Scott Fitzgerald Is Confident GOP Will Retain Majority In State Senate

State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says good candidates and a Republican-friendly election cycle will help his party keep its majority in that chamber this November.

Fitzgerald said this year’s election cycle appears to be one where Republicans can make gains, both nationally and in state races. He said that’s partly because a non-presidential election generally favors Republicans.

“Just traditionally it does, but also, you’ve got Gov. (Scott) Walker at the top of the ticket,” he said.

Fitzgerald says Walker’s supporters energized the party in 2010 and in the 2012 recall, a trend he expects to carry over to 2014.

Still, this is shaping up as a year where Republicans are mostly on defense in the Senate, where they’re trying to hold onto three seats that were left vacant when Republican state senators decided to retire or run for higher office. Fitzgerald concedes that the district being vacated by retiring state Sen. Dale Schultz “breaks both ways” by the numbers.

“But having a sitting assemblyman in Howard Marklein being our candidate, who’s been working at this district for some time now, really puts us in a good position,” he said.

Facing off in a primary for the chance to challenge Marklein are Democrats Pat Bomhack and Ernie Wittwer.

Democrats are also targeting the seats left vacant by Republicans Mike Ellis of Neenah and Joe Leibham of Sheboygan. Fitzgerald says those districts lean Republican, and that his party has good candidates. For example, Republican Roger Roth of Appleton is running for the Ellis seat. He’s a former assemblyman and the nephew of a former congressman.

Fitzgerald says Republicans will campaign on fiscal issues.

“I want our candidates and challenger candidates to talk about how the Republicans in the Legislature have been good stewards of the state’s finances,” he said.

Republicans currently hold an 18-15 majority in the Senate. They are likely to pick up at least one seat currently held by state Sen. John Lehman (D-Racine), who is stepping down to run for lieutenant governor.