Chris Larson Wins; Huge Grassroots, Environmentalist Victory

Insurgent Democrat Chris Larson turns out incumbent State Sen. Jeff Plale, who wrecked the climate and energy bill that he was supposed to be helping steer through the legislature, and then took tons of energy sector money and last-minute donations from the coal industry.

Great win for Chris and the people.

I had thought Chris would win by a couple of hundred votes. Nice to be wrong, yet still right.

More importantly, Larson's victory tells us a few things:

* Environmentalists can help win elections with basic, door-to-door grassroots politicking.

* Money helps - - TV commercials aimed at Plale by Citizens for a Progressive Wisconsin and focused on "Pay for Plale" were effective - - but also can hurt a recipient candidate, too.

The effort by former Republican Assembly Majority Leader Scott Jensen to re-enter state politics, monkey around in a Democratic primary and funnel in special interest money from outside clearly backfired.

* A motivated candidate can get into a primary on relatively short notice and be successful. Larson threw his campaign together in about three months. Having a tone-deaf incumbent in a year when incumbents already are living dangerously does help.

* Climate change, alternative energy and green jobs are indeed core principals for Democratic voters, and not just on Milwaukee East side. Plale disrespected too many of his constituents and Larson ran through that opening.

So on to the general election - - and, of course, talk radio will try and whip of support for the Republican in the race - - with an invigorated environmental movement that can help replace a tool of corporate special interests with a genuine, homegrown Milwaukee progressive.