- Details
- By Levi Rickert
WAUSAU, Wisc. — Next Tuesday, May 12, voters will go to the polls to vote in a special election in Wisconsin’s 7th congressional district. The election’s result could produce another American Indian woman in Congress because the Democratic Party’s nominee, Tricia Zunker, is a tribal citizen of the Ho-Chunk Nation.
The special election was necessitated because the congressional seat was vacated by Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wisconsin). Duffy retired last September to spend more time with his family.
Zunker, who is an associate justice on the Ho-Chunk Nation’s Supreme Court and current president of the Wausau Public School Board, has proven to be a formidable candidate. She handily won the primary election, taking 89 percent of the vote.
The COVID-19 pandemic has added a different twist to Zunker’s campaigning. She stopped holding in-person campaign events and went virtual utilizing ZOOM meetings and making phone calls.
Zunker has been endorsed by Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Kamala Harris, Rep. Deb Haaland, Rep. Sharice Davids, former Rep. Dave Obey, EMILY’s list, and more.
Zunker answered the following questions for Native News Online on Friday:
Given the COVID-19 pandemic, tell us how voters in the 7th Congressional district will be voting next week? Only mail-in?
When this pandemic started, my campaign urged for Wisconsin to switch to mail-in voting so that everyone could safely vote. That did not happen, so we've encouraged people to request absentee ballots. Many people are unable to, however because of a lack of access to the internet to request an absentee ballot or difficulty taking the requisite photo of their ID, so we're encouraging anyone voting in person to wear a mask and practice safe social distancing by staying at least stay six feet away from others.
After campaigning for this congressional seat, what do you think voters in the district want from the representative in Congress?
I think people in this district want someone who will put partisan politics aside and work to get things done. They want someone who will advocate for affordable health care, for help for our small businesses and family farmers, and to protect our environment. I am committed to working across the aisle to achieve bipartisan solutions that make life better for everyone here in Wisconsin.
Is your campaign still raising funds?
We're working hard through election day to raise the funds needed to get the message out to every voter in this 26 county district. This is a grassroots campaign and contributions can be made at: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/tricia-website
Has there been polling done for the special election? If so, what are the results?
Given how unpredictable turnout is for a special election during a pandemic, we've focused our resources on reaching out to voters.
Going into the last weekend prior to the election, how are you feeling about your chances for victory?
I'm really excited about the momentum and enthusiasm we've been seeing throughout this district, and I'm looking forward to historic results on election day.
RELATED: Tricia Zunker (Ho-Chunk) Seeking to Become Third American Indian Woman Elected to Congress
More Stories Like This
Biden Nominates Salish & Kootenai Tribal Attorney Danna Jackson for Federal BenchA Conversation With Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan: What We Can Celebrate Around the State
Return to the Heart Foundation Gives 44 Micro-Grants to Native Women Leaders
Indigenous Journalists Association President Addresses Members of the UNPFII
Inter-Tribal Council Passes Resolution Urging FCC to Establish Specific Event Code for Missing and Endangered Persons
Native Perspective. Native Voices. Native News.
We launched Native News Online because the mainstream media often overlooks news that is important is Native people. We believe that everyone in Indian Country deserves equal access to news and commentary pertaining to them, their relatives and their communities. That's why the story you’ve just finished was free — and we want to keep it that way, for all readers. We hope you'll consider making a donation to support our efforts so that we can continue publishing more stories that make a difference to Native people, whether they live on or off the reservation. Your donation will help us keep producing quality journalism and elevating Indigenous voices. Any contribution of any amount — big or small — gives us a better, stronger future and allows us to remain a force for change. Donate to Native News Online today and support independent Indigenous-centered journalism. Thank you.
