Key Wisconsin race predictions have shifted to the left

Wisconsin’s key U.S. House and governor’s races have shifted left in national ratings and polling in recents weeks.

Most recently, Cook Political Report moved the Wisconsin governor’s race to leaning Democratic instead of a toss-up for Democrat David Crowley against congressman and Republican Tom Tiffany.

The move came after polling this week from the Marquette Law School showed Crowley leading Tiffany with 51% of likely voters compared to 44% for Tiffany and Crowley with 47% of registered voters compared to 44% for Tiffany, falling within the poll’s margin for error.

The publication previously shifted the 3rd congressional race between incumbent Republican Derrick Van Orden to leaning Democratic in the rematch with Democrat Rebecca Cooke.

The 1st congressional race between incumbent Republican Bryan Steil and Democrat Mitchell Berman is still rated as leaning Republican by the publication.

Election analyst Nate Silver called the 1st congressional race the most competitive House race in the country after previously ranking it as the fourth most competitive race.

Fox News ranks has move the race to a toss-up.

Through Friday morning, the Wisconsin Elections Commission reported that 393,625 Wisconsin voters have placed in-person absentee ballots while 693,334 overall have returned absentee ballots, including the in-person totals.

That compares to the 2022 midterms, when ultimately 741,795 absentee ballots were returned with 318,130 voting using in-person absentee.

Municipal offices around the state have differing hours to complete the in-person absentee process, which began on Oct. 20. Voters can both request and complete absentee ballot voting at a voting facility through Sunday.