Rep. Steve Kagen Earns a B+
As the 2008 contest swings into gear, Campaign Confidential is busy collecting some Congressional report cards. Several Jewish freshmen from swing districts are expected to face stiff competition, including Democratic physician Steve Kagen of Wisconsin.
Last time around, Kagen beat out the the state’s Assembly Speaker, Republican John Gard, for an open seat in the eighth district – in a race that turned out to be the most expensive in Wisconsin history.
Lately, Gard has been exploring a potential rematch. Either way, Kagen is likely to face a serious Republican challenge, given that his district is Republican-leaning (and went to Bush both in 2000 and 2004).
With that in mind, I asked David Canon, a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin, to grade Kagen’s political performance so far. Here’s the run-down:
Kagen’s Overall Grade: B+ (Canon says to keep in mind he’s “a pretty tough grader”
What Kagen Has Done Right:
* Fundraising
* Paying Attention to Local Issues, like the Farm Bill
* Making a Few High Profile Symbolic Gestures: Kagen has not accepted the health insurance offered to members of Congress and said he won’t accept any pay raise
What Kagen Can Work On:
* Reaching out to independent and Republican voters
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
