Pat Kreitlow

Party: Democrat
State:Wisconsin
What you need to know: Kreitlow supports full funding for global nuclear non-proliferation programs.

Democrat - Challenger
Endorsed by Council for a Livable World

Pat Kreitlow is a former Wisconsin State Senator running for the House of Representatives against Rep. Sean Duffy (F) in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District. Prior to his four years in the State, Kreitlow was a familiar face to Wisconsin voters as a TV journalist. He worked for many years as the anchor for the 6:00 and 10:00 evening news on WEAU-TV.

Rep. Duffy came to office in one of the biggest upsets in the 2010 elections. The 7th district had been held for 40 years by Democratic stalwart Dave Obey, a champion for progressive causes. When Obey announced his retirement in 2010, political observers believed Democrats would easily win his seat. However Duffy, a former reality television star, capitalized on strong voter dissatisfaction, strong Tea Party backing and an endorsement from Sarah Palin to win an surprise victory.

Since being elected, Duffy has been a staunch voter for hard right national security policies. He has consistently voted against withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan and in favor of funding high priced, Cold War-era weapons systems. He has argued that the U.S. must be “proactive in defeating those who wish to do harm to our nation.”

Kreitow’s views on foreign affairs and national security stand in stark contrast to Duffy’s:

"I believe we need better cooperation and accountability from our global partners. For a stronger defense, the solution can't be putting more U.S. troops in danger, but needs to be making sure we provide better and smarter resources that tackle these problems in the long-term."

Kreitlow is well aware of the dangers posed by nuclear weapons. He shares President Obama’s vision of a nuclear weapons free world and advocates common sense steps to reach that goal. He supports ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, full funding for global nuclear non-proliferation programs, and taking the U.S. nuclear arsenal off hair-trigger alert. He is opposed to building new nuclear weapons and to deploying expensive national missile defense systems that have not been adequately tested.

Kreitlow is a charismatic and energetic campaigner, but this race will not be easy to win. This district voted in favor of President Obama in 2008, but Duffy proved that a Republican can win here as well. Duffy is a prolific fundraiser and has raised well over a million dollars for his campaign, and Kreitlow will need significant support to overcome this advantage.

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