He may be new to the area, but Kewaunee County Democratic Party Chairperson Stan Johnson is excited to lead.

Johnson and his wife retired to Kewaunee County several months ago after living in Chicago and Milwaukee for much of his life. His belief in community service led him to join the county’s Democratic Party, where he quickly took on a leadership role.

He takes the reins in an area reliably Republican in recent years, voting for former President Donald Trump by an over 60 percent to 40 percent margin in the last two Presidential elections. The only time the county has gone blue for a Presidential candidate since 2000 was for former President Barack Obama in 2008.

Johnson says Tuesday’s elections around the country and Wednesday’s third Republican debate will show how far they need to go and the messaging they must put out there.

Allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower drug costs, protecting environmental safeguards, and investing in infrastructure are some of the issues Johnson highlighted as important ones to be fought for moving forward. 

Johnson is hopeful that, like Obama, President Joe Biden’s record will close the gap between him and his likely opponent, Trump, before next year’s election. The Emerson College Polling Survey in Wisconsin shows Trump with a 42 percent to 40 percent edge on Biden, with 11 percent wanting someone else and eight percent undecided.  You can find a link to our most recent interview with Door County Republican Chairperson Stephanie Soucek here.