Missy Hughes, A Politician, Joins the Race

As expected, Missy Hughes, Wisconsin’s economic development director, joined the growing Democratic primary field looking to succeed Gov. Tony Evers.

I like her profile: 17 years as an executive at Organic Valley and then six years heading up Evers’ development department. I also like the lane she’s chosen, which suggests she leans moderate. “Right now the hunger is for someone who understands the economy and isn’t divisive and I fit that lane perfectly,” Hughes said in an interview. She’s no fan of Donald Trump but she did not come out swinging against him as all of the others have. She was one of a relative few of Evers’ appointments to be approved by the Republicans in the state Senate.

Unfortunately, she followed that up with this: “I’m not a politician and that’s the point.” Oh, for cryin’ out loud. What if the guy who was about to perform your open heart surgery showed up at your bedside to brag to you that he had never done it before? What if the guy who was about to rewire your house proudly announced that he was not an electrician?

That’s what I hear when a candidate announces that she’s not a politician. Moreover, it doesn’t work. When somebody announces their candidacy and leads with “I’m not a politician,” the very first thing voters conclude is that that is just exactly what a politician would say. If you’re running for office, you’re a politician. Simple as that. Plead guilty and move on.

So, I was disappointed to hear Hughes lead with that tired old trope. But otherwise I was impressed by what she didn’t say in her announcement video which you can view here.

She didn’t tell us to vote for her because she’s a woman. She didn’t mention abortion or other hot button social issues, but she covered that base with a more general reference to protecting people’s rights. And, while expressing support for public schools, she didn’t say that she would “fully fund public education.” Every other Democratic candidate has said some version of that — they’ll fully fund education, as if there’s some number that once achieved would cause all school boards and teachers unions to say, “Oh, yeah, that’s more than enough. Now we’ll take responsibility for educating your kids instead of complaining we’re underfunded.”

None of that. Her opening statement hit squarely on the economy and jobs and didn’t stray. “I feel that the people of Wisconsin deserve their next governor to be completely focused on building the economy and doing whatever we can so they have the opportunity to be prosperous and have what they need to be able to take care of their families and take care of their communities,” Hughes said.

An emphasis on opportunity over rights and grievances, I like that. In addition, there were references to bringing stability to the state’s economy. I think that’s a theme politicians miss. People want stability, predictability in their lives.

This emphasis on her job-creating background succeeded in drawing a contrast between herself and everyone else currently in or likely to enter the race. All of the other candidates hold or once held elected public offices. The one candidate who also claimed only private sector experience, Republican Bill Berrien, dropped out last week.

Her opening video was still way too slick and staged for my tastes. Like the “I’m not a politician” comment, it came off as the same old pre-mixed pol speak. Trump succeeds in large part because he doesn’t sound anything like that. Voters hear him and conclude that anybody as crude and idiotic as that must be genuine.

But I think there’s a way to sound different without being a buffoon. Still, no Democrat has found it yet. I think maybe Pete Buttigieg comes the closest.

Maybe it won’t matter. As I’ve pointed out before, the Democrat should have a built in advantage in the 2026 contest because it’s an off year when Trump isn’t on the ballot. His voters only show up for him. I still want to learn more about Hughes as well as Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who has also joined the race. Hughes and Crowley seem like the most promising candidates in the field so far.

But the first candidate who is candid enough to admit to being what they are — a politician — is the one for which I’ll have the most respect.