Election Day Special: Voting Rights and Community Impact

Good morning. Good morning. What's happening family? It is election day in the city. It is time to do to do. If you have not done it yet, it's time to make sure that other folks in the family do what they need to do. If they have not done it yet, welcome to the show. It is Michelle Bryan here WNOV.

860 AM 106.5 FM. We about to get it in today, y'all. Let me say good morning to the bros in the building. Clark Kent. All right now, come on, come on, come on. With you today, player. What's going on? You feeling good? Feeling good about today. Look, okay, we got to get this work done, you know, all like, all like a signal. Well, I was doing two things this morning. Well, realize it was three. So when I first got up,

I play when I walk through. That's how I got off the bed this morning, dude. That was that. And then I switched to old school. I got work to do. And then as I was driving here, me and Tia let them know, you know, so what I've decided to do is that I want to assemble the ultimate election day playlist.

while we're rolling through the day. Everybody that come through the studio today, I'm going to be asking them to contribute a song to the playlist. And I'm literally making this playlist. And this will be my election playlist going forward. So, bros, I'm going to be asking y'all in a minute or two, give me your playlist. But Clark, you said you're straight. I'm straight. Get at them. I'm ready. I'm ready. Look, come on now. All right, Ryde out. How you doing this morning, player?

When you don't know don't do it Somebody said my girlfriend is up sipping her coffee

And then headed to get that vote in for David. That's all I'm talking about. The house that votes is the house that prospers. Let's be clear. Let's be clear. What you say is voting time. Voting time. Sound like the vote folks. Voting time. If I was to preach a message today, my message would be, get out and vote.

Amen. Look, I'm there with me to change. It changed you. Here we go. And uh, make sure you here we go. Here we go. Go stand in that line. And uh, make sure you vote. No, no, no. Oh, never. Tell him. Sometimes you gotta do us right.

Take care of what's wrong. I had to raise it off. Look, I'm just letting y'all know right now. Y'all might as well get ready for it. Oh, it's going down today. Y'all might as well get ready for it. Y'all might as well get ready for it. Let me just say this. If some of you have younger children.

and they have the opportunity to go with you to the polls today. Please take them. Please explain to them what's happening. Don't just let them follow you around and walk. Walk them through the steps. Tell them why we're here. Help them understand what it used to be like for Black folks in relationship to voting.

This is an opportunity when they talk about teachable moments to be able to impart why what we do today is so important. And I just want to see, because we got a litany of guests and folks that's going to be rolling through this morning, but I want to see if I got this one clip. Yep, there it is. Jay, let me get the court. I want to play this system. Appreciate it.

Thank you. Thank you. And then we're going to talk about, you know, polling, location hours, souls to the polls. If you need a ride, we're going to get you hooked up with all the information that you need. Let me see. Let me see. I'm trying to, okay, I'm going to let it play out and then I'm going to bring it back up and bring up my volume because as I was looking for Cliffs last night,

Uh, I came across this one that just got the best of me. So let me see. What's your name? All right. Here we go. It's at my poll taxes. It gets from 1960 when we had to pay two or three dollars to vote and we only made two or three dollars. So you had to choose between eating a voting. That was the suppression back in the sixties. If you miss one year, they double it up on you the next year.

I didn't have to pay because I was a veteran. So this is my exemption. But I had to show it. So when they say you don't have to show ID, we didn't show an ID since we started voting. So there's no such thing as you don't have to show ID to vote. Thank you so much. So that voice that you heard was or is a 91 year old sister by the name of Miss Loretta Green.

and a young person that was interviewing people as they were voting, walked up on Ms. Loretta and saw this t-shirt that she had on that literally had a picture of a poll tax receipt. And so she just thought like it was some kind of, you know, nostalgia. She had something printed up. It was a clever t-shirt. And Ms. Loretta Green, schoolish young sister, and she said, no, this is my actual

poll tax exemption certificate from 1960. Ms. Green, who is an Air Force veteran, she served during the Korean War, says that she was exempt from paying the tax because of her military service. She was issued this exemption certificate when she lived in Alabama. The documents certified that she could vote without paying actual money.

A right of the voters faced financial barriers to exercise. Under Jim Crow, southern states use poll taxes alongside literacy tests and imitation, I'm sorry, an intimidation to suppress black voters. The amounts and rules vary by state.

Alabama's annual tax was $1.50 and unpaid taxes could accumulate, turning two years of payments into $3, three years into $4.50, an obstacle for people with little money to spare. Poll tax receipts, documented payment, exemption certificates like greens, documented that the holder did not have to pay.

The 24th Amendment banned poll taxes in federal elections in the year I was born. In the year I was born. In 1966, the Supreme Court ruled them unconstitutional in state elections as well.

Today, Ms. Green uses her certificate to teach younger generations about barriers black Americans face and the importance of exercising their right to vote. What did I say? Everything is a teachable moment. So I was talking to Lekisha about this last night when I ran across this and I said, you know, we talk about poll taxes all the time, but many of us usually refer to the literacy aspect.

being able to recite a portion of the constitution being able to count how many jelly beans is in the jelly uh uh in the jar in the jar we talk about those types of things we i know i know i never actually talk about the literal money that people that go and cast the vote like we did early voting mail in ballots

that you had to pay a dollar and fifty cents if you lived in the state of Alabama to be able to vote. So let me just go back and pull. What was the minimum wage? Minimum wage in 1960. The minimum wage in 1960 was one dollar per hour.

That was the federal minimum wage one dollar per hour You made nine dollars you worked eight hours you worked eight dollars for the day What was okay? What was the average? wage for blacks in 1960 per hour

Black people were coming in below a dollar. They were like 75 cents. Because we didn't, you know, of course, make like today when we talk about wage disparity, white men are the only people who truly make a dollar on the dollar. So if the pay is supposed to be $10 an hour, white men make $10 an hour in.

places where people can can mess with where people will start in terms of starting wage. Black folks are $6.70 on that $10 or black women, black men, they're higher. But I just need y'all to understand when we're talking about going to the polls this morning, these are the kinds of stories.

that we need to be searching for, using to educate our family members and our community and our children. And when they learn this stuff, it stays with them. They are able to then regurgitate these stories. They are able to help people understand why this is important. It changes the way you move when you hear an old black lady that's 91 years old. Let me be careful about how much folks being old. But when you hear this 91 year old sister.

who says no, I had to pay a dollar. You know, other people have to pay a dollar and fifty cent to vote. And if they didn't have it and they came to vote next year, they would look back and be like, oh, you didn't pay it last year. So now you owe us three dollars to be able to vote. Do we understand that that law got changed? The people listening to my voice right now who watching me on YouTube and Facebook and by the way, good morning, y'all.

It changed in the year I was born. So when folks try to tell you this, it was a long time ago. Black folks y'all tripping, y'all need to get over it. This stuff is not real. Y'all acting like victims. This happened in my lifetime. And this is still around today to tell people about it. So what I need you to understand, the polls opened 14 minutes ago this morning.

They opened at 7 a.m. They closed at 8 p.m. Tonight You do not go to the early voting locations unless that was actually your polling location People don't go to midtown talking about I'm supposed to be voting in midtown When you live, you know on 170 in Calumet Road

You now have to go to your polling location your actual polling location to be able to vote if you don't know if you are unsure if you have moved Then you need to go to my vote dot w i dot gov so that you Can put in your address and it will tell you where you are supposed to go The other thing I'm going to ask you to do

Go to my if you have not seen the ballot yet go to my vote dot w i dot gov And you can put in your address and it will show you a sample ballot So that you understand when you walk through the door What is on the ballot you not standing there confused shaking your head? I got a call somebody because I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do I just went and I put in what's on my ballot

Now, I've already voted. I voted on the first day of early in person voting. But you're going to see that this is a partisan election. That means you're going to see Democrat and you're going to see Republican connected to names on the ballot. You'll see the first name and then right behind that name, you will see Republican or you will see Democrat. So at the top of that ballot.

Um, for governor, it says governor slash lieutenant governor. So you've voting on these people as a package deal. You need to be voting. Um, it says vote for one and it has Tom Tiffany slash David Varnum Republican. It says it clearly right up underneath that. It says David Crawley slash Sarah Gottluske Democrat.

Democratic. I don't know why they got Democratic. They should say just say Democrat. That's that'll make no sense. Um, yeah, Election Commission, that should not be Democratic. That should be Democrat. Um, Attorney General. It is a contested race. Republican. His name is there. Eric Tony, Democrat Josh Call. So you're gonna be voting voting for the state attorney general.

like if you like well who is the attorney general what do they do think about tish james in new york um wish i was was that cold but yeah think about tish james you're going to be voting for secretary of state there are three candidates for secretary of state because there is a third party represented in that race you got the republican party jay schrader schroeder schrader uh the democrat party jocasta zeparria zeparipa

and you have the Wisconsin Green Party, Pete Keras, State Treasurer, two people, a Democrat and a Republican, John Lieber, Republican, Yi Ling, Yong, Democrat, I'm sure I messed up his last name and I apologize. In Congressional District Number Four, Congresswoman Gwen Morris District, you have three candidates.

You have Tim Rogers who runs all the time. Uh, Republican. You have Congresswoman Gwen Moore, a Democrat. And you have someone who has been on this show, used to have a show on this show, used to be on with Meachalot. And he used to roll his Rs. Arthur Birx. He's running as an independent. Then you may have an assembly district in mind.

It is Assembly District 12 and there was nobody running against my representative in the district and I didn't vote for him but I left my blank. You have the ability to do that. You can leave yourself blank. Milwaukee County Sheriff Danita Ball. She has no opponent, Democrat. Milwaukee County Clerk of Circuit Court.

Annamarie Hodges has no opponent. Thrill for her because that's just to get the work in. And then here is the piece that I need to get to and stress the most. When you get done checking names for who you want to vote for, there are three questions. Somebody said they've been talking about them as referendum, but it doesn't say referendum on the ballot. Yes, it does.

It says, state of Wisconsin, partial veto referendum. Question one. And then it asks the question about whether the Constitution should be amended to prohibit the governor in exercising his or her partial veto authority from creating or increasing authorizing creation of increase of any tax or fee. And you have an option to vote yes or no. We're going to cut to the chase this morning.

And this is Michelle Bryant speaking for Michelle Bryant, not on behalf of any candidate, not on behalf of any party, not on behalf of any radio station, organization that I'm connected to because I'm connected to a bunch of them. This is Michelle Bryant speaking for Michelle Bryant. The answer on all of these questions needs to be no. If you forget.

sing the song. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,

Basically, the question, freedom to gather in places of worship during the emergency, shall the Constitution, which deals with religious liberty, be amended to prohibit the state or political subdivision of the state from ordering the closure of or forbidding gatherings, places of worship in response to a state emergency, including a public health emergency. This goes back to COVID.

and people who wanted to argue that the state should not have been able to tell any organization, including churches, that they had to close during the health emergency. I'm sorry. I know y'all love Jesus. And I know that he, you know, sees all, knows all, answer with all. I get all of that. But in this case,

Jesus has also helped or God has also helped to put in place medical experts to be able to cover his light work because he can't and shouldn't have to do it all because he's given us resources to help take care of ourselves. So that I'm gonna wait on Jesus. I'm gonna wait on the Lord. You gotta do your own part and help yourself. So the state

should have the ability to tell even a church it is unsafe based on all the medical information that we have or Whatever the emergency is we know more than y'all know We have information coming to us from more sources than you have and It is unsafe for your people right now If you don't want your membership dying off

Because the pastor insists that they're gonna keep the church open Then you need to vote no So no one question number two last question and this is the big boy This is the the the Donald Trump attack on diversity equity inclusion. This is black folks Women in some cases white black otherwise are on the menu

We talk about it all the time They coming for us on question number three They worded it really pretty though in terms of governmental intent entity discrimination being prohibited and It says something that sounds so good

The Constitution be created to prohibit governmental entities in the state from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to any individual or group based on sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, and public employment, public education, public contracting, public administration. But what that means is that they can eliminate programs that were intended to uplift the African American community to address years of systemic racism.

So we don't have enough black people in construction. We don't have enough black people in nursing. We don't have enough black educators. We don't have this. We notice there's a disparity in black pay. We notice there's a disparity in black, um, eternal health. Black babies are dying at a rate five times higher than white children in the first year of birth. We gotta study that. We gotta put money towards that. This referendum question would eliminate the ability to address

issues negatively, systematically or systemically that have impacted black folks. The answer to that question needs to be no. Joe, you look like you got something to say. Yeah, I just want to say we had a caller called in that just said that they went to vote at a school and they were told that the machines were down to put their ballots

underneath the machine and when the machines are fixed, they was going to insert them into so it was people that were standing there looking crazy. Do we know where? Yes, ma'am. Milwaukee Excellent Charter School. 4950 North 24th Street. 4950 North 24th Street. Yeah, they said that the machines are down and that they were told that once the machines come back up that they will insert the people's ballots. But.

I don't know that, you know, that can be kind of. So what I'm doing is getting ready and he actually is supposed to be calling into the show. Excuse me this morning at 740, but we will make sure that the election commissioner is aware that there is an issue. I'm sure people are going to be on top of it. We got Pastor Lewis on the line. OK, so we need to take a break real quick. Tell Pastor Lewis will be right with them.

And then while we are taking this break, I'm going to reach out to the election commissioner and let him know that we've gotten this call. And this is what we are here to do today.

Call us when you are getting to the polls. We want to know what number you were how things were operating if you saw any problems or concerns Call us here at the station. We'll get y'all connected to where y'all need to be. We'll be right back y'all All right family welcome back to the show. So yes, sir We've fallen up in here today. It is election day get out get up You got to go vote if you have not done this yet

We have already gotten our first call this morning. We have notified the folks that need to know, but we are sure they are trying to get this addressed while they are, you know, the individuals at the polling location. We also got on the phone with us, one of our sponsors for today that is going to be making sure that folks have access to transportation to get to the polls if they need help. So to the polls, none other than Pastor Greg Lewis, Pastor Lewis.

Hey, what's happening? What's up? How you doing this morning, sir?

Man, I'm good. I'm talking to the queen of politics over here. So, you know, politics, radio, the queen. Let's go. Let's go. You know, I'm about to say we're talking to Black Jesus with the blocks, but I'm just saying, I'm just saying, when you walk up, everybody start doing crosses. You've got his hands up. He started doing that, that Catholic cross on our chest. But look, bro, you have been in this game for a long.

time in terms of souls to the polls work being done to make sure that our community is civically engaged. Tell us a little bit about that work and what souls to the polls is doing today to help make sure people who want to vote but may have transportation issues have an opportunity to get there. Well you know today is all about getting to the polls Michelle and you know I just want to I want to I want to immediately give out this number 414742.

one zero six zero if you need a ride to the polling place repeat the number again faster four one four seven four two one zero six zero all right you call that number if you need a ride to your polling place don't go to early voting sites don't go to midtown go to your polling place and if you don't know your polling place

You have to go to myvote.wi.wisconsin.org. I think that's it. But you know where it is, Michelle. Anyway, go there and you can get your poll in place. Now, a lot of people keep wanting to go to the early voting sites on this day. Don't do that. Go to your poll in place. And Michelle, check this out. If you need an ID, you don't have an ID, you need one to vote.

Call that number 414742 1060 and get a ride to the DMV to get your ID. I didn't realize it had expanded to do that. Oh, yeah. Oh my god. And just so folks know too, if your money is funny, as long as you're telling them you're getting the ID to vote, that ID is free. Oh, yeah.

So you got the wire hookup and all you got to do is say I need an ID to vote. You got to say to vote. If you say to vote, they will give you that ID for free. That's right. Okay. Oh, it's a big day. And then one other thing I want to say is very important, Michelle. Yes. Some people still got those absentee ballots on the kitchen table.

I take those ballots to a job box by the library. You'll see the little box outside is red, white, and blue on it. You'll see that box outside. Drop it in there. You can do that up to a 6 p.m. And even if you don't make it by 6 p.m., you can always go to the main office for, you know, what is that on our KKK, Michelle? Central Count?

Well you know what hang on pastor because we got the election commissioner in here to rail Martin so I'll make sure I have him address what you're speaking to right now.

So, look, okay, so, number one, Clark, hopefully you see the text. I mean, the message, somebody said the number for souls to the polls needs to be scrolling on the ticker. No excuses. No excuses. Milwaukee, we got rides. So, Pastor, I just saw you on Sunday. Y'all had school buses rolling up to Midtown for early voting. Man, you know, this is, you know, Michelle, because we ain't playing with this.

And, you know, Michelle, it wasn't even about the number of people going. It was about the look, the urgency. You know, we got to get out here and vote, man. This is history. I want to ask, I want to ask you a question. Yes, man. Brother Mohi did a poetry. Man, he's filled out some man.

I don't know if you heard it on Facebook, but you ought to look it up and play it on the station. I will go find it and see if he got it posted and if you know, I will pull it up. You say I had tears in my eyes. It was like this guy man. He is a natural genius.

And of course, he's a North Division Blue Devil alumni. We had to throw that in there. We coming up with gang wars. That's what we do it. We got gang wars. You know, you know, but really, though, you got people, you got to go to Moheed Dyer on your Facebook page and you got to hear that. It is amazing. Okay. Was this the tribute poem to David? Huh? Is this the tribute poem for David?

Yeah, I got it pulled up. I will bring it up. I will bring that Yes, sir. I got you this morning. So look hopefully you'll check in with us throughout the course of the day Let us know how things are going But I just got to ask you I told people I am putting together a Election Day playlist. So if you had one song you could contribute to my playlist, what would it be? Wake up everybody. No more sleeping in bed

No more backwards thinking, time for thinking ahead. That's it. Look, you ain't like he's about to bust a note. Go ahead. Jermaine, ready? Jermaine, ready? I pulled on my A board. Hey, yeah. Hey, Doc, I'ma set it up. We gonna be outside. So look, is there anybody, you know, that...

You want to just shout out in terms of the work you all have been doing because when I say so to the polls, it's not, you know, just an election type of situation. This is year round engagement and activity. I saw you were working with a number of partners for the event on Sunday. Who else helps to move this work y'all do? You know, we started...

you know, thinking about that early in the year. And we said, man, we can't do these work together. And then one of the folks in our organization said, yeah, man, we're in the fight for our lives. I said, yeah, that's right. We're in the fight for our lives. So we started to organize this fight for our lives coalition. And we do that with Pastor Walter Lanier. Him and I are co-convenants of fight for our lives coalition.

And right now we have about 30 organizations, really, we want to increase them enormously before 2028. But we got a foundation for something really powerful. And there's something else, Michelle, I'm just going to drop this on you. You know, you know, I'm about to, you know, you know, power to the polls kind of got away from me. Right. So, so I'm going to do something now, it's going to be called a power movement. And we're going to try to, you know,

help people understand their power and be able to really advocate vigorously in this next upcoming election. So, you know, stay tuned. That's coming up. And you get it. Now, you've got it firsthand right here, right now. Look, I am excited. Anytime we got another group coming to the table with people that are seasoned vets on how does some of this work goes, but even, you know,

bringing up and training new leaders. It's a plus. You can't never have too many folks working. And there are people, are you doing this? You can't never have too many people working. So please keep us posted on Power Movement. And as the meetings begin to unfold, a process comes together. Yep, we want to be at the table. We want to be the first ones. So thank you. You know I want you at the table because we got to do this and we're going to do it right.

Yes, sir. Well, look, thank you so much for making time for us this morning again I'm asking you if you got time while you're moving about the city today drop by the studio Let us know at least call in let us know what's going on Jermaine said he got a chicken wing for you

So, what time should I look to show up, Michelle? Look here, you know, food's starting rolling up in here sometime around one o'clock, 12, somewhere. So look, we know, we got fee folks, because everybody gotta be energized and do this work. Listen here. So you roll through, you know, the door is open for you. But yeah, we got something for you that we can keep you moving out here. Let me tell you something. Now listen, I just want to know this.

You got a time that I should be there. What time is that? What's the perfect time for me to show up? You know what? Because it's so much. Oh, you know what? Um, Pastor Lanier and I'm going to be here in the four o'clock hour. Yeah. So I don't know what you're scheduled like, but if you want to roll through in the four o'clock hour, you can be here with your, with your folks. Yeah. Well, if it don't be there at four o'clock, I don't need to be there. Well, okay. Well, look, I'm just saying, you know, come, come.

Look, you come anytime. Because if we got guests all day, we're going to be plugging people in. But I'll hit you when I get off the radio to figure out when you want to come through. Thank you, Craig. I appreciate it. And Queen of Radio Politics, Michelle Bryant. I appreciate it, Brad. I appreciate it. All right, family, that was none other than Pastor Greg Lewis, souls to the polls. And if you need a ride, you can call 414-742.

1060 again if you need a ride to the polls if you need a ride to go get an ID from the DMV to be able to vote You can call 414 742 1060 if your money is funny

and you don't have the funds right now for the ID. As long as you tell them you need an ID to vote, you can get that ID at no cost to you. Someone put in the chat, if I got people that don't know how to find this stuff on the computer, they sell phone, the my vote, whatever, is there a phone number that they can call to get help about knowing where to go vote? Yes, there is. You can call 414.

414-286-8683. You can call 414-286-8683. Let me say this, they won't hear it because they working, but some of y'all, y'all shifts have not started yet. Thank you to every single person in this city that gets up to help.

these polling locations function to help people understand what the process is that went yesterday to set up them polling locations. You know, my sorority Delta Sigma Theta, Milwaukee Alumni Chapter, we run a polling site. And when I tell you, watching these sisters be dedicated and getting this layout correct and making sure that we have what we need and that we are ready when those doors are supposed to open at seven

AM, nothing short of the coolest thing I've ever seen. And I realized that that was happening all over the city yesterday, that people was walking in buildings, taking nothing and turning it into a polling location so that when folks got up this morning and we actually had somebody knock on the door last night while we were setting up the polling location because they thought they could steal early vote. And we had to tell him and his daughter, you got to come back tomorrow.

So I just want to say thank you and and to the folks that's powering those people making sure that they got food and lunch and water You know, thank you and when you show up, please show up with kindness show up with patience because these people ain't got to be here and some of them take an immense amount of Time to make sure that this is a great positive experience for you

So I gotta take my first, I gotta take a break and we'll be right back. Michelle Brown, WNOV, A68M, 106.5 FM, be right back. All right, family, welcome back. It is election day. It is election day. It is election day. That means we should all be moving. Even if you have voted already, you need to be on the phone, making sure everybody in your family is good.

Go see your neighbors, move around in the senior citizen hall, get on your walker, walk down the hall, go check on your people, make sure if they needed to vote that they were able to get that done. Go up and down your block in your neighborhood. You know some people over there, we need to be turning out the vote today. I understand I got a caller and then I got to get to my guest in the studio. Hey, caller, what's happening? I'm doing. I'm good. How you doing this morning, bro? I'm doing okay.

I'm wondering, why is it that Christian people, as far as like pastors and bishops and apostles, they don't really have any interest in voting? Like, I would come home, he was bringing me home from church yesterday and I mentioned it. And his idea was like, you know, well, you know, I don't really, you know, want nobody like being forced to meet me, you know, to vote. Him and first lady, his wife had the same idea. And I got to tell him about people die.

you know, in the past, you know, to have us to have with this privilege. Then he got to say that. Well, thank you. Uh, uh, I think about, you know, I might consider it. Why is that? Well, you said this was a pastor who was talking about he don't vote. My, my, my, my pastor has been with me home from church yesterday and I mentioned the voting to him.

And his idea was like, you know, well, I will see why, you know, if you want to try to... Quick question. Quick question. Is your pastor young or old? I think he's in his mid 50s, late 50s. OK. All right. Look, bro, I'm going to deal with that question. Let me interview this guy. And then I will deal with that question on the other side, OK? I promise you. All right. All right. Appreciate it. All right. Pastor.

Not voting. Deal with that exclamation point. Okay. And if I forget, y'all remind me. So look, we are fortunate this morning, right out the gate as everything is setting off, jumping off this morning to get none other than Terrell Martin, election commissioner with the city of Milwaukee. What's the title bro?

All right, that's what makes sure I got it right now. You got it right. But this is the guy that when I'm talking about, you know, issues as y'all are calling me. This is going on. This is wrong.

When I tell you this is who I'm calling and this is who I'm reaching out to his team to say, hey, these are the things that folks are seeing on the ground. Can you help us out to rail for folks that don't understand fully? Well, first of all, good morning. Good morning, Michelle. Good morning, gentlemen. I need your song for my playlist. What song? Pastor Lewis took my song. That's it. That was my theme song and you're stopping me now. OK.

Okay, well wait now Okay, I know stopping us now, okay to Rio. All right

So, for folks that don't understand what you are doing in terms of the election commission, explain your role and what this day looks like for you. Okay, I'm a member of the City of Milwaukee Election Commission. It's three commissions, two Democrats and one Republican. I represent one of the Democrats. We are elected through the county parties and then the list is sent to the mayor and the mayor picks two

individuals on the Democratic side to be a commissioner and pick one Republican. The reason we have two Democrats because City of Milwaukee had the most votes for the last governor's race. So when this governor's race after today, actually Milwaukee is going to win and we're going to have two more commissioners elected in twenty seven. Well, speak it then.

When folks are looking at your title and your role, what do they need to understand about how this day falls out? Because people will talk about problems at the polls. Who do we tell about that? But then once all these ballots are in, how does all of this counting work? And we hear central count. Can you kind of help people understand just the nuts and bolts of it? Okay. What a commissioner does. We oversee the election process in the city of Milwaukee.

In the city of Milwaukee today, we have 177 polling locations. So we staff all those polling locations where people go out vote in their neighborhood. We also have a central count location. The central count location is where we process all the absentee ballots and the million ballots and the ballots that come from overseas.

We process those at the, do they start processing them right away? At 7 o'clock a.m. on election day. So we're one of the states where you can start processing. At 7 o'clock a.m. on election day. Okay. The only thing we could do before then is sort them and put them in the wards. We can't open the envelopes. We can't do anything with the ballots until 7 o'clock a.m. Okay, so there are people now already starting to count. There's about 100 and something people down there, the Italian Community Center now working to get

We have last count with 58,000 ballots that we have to do today between 58,000 and 60,000 ballots that we have to do today. You will process 58,000 ballots today. Today. Not before seven. We have until whenever we finish. Yeah, when you finish. I'm just saying. And then for people who still, because Pastor Lewis was speaking to that, and if you could, if you still got a mail-in ballot at home, you can drop it off.

If you have a mail in ballot at home, do not take it to the polling location. Do not take it to the polling location. You could drop it off in one of the drop boxes at our library city libraries. You could do that up to 6 o'clock after 6 o'clock. If you still have your ballot, you have to drop it off at the Italian Community Center is 631 East Chicago Street. You could drop it there until 8 o'clock.

Okay. After eight o'clock, we cannot receive any more ballots. All right. So just so we are clear, at 6 p.m., you can still use a drop box. Drop boxes. Don't take it to your polling location. Don't take it to the polling location. Take it to the city library. Drop box. Drop box. Okay. And that's up until six. It's up to six. Okay. And then after that, they got to go down to the ICC, Italian Community Center 631 in Chicago. I'll make sure I'm announcing that. So.

For folks that are watching election results come in, you know, I remember when Lena ran for mayor We saw other municipalities numbers coming in but no numbers were coming in in the mayor's race It was a zero percent for the longest Can you talk to how those numbers come out? Well the polling locations their numbers automatically load up after

the polling location, Chief Inspector, finish their process. Those numbers will load up right away to the county clerk's office. Central count, we have to download. Right now, we're using nine supertabulators, which process ballots very quickly. But we have nine of them that we are operating. Once we complete all ballots,

at Central Count, we have to go to each one of those tabulators and download the results. And it will be two teams of us. Is this what was going on last election when the lady had to get the flash drive and the security detail had the police was escorting? Yes, that was that was our download process. Okay, okay.

We're good this time. Yes, we're good. We have beefed up that process. We got a call out where each time they go to a step, they call it out to make sure no steps are being skipped. We also have printed form with pictures to let you know exactly how the machine should be looked if you're doing it right. So we beefed up that process.

So we shouldn't have any problems with the downloads. So is there a chance we know election results, you know, because I got to go to bed at 9 30. No, absolutely not. Well, no, no, you said no. No, once we.

download those machines, because we don't know how many ballots we're going to be getting in, because we're still picking them up from drop boxes and people are still dropping them off at the Italian Community Center. And they still have to go through the process of going through the machines and everything. Once all ballots are completed, then we'll start the download process. And it's, like I said, would be two teams of us doing the download. A Democrat and a Republican is in each team.

And we'll go, we'll split it up since we have nine machines, someone probably do five machines, someone would do four machines and we download. And that process takes a while because when you're downloading, you're downloading every ballot that went through that machine, the image of that ballot and the results. So I might know about midnight? Possibly.

Okay, possibly. And so for folks that talk about because everybody keeps saying turn out is key turn out is key this election is going to be close. If who decides if somebody says that there may need to be a recount because it's so close. Does the city automatically look at a recount if we're within a certain percentage or I think is if it's less than 1% right the city will pay for it but the candidate have to pay for it over that. Okay, so.

What time are you going to be at today? I probably should get home around 4.30 or 5. In the morning? Yes. Are you serious? During the presidential, I didn't walk in the house until 6 o'clock a.m. And this past the primary election, I got home around 3.34. 3.30 in the morning? Yes. You know what, bruh? You look good.

I am thrilled that you stopped by us first while you were still fresh. I want to let people know if there's any problems at the polls, if you see ice agents or anything like that, you should call our hotline. That number is 414-286-0575. 0575. And that's the hotline. Yeah, hotline.

And we do have federal observers in the city of Milwaukee and in Madison, from the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. Yeah, that'll be what y'all think of me. And we also have United States House of Representatives have a monitor here.

I know we have a Republican monitor, and we're supposed to be having a Democrat. I haven't got the information on a Democratic monitor. Really? Yes. All right, so folks, you heard it here. This is one of the people that's on the front lines helping to make sure that this election is running the way it's supposed to. Terrell, thank you so much for making time for us this morning. Well, thank you. Thank you, guys, and keep up the good work. No, we appreciate it. And I'll be listening. And I'll be calling. He'll be calling. All right, y'all, let me take a quick break.

Yes, that's my girl. Yep. Let me get her up. Thank you, Terrell. I appreciate you. All right. All right, y'all. So look, while we are paying attention to what's going on locally here in the city, we cannot close our eyes to the fact that we have

elections happening all over the country. There are things that we need to have on our radar. We are impacted by what goes on, you know, up the street in Illinois, what's going on in Michigan, down in Georgia. And so I am so fortunate this morning that we were able to grab my counterpart in Chicago at VO in none other than my sorority sister, Ms. Cleer Patrick Draper. How you doing this morning, Cleer Patrick?

I am great so you got the right in and do how you feel. Look, you know, we got to get it done. We got to get it done. It's a lot of work that has gone up into this moment.

Finally, folks are beginning to kind of see the light at the end of the tunnel in terms of the work paying off. Our numbers look real good here in Milwaukee and in the state quite honestly in terms of mail-in ballots being returned in terms of in-person early voting. But I have got to ask the question, how are things going on your end in Illinois? Well, I mean, I appreciate you asking. You know, Illinois is quiet.

For the most part, we're getting ready to send our lieutenant governor to the Senate seat to replace outgoing tenant towards Dick Bourbon, who served for more than 30 years. And then reelect Governor J.B. Pritzker with his running mate, Christian Mitchell. So Christian Mitchell will be the first black man to serve as lieutenant governor.

But we don't have any compromising seats. So we've extended our energy towards our counterparts throughout the Midwest. We were fortunate. We had folks from Chicago down here on buses, canvassing in neighborhoods, I want to say, two weeks ago. And it was just nothing short of just incredible Congressman Danny Davis rolled through. And I mean, I was running into people who told me

It was folks from Chicago knocking doors and they hit my door in my neighborhood. That has always been something that I have respected and admired about the fact that y'all will pick up, you know, and like, what's going on? We need to come. We need to show up. So I appreciate that you said it's quiet right now. But for folks that aren't familiar with Juliana Stratton, the Lieutenant Governor, can you talk a little bit about this, sister? So we get an idea of what this is about to be.

Well, I want to think about it. She never start. I'll say that. She the first one to come out with an F Trump commercial. Furthermore, she has been training for this opportunity unbeknownst to her since her ascension into the General Assembly. She has been fighting for healthcare and

just working with families and I think she understands the assignment and she's ready for a moment such as this. So we're very proud. Okay.

So you guys are calm right now, but I was paying attention to what y'all getting ready to be doing in 2027. Y'all got like 900 people running for for mayor man. Yeah. So I'm glad this was here. So I mean, come today, go local tomorrow. You know what it is. I mean, today is the best day ever. It is a turbulent Tuesday on my show, but you know, it's voting Tuesday.

But tomorrow, I mean, the nines are out. Not only do we have 15 people challenging my mayor, Mayor Brandon Johnson, but they're also coming from his signatures and it is really disrespectful in this moment. So I'll tell my listening audience and I'll remind yours, like the disgraced Congressman George Santos of New York that was eventually sentenced to jail and then Trump pardon him.

A part of some of his trail of lies was that he grew up practicing the Jewish faith. And when it was divulged that he was not only, was not Jewish and had never practiced the faith, he said, no, I'm a Jewish-ish, like I-S-H. So I need not forget, if we're going to adopt anything from the practices of being a Jew is to not, to forget this moment. So the knives are drawn out in Chicago.

it is going to be a real fight in this municipal race and we will not forget all the folks that have come for this brother because there's been an all out attack and assault on black mayors in these major cities since they onset it and they have not stopped.

So quick question last question because I know you're getting ready for your own show. I love the turbulent Tuesday. I may have to bite that I like that As we look at the national landscape, you know, I'm thinking about you know My girl down in Florida who has not had the kind of help that she probably should have got in terms of running for the US Tennessee Do you have any thoughts about what we're seeing nationally right now and expectations for today? They're talking about a possible blue wave

I know that you are paying attention to this stuff. Any thoughts about today? Absolutely. In fact, I'll be anchoring the national coverage tonight. We're talking about Angie Nixon. Yes, yes. You're talking about sister Nixon. She's come on the show. That is who Laura Loomer, I had the shun on the mitigated doll to call it, that OB. Yes. And the nerve of that plastic doll. But nonetheless,

Although she did not receive the support she needed, I mean, she ain't, she ain't gonna be like Noriega, she ain't gonna hold a thousand favors. They grew up getting out the mud, you hear me? Well, she down in Florida for out the sand. That's right. But it is a brown swell. I just saw Plyce with her. They are showing her nothing below. She's raising money. And the fact that she's having a tidal wave in red Florida.

Tends you a lot. You don't gotta just stick it in Florida. You can go to Mississippi with Cologne. That brother, Scott Cologne, is making a clap. I mean, it's some French food. They got a weird appetite down in Mississippi. Always has. So the Texas, the Califricos, you can go up to Maine, the Mainers, but Troy Jackson, all those names sound black, not black, but you got that life.

you could go all across the country. Ohio shared Brown. He backed for a second round. He said, I ain't done yet. He's got a Kansas. Kansas has had a Democrat since 1932. It is a tidal wave of blue. I'm telling you, baited breath watching these results come in. And like you said,

I would school in Kansas. I would put all my money on never, never, never, never when we'd be talking about this real estate in play. But I think that, you know, and I appreciate when Donald Trump has told people, hey, act like I'm on the ballot. That's exactly what we plan to do.

That's exactly what I'm hoping people do. You remember all of the madness and the crazy and the cuts and the disrespect. I hope you remember all of it when you step up into the polls. Um, look, Sarah, I'm gonna get out your way. But when I tell you, I appreciate you making a few minutes for us this morning to start off. I can't wait. I will be on until 8 p.m. So I won't be able to catch you. I'll have to go back and watch the. No, I asked them on until, uh, I did 10 or 11. We haven't decided. I'm going for a while.

Then I will definitely pick pick you up as soon as I get off the air tonight But when I tell you say one thing, yes When it comes to Crowley, we've been joined having him pick up to you so I wish in David Crowley nothing but the gas As his brother prepares to stand along with Keisha Lance Bottoms our store in Georgia. That's right And there are a few other pivotal rupinatorial races to pay attention to you got David Dolly down in Florida

that is going to knock out the box firing Daniels, your long lost cousin that was the best era ever. I mean, you know, there's some pivotal races that are just across the spectrum. You can go to the West Coast, Karen Bass, who was in a fight for her life until her opponent didn't know who Robbie King was. Come on. I could go on and on. But David probably, y'all got a good one right there.

And I appreciate you for having my young cousin. I heard from his team. They said it was a great experience. So thank you for treating him well. And I will follow you. Like I said, as soon as I get off the air tonight, I'll catch up to see what you got going on. But thank you. Thank you, sis, for making time for us today. And look, for folks that want to catch a show, because I know they hear it. I know they hear it in your voice. They know it's a strong show. Tell people how they can follow you or how they can see what's happening with you over at VOIN.

Hey, you can keep up with your favorite millennial, Monday through Friday from 9 to 2. It's the queer time for so on WDON 1690 AM. Thank you, Selva. All right. Thank you, Selva. All right, family. Let me take my break. We'll be right back. I'm expecting Congress, I'm expecting County Executive David Crawley to be pulling up on us any minute now. We'll be right back.

Welcome back to the show. It's election day. It's election day. I did not forget. I just texted Cleopatra's staff and I said, or her producer said, hey, Cleopatra, I need my song for the playlist that we are assembling today for election day because I feel like we may be celebrating tonight. I feel like I might need a playlist in the car that got me moving. And I don't know why. I don't know why. It may have something to do with this dude that's sitting in the studio this morning. Let me say good morning to

none other than Milwaukee County executive, the candidate for governor on the Democratic side of the ticket, none other than Mr. David. Is it C quality? Yes, it is. What's the C for? C is for Carl. I never knew that. Are you serious? My grandfather was Carl.

He was actually Carl Sr and my my grandfather he served in World War two and then my I had an uncle who was also named Carl who actually died in the Vietnam War and so They are both the reason why my and my mother didn't want me to be a junior Okay, so she made sure that my middle name was different than my dad's and so I was named after my grandpa and my uncle That's super cool. Yeah, and I'm gonna tell you it's nothing like what people know you know you because I talked to

David Bowen yesterday. Yeah. And so I told location, you know, David Bowen was like, yeah, I'm gonna fall through sometime today. Oh, uninvited. So I'm just letting y'all know I'm gonna fall through. And location said, tell Fitzgerald. I said Fitzgerald. Who is Fitzgerald? I didn't know David Bowen's middle name was Fitzgerald. I said, tell Fitzgerald. He don't have them kind of privileges. So look, bro, you just went to vote this morning. Yeah. Yeah. You late man.

I mean, when you first in line. Look, you know what? So it's everybody who got up early this morning to go vote because I am late because there was a line to go vote. You know, I vote at Germany Merchant and it was like it was popping this morning. I was number 47 at 730 this morning at 730 at 730 this morning. So Doug from the radio station here said he was number 54 at 730 and he votes over at Emerson school. Yeah, so like.

So did nobody move for you? You ain't getting no Obama treatment. I'm not asking nobody to move. See, that's what I tell the soldiers. I said, it couldn't. God knows. He knows who's in these positions because as soon as I walk in, I'm like, hey, the next governor coming through.

So that's why no, no, I was watching I wanted to make sure they were casting a badly I like that in you smart man again Why why you are doing well? So look, I'm gonna tell you real quick just this morning I pulled up on my usual two wheels running late this morning and I saw Jermaine had already got here parked and but I when I came down the street I saw suburban outside and I was like

I don't have nobody in the first hour that would be suburban worthy. So what's going on? Well, I shouldn't say suburban worthy. Because Tyrell Martin is listening right now. Like, what'd you say, girl? But I was like, why is there suburban? So then I pull around, man, the vest cable around the corner like, hey, hey, appreciate you. She's going to need to move that. And it was done way, you know, nice and professional, but hey.

We got to have this space. And I was like, life just got real. Yeah. Yeah. So my wife and I, they gave us basically, we have dignitary protection. While this is happening. While all of this is happening on today. And they give this to both of the candidates on election day. But this will, if everything goes well, this life will absolutely change. And I've been talking to my wife,

preparing my daughters for what this may look like. And we're in a good headspace. It's going to definitely take some getting used to. But yeah, I was. They call me, I'm riding with y'all. That's like opening the door and I'm like, oh, this is a different service. I'm telling you, I said, I told you, I said, it was that moment when Barack was on his way to the park after he had found out that he had won. And the baby girl said, daddy, ain't nobody coming to your party.

And they was like, huh? There's like, there ain't no cars. And then Michelle Obama said she looked out the window and realized that there were no cars on the freeway with them. That secret service was not letting anybody drive on the freeway while they were escorting him to the park. And he said, and Michelle Obama said, that's when it hit her, our life as we know it is over. It's over. So when we pulled up this morning and that happened to us, I was like, this just got real.

So it won't get real until after tonight. So we need everybody to go to the polls between now and APU. Yeah, but bro, you have got to admit, you know, I'm seeing your names and, you know, Stevie Wonder did a ad for you. That's, have you seen it? Stevie Wonder. I was like, this is crazy. Okay.

I'm trying to talk business. I really am. But it's so exciting to see what's happening, man. It's still surreal, you know. And like for me, and you know me, I just know about doing the work. And that's what really matters most to me. But like in this moment, not just for me and my family, but what this means for this entire community here in the city of Milwaukee, what this means for Milwaukee County, but what this means for people across the entire country of possibly electing the fourth ever.

You know, black governor in the country's history in the nation's history. So, all right. So you talked about the work. Um, there are tons of people that, you know, let's just fast forward tons of people that called and said, Hey, you know,

We didn't see enough boots on the grounds. We didn't see this. We didn't see that. And I'm looking at the press schedule because I'm getting the notice, you know, everywhere y'all going to be multiple times, you know, three stops in a day all across Chris crossing the state. What has that work been like for folks who have raised concerns? I didn't I didn't nobody knocked on my door. Well, what do you say? Well, one, people, you know, I know and I know a lot of people here have been like, David, we need to see you. The thing is that you already know me.

I gotta go introduce myself to people I don't know. Oh, look, you got the Amy and choir over here about to pass out. And so I had to go to places like La Crosse, Kiwani, Superior, Washburn, Rhinelander, Eau Claire, Wright Green Bay, Sheboygan, like Hudson, like these are places where, you know, I had to get familiar with, you know, and I think had to get comfortable being uncomfortable being in places that, you know, growing up,

especially being a person of color, you say, well, don't go in those areas. And then you start going in those areas, you start realizing that, like, you know, we just got to start actually having good conversations. Just eat, you know, break bread, sit at the table and talk about real issues, talk about life. And you realize that you got so much more in common. But we have been, you know, in the past 10 days, we've been to, you know, 40 to 50 different cities. You know, we ended the last, we ended the last rally here in Milwaukee, who was at the laborer hall right on 60th in Burla.

You know, we were in the, you know, 60th in Burla doing the labor. Like that's where I'm ending, you know, my rally because this is where I come from. You know, I'm a kid that started off on 23rd in Burla. You know, and so for me, I had to end here back in the city of Milwaukee. And we have had volunteers. We have had paid staff. We have had social media influencers all across the state, all across Milwaukee. And honestly, like it's been exciting.

And I know that everybody wants me to be everywhere, and I understand it. I got my doppelganger Kyle trying to be everywhere with me. I'm telling you, one of the lit pieces that came out, I swear to God, is Kyle. I said I was going to show it to him, because they was using AI to create their lit.

It's Kyle. It's like so disrespectful. They're like, my picture is everywhere. And then the one dude, he don't look like you never, oh, your worst day, this is not you. We was all like, Jermaine saw it. Jermaine said, who the hell is that? Well, Jermaine's supposed to be DC, evidently. OK, so here is the question. I'm flipping. And one of the packs there.

endorsement stuff comes through and they got your picture on there with all these other black folks running for governor. Have you had conversations with any of these other folks around the country? I know Westmore was in here. I've had. I've definitely talked to Westmore, um, Keisha, uh, last bottoms. We've had many good conversations, um, as well as, uh, A Ron Ford in Nevada. Um, and I'm blanking on the good brother, South Carolina, if I'm not mistaken, uh, Jermaine.

he's running for for governor down there. We've all been in communication in some type of capacity because this is this is a really historic and then you know and I'm just talking about the democratic side because you also got two uh two two black men who are running in the republican side. Right. You know and so I mean this is you know who would have thought that you would have but you know six I think right now. I believe that was the number that came up. You know

you know, African-Americans who are the nominee for their party to be governor. I think this is the most that we have ever seen in this nation's history. I can't believe I'm blanking on this brother's name either. And so, you know, I like though that as you talked, I heard you talk before and you said, hey, the history that I want to make is not necessarily the history that we think of in terms of first African-American to be governor of the state of Wisconsin. Speak for a second about the history that I've heard you say you want to make.

It's not about making history as far as being a black governor. I want to make child poverty history. I want to make housing and security history. I want to make income inequality history. That's the type of history that I am trying to create here in the state of Wisconsin. And it's funny you say that because I have an all staff call. And I have staff who did not know that I'm on the verge of me becoming the first black governor.

And they were like, well, we didn't know that. You never talk about it. It's just like, because that's not why I'm in this. You know, I'm in this because I think about the kid who grew up on the same block as me in the 5306 zip code who never thought that there'll be hope for them in the future, who never seen, you know, you know, folks get up every single day working a good paying job knowing that they can take care of themselves. And I just want to be that one to show that every every child, no matter like what your last name is, what zip code you live in, that you can share that glass ceiling.

And your job after that is to make sure that you pull that ladder down for others to climb up right after. So last thing, because I know you got to get going. There was a lot of talk after the Brewers win about the role that you played in that. One of the things in one of the conversations I've had is I talked about the ability to walk the middle and be able to work with people on either side of the aisle.

and even when there must be strong disagreement with policy directions and initiatives, I still know how to come back and be able to have these conversations. I literally had people challenging me about your role in that 2023 brewers deal. Just a two second refresher for the folks in the back that didn't understand.

You know, we had to play hardball. They were trying to get us to give like $120 something million dollars of county money towards this deal. And we were able to dwindle that to about like 60, little over 50. And the crazy thing about it is that the way that we structured the deal is that this is going to pay for itself, you know, because, you know, a lot of people don't know that like the state is who collects our sales taxes. When the state collects community sales taxes, we actually get charged for that.

And we were able to actually negotiate lowering that charge to actually pay for the stadium. And this is going to, like we're giving $60 million towards this stadium between now and 2050. But folks don't know that we got $270 million in financial flexibility between now and then as well on how we're going to be able to fund transit, how we're going to be able to fund health and human services. And that's mental health. That's housing. Those are all those different types of issues.

And people try to challenge you because they don't want to believe that a kid like me, who grew up on 23rd and Burla, went to our Avenue, Meck Middle School, and graduated from Bayview High School, has to weather with all, have the means, have the skillset, and have the knowledge to be able to get these types of things done. And this is the thing, right? We have to be conscious because when we come from these places,

They want to control the narratives to control our subconscious, to control how we think about how these deals get done, and to be able to say that, you know, to basically hold folks back. You know, and when I say hold folks, whether you're poor, whether you're black, whether you're Latino, whether you're a woman, whether you're a person, you know, with a disability, you know, people try to drill into your subconscious to believe a certain way, but that's not our reality.

So let me say this, because before you came in, we were talking, Clark contestified this, and I said, you notice they don't want that ad anymore that called David Crawley incompetent because people started raising hail, present company included, about why is it when we're talking about an African-American candidate running at this level,

the word incompetent is being bandied about, given the resume and the credentials. So that's a racial dog whistle. You ain't got to say it. I'm going to say it. It's a racial dog whistle, and it's not lost on us. I've listened to campaign ads over and over and over again. You don't see that word incompetent bandied around the way it was done in your race. And so it was literally a DEI attack. I mean,

Without fit we raised so much hell about that and I'm not taking credit for it But all I know we not seeing them as running no more. I mean somebody somebody had to Inform me ex. I never paid attention cuz I'd like I'm just focusing right, you know running this race They not not not once caught me county executive. Oh, no, no, it was just David Say that say that part David couldn't get the respect I've actually done to be where I am and you know, and I'm a you know, and

You know, it is what it is. But you know what? People all across the state recognized it and they did not like the fact that the respect wasn't given to me, knowing how hard I have worked, you know, to be where I am today and not just to support the community that I represent here in Milwaukee, but what I've done even for the local municipalities across this state. I mean, my opponent, his whole. Oh, oh, you know, line in a debate, you know.

Like we gave more money to his hometown that line in the debate. We had a watch party the room erupted like Oh, sorry, we didn't get your respect either I don't think I think it was D DC homie They did all of that, you know, so look, I know you got to get out of here, but I will just simply say this um Somebody

Asked me a question about you that we kind of walking through this election. They said just lay this out when you talk about Coming from a situation in which you were polling somewhere fourth in the race. Yeah, you know Money was not what it should have been And then all these different circumstances, you know, these things happen that put us in this moment There were people that were walking away who were saying I wish I would

Never tell myself. No, I wish I would never say never, you know, like this has been the most improbable Yeah campaign that people have seen in a long time So I can't imagine what it feels like to be here. I feel like the Brewers Don't know what I mean by that is like you think about

The Milwaukee Brewers, when they were playing like, for example, the L.A. Dodgers, L.A. Dodgers is the highest, grossing, highest paid major league baseball team in the entire country. Yeah, you got the you got like the Milwaukee Brewers. Small market team, right? Where we had to fight to actually bring this team back back in the day. I mean, I hear you.

And so, like, yo, yo, 10 years, they go match them 50. I mean, I feel you know, I got you. I got you. But I'm just want to tell you that there are so many people. No matter how this whole thing started, that are just over the top proud of the moment we are in. And I got people that I know that I hear praying for you, like for real praying out the fake picture. Donald Trump put up with the.

And he tricked the pastor to pray for him, but praying for you and want to see you do well. There are folks that have asked about a watch party. I don't know if that's open to the public. It is open to the public, but you have to sign up. You got to RSVP. You got to RSVP. You can visit our Facebook page, David Crowley. You can go to our website, Crowley, for WI.com. It's going to be at Landmark Live, which is right across from the Deer District, right across from the Pfizer form. And so I think the doors will be opening.

right when basically when the polls close, so if we can get down there as early as eight o'clock, we'll be there. All right. Look, y'all, this is none other than Milwaukee County Executive David Crawley, who has pulled. Oh, wait. Oh, no, no, no.

Text me my apology for getting caught up in your campaign. Text me that. Yeah. Yeah. You're sorry. Call me and say, oh, Michelle, I'm so sorry, babe, about what happened to you and a drug you threw in the mud. I am now cemented in your campaign history. I want my chapter. I want my chapter.

People literally have been coming up to me like, you okay? You all right? I'm like, so yeah, we gotta talk about that later. I got it. I'm like, oh, this nigga didn't even text me like, hey girl, I'm so sorry. You see how many other folks that got caught up in this campaign? It's like, if you support me, you just collateral damage. Look, I want to be clear. If my mama was alive, she'd be like, Chad, you must be somebody. So, look.

They'll do your thing, bruh. Absolutely. Congratulations to you. Thank you. You and Erica have- Glad to come home. Look. Before the day gets started. You and Erica have just, I feel like y'all some baby Michelle's and Barack's in terms of the class and the way you have conducted. That's a really good company. You know, when people have talked about like, we're gonna be glad to see these commercials go away. You kept it clean. You kept it clean. You kept it in fact, you know.

I know what y'all house look like if that's our real house in the commercials. You know, I know the prayer y'all was praying. I know all of it. I know, you know, I got it. I got it. I am just proud of y'all. I'm proud of y'all because this was a hell of a lot of pressure. Yeah. And they say pressure either buzz pipes or make diamonds.

So well, you know, hopefully we'll see what happens tonight. I just got to remember that that kid on the West five gold campaigns and having them conversations with you when you walked away. I was like, oh, he's special. And I mean, in a good way. I was like, he's special. You was hungry and determined and you worked your ass off. I'm coming. I see you. I'm coming. But you worked your ass off. Thank you.

Now FCC can call me like there's love love this radio station and come on out to Landmark live tonight If you got some time make sure to sign up Register and we're gonna have a good time and whoever his barber is. Please get him tight for the night. I'm gonna see Sam at two All right y'all let me take you want to say something I was gonna say amen. You about to cry over there

If you need theme music, the song that I would have would be Big Sean, bigger than me. Bigger than me. So as you travel, you can hook up U-Haul to one of them trailers to your truck.

And we'll put the band on the back of the thing so everywhere you go. Like I'm going to get you. Team music. I'm telling you, he got to have it. All right, family. I'm going to let this man get out of here and get on with the rest of his day. Bigger than me. Big Sean. None other than Milwaukee County Executive David Crawley, if all goes well. And y'all do your part. We will be saying Governor David Crawley by the time this day is over. Take it easy, play. All right, family, I'll be right back.

Go straight to the phone line because I got the president, the chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin that's been holding. Devin, are you there? I am here, Michelle. Look, blaming on your future governor, man. He came up here all late, voting all number 42 in line. It's the county executive's fault. How you doing this morning?

I am doing great, and I know you cannot rush greatness. I would never think you could do so, especially for the man I very much hope is our future governor. I am so appreciative of the hospitality and the graciousness this morning. Look, this has got to be a crazy day for you. Thank you for making time for us this morning, for folks that don't understand what it looks like being the chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin today. Help people understand what's going on with you right now.

Well after crisscross in the state all weekend and pretty much for the entire month I'm waking up. I had an over-the-top rock Wait, hang on one second Devin. Do you have your radio on it? Something's going on. We getting a feedback. Are we on speaker? Let me see here Okay, try it again

Um, no, it's kind of, it sounds like it's an echo or like we may be on speaker. Um, let's, let's try, but go ahead though. Let's see if we can get through it. Okay. I apologize. Yeah, I, uh, definitely not a speaker, but, uh, you know, maybe it's, uh, the, the, uh, how today is going to go through history. Uh, who knows. Uh, but you know, I've already woken up on this. You know what, Devin?

Devin, I'm gonna stop you because yeah, we can't make out anything that you're saying. What we will do is reach out to your team and see if there's any other window today that you can make five minutes for us. Hang on, we're gonna try. Devin, they're gonna try to send you a link real quick to see if we can bring you up virtually, okay? Okay, is this any better by chance? Yes, that's better. Go ahead. Okay, I actually put it on speaker.

So maybe that's better. Okay. All right. Well, let's go to it. All right. So you've been crisscrossing the state. Yep. Yep. Uh, we'll be voting just outside of Reedsburg, Wisconsin and my township, uh, heading down to Madison, uh, to kick off a canvas, uh, before making my way to, uh, Milwaukee. Uh, so a little bit of a gauntlet today. Uh, but you know, it is, uh, this, the election day is always

a little bit strange, right? Because you're running through the tape, you're doing as much as you can and you're kind of waiting for this clarifying moment later in the evening when we'll be able to see what I hope are the fruits of so much labor from folks all across Wisconsin and a whole new wave of talent and leadership coming into power here in the state of Wisconsin that I think is going to make a huge difference in people's lives.

So when we looked at, you know, in terms of the state legislature and the makeup, we know that it's not just the governor's race while that certainly is top ticket and going to be a big influencer of even turnout today. We're watching these other races to see whether or not we can shift the majority in the state legislature. Any comments on that?

Absolutely. You know, we are five seats away from winning the state assembly. There are two state assembly seats that are really crucial for us in the Milwaukee area. That's Assembly District 21 and Assembly District 61. Those are majority makers. So Dan Bucherlitz and Ben Burris, fantastic Democratic candidates, wanting to help deliver change.

And then we also have in the state Senate, we need to put two seats. There's also two seats in the state Senate, right in the Milwaukee area. Senate District 5, Robin Binding is the Democratic candidate. Senate District 21, Trevor Young is the Democratic candidate right there. And this is really the huge difference maker for us. Republicans have obstructed progress so much in our state for 16 years. And then they rigged the map so that we didn't have the ability to even fairly compete. This is the first year we've been able to win the trifecta.

And I think that we are going to be able to get it done, and when we do, we'll be able to deliver for working people. And David Carl will be able to sign the bills that assembly speaker Greta Newbauer and Senate Majority Leader Diane Hussleburne put on his desk. So quick question, because one of the things that I would be remiss if I didn't do is that we know that while we have these major races happening here in the state, there is a national landscape that all of this will play into. When you take that, that.

pull back and take that 30,000 foot view of what's happening and what's at stake around the nation today. Any insights or observations, things that you think our listeners should be paying attention to on the national level? Things are good for Democrats all across the country. You know, we have seen races even in places like Kansas that haven't elected a Democratic U.S. Senator in the center. He basically

You know, they are competitive. And we've seen polling right up to the buzzer as late as Sunday that shows Democrats might even have an advantage in these races. And I am optimistic that this could finally be the moment that we put to rest Trump and the MAGA era of politics in this country. You know, we've had so many elections since he first came on the scene in 2016.

but it's never felt like we've been able to truly slay the dragon. You know, he was always waiting around the corner to run for reelection. You know, he's devoted forward for still trying to implement his agenda. But it really feels like, you know, the Republican Party has revealed themselves over the past two years with the disastrous war on Iran, with the terrorists that have jacked up the cost of living, with the results on democracy and our individual freedoms.

And I think that this opportunity, I hope, is one that we can seize all across the country to resoundly reject Donald Trump Republicans like Tom Tiffany that have enabled him and deliver a better future, not just in Wisconsin, but across the country. All right. So last question, probably the most important question that I will have placed in front of you today.

I am creating a playlist for the Election Day, and I'm asking every guest that I talk to to add a song to our playlist. So if you could add any song to the Election Day playlist, what would it be? I think I'd go with Tub Something by Jumbo Wamba. When you get knocked down, you got to get back up again, and we'll be singing when we're winning later tonight.

Oh my God, that would not have been on my list, but I got you. Perfect. Devin, thank you so much. I know that it has been a grind, making sure we have boosts on the grounds, making sure we have folks that were surrogates and out here doing this work. The thing that's crazy is that even though

You know, whatever results we get tonight, we understand that tomorrow is the next fight and that you literally, no matter whether David is successful or not, it.

We are talking about spring elections that are coming up. We will have more Supreme Court races on the ballot for folks that need to get engaged to figure out that we don't just show up during the election cycle, but that this work takes place all year round. Is there information you want to give to listeners about how they can be engaged in a democratic party? If that's something that's of interest to them.

Absolutely, yeah, you can go to wisdoms.org slash join. That's W-I-S-D-E-M-S dot org forward slash join. You can get involved with local county parties and teams in your area. And it's a really great first step. And you're absolutely right, especially ahead of the 2028 presidential election. I hope that we have a ton of momentum that we can keep going, that we can ensure that U.S. Senator Ron Johnson is defeated that year. And he does not return to the U.S. Senator to the war center in America.

And, you know, the only way out is through. And I know we're just going straight forward. No matter what tonight holds, we have a lot of work left to do in this state and in this nation. And I'm very grateful for you having me on so many times to speak with your audience and look forward to connecting with you again on the other side of tonight.

Well, I definitely appreciate it. And I just want to tell you again, I understand the work. I appreciate you and the team at the party for all that you guys do. And yeah, I'll see you with a champagne glass somewhere on the other side this evening. Take it easy, Devon. Thank you very much. Take care. All right. See you later. All right, family. So I am getting ready to wrap my show for this morning.

Just let me do this real quick before I get out of here understand if you need a ride to the polls So to the polls 414 742 1060 414 742 1060 if you need a ride to the DMV to go get an ID They can take you there as well if you get to the DMV and you don't have the funds let them know you need a

ID to vote, they will give it to you for free. If you are not computer savvy, don't know how to do all this on your iPhone, but you need to know where to go vote. Call 414-286-8683. 414-286-8683. If you run into a problem at the polls, call this radio station. 414-444-5253.

reported to our folks. We will help figure out how to get you what you need or in touch with the right people. And I'll also get some election protection numbers out later this afternoon. Final thing I will say, we are doing election central today from noon until 8pm. We will be on the air. A ton of guests coming through national and local. So family, I will talk to y'all then to the brothers in the studio. Appreciate you all. And you got something real quick.

Somebody want to know can you share the link to sign up to go to the watch party? Yes, and what I will do is work with Clark if you are online Then we'll it'll run across the the ticker tape online and I'll also get it for Keith so Keith can announce it. So just stay tuned All right, that's it that's a wrap