Many voters in Wisconsin, Michigan, Colorado, and Arizona still have no idea who their choice for attorney general will be come November.
Less than two months before Election Day, polling in each state shows anywhere between 20-28 percent of voters undecided. Candidates in those states have a lot of campaigning and convincing left to do.
In Wisconsin, Jefferson County District Attorney Susan Happ has seen a seven point lead over Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel a month ago evaporate to a single point. The nosedive happened after stories circulated that her office reduced two felony child sexual-assault charges to a single misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge for a man who had once purchased property from Happ and her husband.
While Happ leads Schimel 39-38 in the most recent poll, 20 percent of respondents are claiming undecided.
Incumbent Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette is more comfortable in Michigan, leading Democrat Mark Totten 40.5 percent to 32.5 percent. However, an even higher number of voters than in Wisconsin – 27 percent – don’t yet know for whom they will cast their ballot.
Republican Cynthia Coffman of Colorado is outpacing her Democrat rival, Don Quick, by ten points, but nearly a quarter of voters are undecided.
In Arizona, 28 percent of independent voters – a crucial bloc for both candidates to win over – do not yet have a favorite in the race between Republican Mark Brnovich and Democrat Felecia Rotellini.
“Campaigns for attorney general get scant media attention,” Fred Barnes wrote for The Weekly Standard, “causing voters to ignore down-ballot races.”
Charles Franklin, professor of law and public policy and director of the Marquette Law School poll agrees with Barnes’ take, noting “even in a competitive AG race, the governor’s race just overshadows everything else.”
This is certainly proving to be the case in these four states where far fewer voters – 5 to 11 percent – remain undecided on their choice for governor.
Scott Will, political director for the Republican Attorneys General Association, believes disapproval of the president, and frustration with Congress all on the rise, will help his party’s AG candidates overcome a lack of voter recognition.
“Voters might not yet know much about either candidate,” Will said. “But, they do know that we cannot elect someone who would allow further intrusion of the federal government into the operation of individual states.”