GOP state leader Huebsch on Wisconsin governor's race: Data centers, ads, and 'Double T' strategy

It’s data centers now, because it’s not Francesca Hong. That looks to be how the Wisconsin governor’s race is shaping up, and state Republican leader Ryan Huebsch stopped in studio to analyze the fight between Tom Tiffany and David Crowley. Huebsch, the GOP Vice Chair of the 3rd Congressional District, weighed in on whether early Republican attacks against Hong backfired by clearing a path for Crowley, while outlining how Tiffany's team plans to leverage Crowley’s remarks on data centers — plus how a “Double T” strategy, looking back to the GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson days, could be coming. We also talked about whether voters will get to see Derrick Van Orden and Rebecca Cooke debate, and the partisan argument for avoiding them and town halls. Additional topics included Huebsch's argument that local Assembly lines were redrawn to favor Democrats, as well as the divide over whether state parties should endorse candidates in primary races. which Republicans do and Democrats don’t in Wisconsin. Episode Highlights: The Early Ad Backfire: Concedes that early Republican attack ads during the primary may have accidentally weeded out a weaker opponent. The "Double T" Strategy: Details how Tom Tiffany is leaning into his shared initials with Tommy Thompson to build momentum across the state. Data Center Showdown: Explores why data centers unexpectedly became the biggest talking point in the governor's race. The Map Battle: Argues new legislative boundaries divide rural and urban communities to help Democrats retain key Assembly seats. Party Endorsement Pitfalls: Weighs whether official primary party endorsements actually help candidates or trigger grassroots voter backlash. Town Halls & Debates: Why candidates on both sides avoid partisan forums, and whether Van Orden and Rebecca Cooke will ever end up on a debate stage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.