night Twitter post, Taylor lamented the loss of African-American legislators.

“Goodbye to half of the black representatives in Wisconsin’s Legislature and the progress of my elders…,” tweeted Taylor, who is expected to be survive a Nov. 6 challenge from independent candidate David King.

If Taylor is re-elected, the number of African-American lawmakers could drop from eight to five next session.

Reasons for that drop:

n Four African-Americans retired this year: Sen. Spencer Coggs; Reps. Tamara Grigsby and Barbara Toles, both of Milwaukee, and Rep. Bob Turner, of Racine. Rep. Elizabeth Coggs, who ran for the Senate, was the fifth African-American to leave office.

--Barnes, La Tonya Johnson, and Senate District 6 primary winner Nikiya Harris will continue to represent districts led by African-Americans. Also re-elected was another African-American, Rep. Leon Young. None face Republican opponents Nov. 6.

--Reps. Sandy Pasch and Evan Goyke, who are both white, won primaries and will be representing Assembly districts with African-American majorities. Goyke faces a Libertarian challenger Nov. 6.

In an interview, Grigsby lamented the drop in the number of her fellow African-American lawmakers. But, she added, members of the Legislature’s black caucus “weren’t able to often come together” on important issues in the last two years.

And, Grigsby said, the city’s next generation of Democratic lawmakers is “young, bright and ready” to fight for Milwaukee.

“Sometimes, you have to clear house in order to see significant changes,” Grigsby said. “This is an opportunity.”

Whether they are white or black, Grigsby said, the new Democrats “will look beyond some of those things and say, ‘No, this is bigger, and we’re going to come in together. We’re going to do this together.’”

That, Grigsby added, “makes me hopeful.”

Others disagree. One veteran Democratic power broker, who agreed to speak anonymously only, said the tidal wave of change left Milwaukee worse off politically.

“A weak Milwaukee (legislative) delegation just got weaker at one of the worst times in the city’s history and at a time when clout is needed most,” he quipped.

Steven Walters is a senior producer for the nonprofit public affairs channel WisconsinEye. This column reflects his personal perspective. Email stevenscwalters@gmail.com.