Barnes is more connected in with the Madison democratic machine than the Milwaukee democratic machine (as opposed to Evers, who is the opposite), but both of them are products of the democratic political machine in Wisconsin, which tends to be less neo-liberal on average than most of the dem party, still alot of union support for the Dems at a state level. It's really six of one, half dozen of the other.
It would be nice to get someone in who is more representative of the whole state and prevent Western Wisconsin's slow descent into far right madness, but I suppose when you are busy dealing with white supremacists and libertarians in the Janesville area, you don't really worry about what is happening in the more rural areas.
Not at all, but I don't think there's any place for the working class to participate in Wisconsin politics.
After the Evers's administration's response to the Floyd protests, I think it's pretty clear that they would be actively hostile to any revolutionary or even reformist action. Barnes isn't different in any meaningful way. Neither are able to resolve the gerrymandering issues, so even if you do hold water for them and they do manage to hold onto the governorship, life will still get worse in the state and all you did was continue to tie the left to a toxic brand. The rightward turn (which isn't really supported by the people living here, and is totally undemocratic) is a matter of "when", not "if".
If you still feel the psychic need to vote, do what you have to, it doesn't matter at all on an individual level. Just please, don't defend these monsters in conversations with other people, treat their campaign staff with hostility, and don't give them a cent.
Also regarding Wisconsin politics in general, our legislature is absolutely gerrymandered to fuck in favor of the Republicans and our Supreme Court is rw as fuck, so even if Evers or Barnes stay/get in the most they can do is prevent the sprint towards libertarian craziness unless they are willing to engage in some serious labor actions, which, being machine products, neither will incorporate into their platforms unless the unions radicalize, which is a hard sell around here. Not impossible but a decade long political project at best. But you know the old Lenin quote.
