2018 WI Senate race: on Civil Rights

Tammy Baldwin: Legal gay marriage is victory for fairness & equality

Tammy Baldwin (D): Yes. Supreme Court decision was "a victory for freedom, fairness & equality."

Leah Vukmir (R): No. Defended WI law only recognizing marriages between 1 man & 1 woman.

Leah Vukmir: Voted against anti-bullying legislation to protect students

The race between Sullivan, a pro-equality candidate, and Vukmir, who's so far to the religious right that she voted against anti-bullying legislation, would seem a natural to draw the interest of LGBT voters in the area. Vukmir consulted with Wisconsin Family Action's anti-gay president about how to vote on the anti-bullying law.

Leah Vukmir: Silent on LGBT issues during debate and surveys

Vukmir declined to fill out the Wisconsin Family Council's 2010 election questionnaire, which included an item asking about support for the state's domestic partner registry. Her reticence seemed odd given Vukmir's cozy behind-the-scenes relationship with Wisconsin Family Action. That group was behind the state's constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and is behind the current legal challenge to the state's domestic partner registry.

With polls showing Vukmir and Sullivan statistically tied, LGBT support might yet make the difference in the race, but only if future forums don't enable Vukmir's strategy of silence on social issues.