Members of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin vote Saturday at their state convention in Madison, to increase the strength of the party for the 2018 election.
Wisconsin democrats are deciding leadership for the party for the next two years.
"This really sets the tone for what we're going to do in 2018 specifically," Appleton Alderman Bob Baker said.
They have problems in their counties and statewide that they want to address.
"People are worried about lead in their drinking water,” said State Representative Amanda Stuck. “They're worried about the quantity and quality of their drinking water. They're worried about their schools. They're worried about their roads."
Waukesha County Delegate Khary Penebaker said health care is also a concern.
"I believe that health care is a human right and right now there are 2.4 million people under the age of 65 in our great state that have pre-existing conditions and at the federal level they voted against all 2.4 million of them," Penebaker said.
A Winnebago county delegate said they need to create a message that resonates with working class people, for example paper mills, hit hard by layoffs.
"The economy hasn't really grown for them," said Richard Mantz. “Their wages have been stagnant. A lot of their unions have left.”
Some are hoping new leadership is the answer.
"We've been involved in the party since 2001 so I’m coming to one to make sure we can re-take some assembly and senate seats and fight Scott Walker as governor," said Mantz referring to his participation in the convention.
Some are taking the initiative to run for committee positions.
"Last election was really devastating for democrats and at first I was really angry about the results,” said Stuck. “Then I decided I needed to get busy actually doing something so that we wouldn't have to see these results ever again.”
Delegate Penebaker said they need help from party members.
"We need people that are going to turn out to vote so we can elect a democratic governor next year, so we can reelect Tammy Baldwin next year, so we can reelect democrats up and down that ballot, but we need the party's help to do that," Penebaker said.
Members are hoping to build the organization by knocking on doors, fund raising, and
research.
