Gov. Scott Walker traveled up State Street to the UW-Madison campus in order to talk to the College Republicans at their spring kick-off meeting Wednesday evening.
Just under nine months away from election day, Republican students made their way to the Humanities Building to hear the incumbent governor speak on a variety of topics.
The governor spent the majority of the meeting stressing the importance of being “Wisconsin Proud” of continuing economic development throughout the state.
“A lot of people on the left think government creates jobs,” Walker said. “We create an environment that creates jobs.”
The governor named off a litany of economic achievements in his term, including historically low unemployment and Foxconn’s projected $1.4 billion of spending in Wisconsin.
Along with economic development, Walker expressed his worry with what he views as the increasing political extremity of Democratic candidates for governor like Tony Evers.
“The (Democrats) are only going to get further and further to the left … language will become more combative,” Walker added. “When they’re losing, they don’t fight on substance, they fight with emotion.”
He noted this as an advantage, in particular, for college students looking to make an impact on the election.
When asked about how conservatives should engage with differing views than their own, Walker had the following to say.
“Help us out but don’t give them fuel for the fire … kill them with kindness,” he said. “It drives liberals crazy, but we have actually done well with college students.”
Walker took only 30 percent of the vote in campus wards in the 2014 gubernatorial election, though it was an 11 point improvement on his 2010 performance.
Walker emphasized the “powerful story” that college students campaigning for him have to tell in regards to economic development.
Additionally, Walker addressed Patty Schachtner’s upset victory over Republican favorite Adam Jarchow in a recent state Senate race in the 10th district, saying it was a “wake-up call” and his “number one fear was complacency.”
Walker highlighted the salience of voter turnout in special elections and noted the importance of young Republicans going to the polls come election day.
The governor closed by reiterating the impact he believes college students can have on the upcoming election.
“I go out to eat at places that are recommended to me by friends. If you can convince your friends on your floor where to eat … how much more important is it to tell them who to vote for?” Walker asked.
