FORT ATKINSON – For Republican gubernatorial candidate Josh Schoemann and the attendees of a “backyard barbecue” in his support, it was clear the societal upheavals of 2020 — the COVID-19 pandemic, questions about election administration and social unrest — are still being felt.
Schoemann, one of two GOP candidates in the race, heard from one attendee about her frustrations with her local government’s handling of masking and social distancing requirements during the pandemic, and touted his own response as Washington County executive.
He heard from others about housing costs and supply. Others voiced their frustrations with a perceived failure by Democratic officials to adequately support law enforcement.
All of this came just a few hours after Democratic Gov. Tony Evers announced he would not seek a third term — setting up the first wide-open gubernatorial field since 2010.