× Expand William Moree State Rep. Todd Novak (left), a first-term Republican, faces a challenge from Democrat Jeff Wright.

Dodgeville resident Brenda Mittlestadt considers herself an independent voter who has long leaned Republican. But this year, she’s found herself increasingly alienated by the Grand Old Party.

Over the last five years, Mittlestadt has been alarmed to see Republican lawmakers slash funding for public education in favor of voucher programs.

It’s one reason why she’s considering voting for Democrat Jeff Wright to represent her in the Assembly 51st District on Nov. 8, over Republican incumbent Todd Novak. “I’m leaning toward Jeff because he’ll be involved in making sure the public schools stay strong and healthy,” Mittlestadt says.

“Republicans have gone so far in becoming an intolerant, it’s my-way-or-the-highway group,” she adds. “I feel more comfortable with the Democrats and the compassion they show.”

The state Democratic Party is hoping that enough voters will feel like Mittlestadt and help the party make some gains in the Assembly, where Republicans currently hold a solid 63-to-36 majority.

“We know this time around we’re not going to win back the Assembly,” says state Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison). “But we know we have a shot at making progress and picking up a few seats.”

Taylor, who is facing a long-shot challenge from Republican Jon Rygiewicz in an overwhelmingly liberal district, is spending some of her time campaigning for Democrats in other districts, including the 51st. She thinks that Wright has a good shot at winning.

“Todd Novak has failed to be an advocate for his community. He’s failed to stand up for local schools, he’s failed to fix roads,” Taylor says. “He’s mostly just voted for [Gov.] Scott Walker. He’s so out of touch with his district.”

Novak did not respond to a request for comment from Isthmus. Several GOP officials — including Pat Garrett, R.J. Johnson and Christine Breitkreutz — either could not be reached or did not respond to requests for comment.

The state’s Democratic Party has sensed vulnerability in districts like the 51st, where Republicans like Novak claim to be independent yet consistently vote with Republicans. The 51st District is west of Madison and includes parts of Iowa, Green, Lafayette and Richland counties.

Wright, assistant superintendent for Sauk Prairie School District, hopes to turn his opponent, Novak, into a one-term Republican assemblyman. Wright is trying to exploit discontent some rural Wisconsin voters feel toward the Republicans they voted into office and who’ve controlled all three branches of state government since 2011.

The 51st District is one of six Assembly seats Democrats hope to gain on Nov. 8, says Laura Smith, communications director for the state’s Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee.

Other districts where Democrats are hopeful of unseating incumbents include the 67th, where Dennis Hunt is challenging Rob Summerfield (R-Bloomer); the 75th, where Joe Huftel takes on Romaine Quinn (R-Chetek); the 35th, where Renea Frederick faces Mary Czaja (R-Irma); the 72nd, where David Gorski faces Scutt Krug (R-Nekosa); and the 1st, where Lynn Utesch challenges Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay).

Smith says the committee has spent an “unprecedented amount” of money supporting Democrats in top-tier races.

She says Democratic candidates this election cycle are benefitting from both beefed-up fundraising and voter discontent with Republican policies.

The enthusiasm behind Wright was such that the party opened its Monroe-based campaign headquarters three months ahead of schedule.

Although the Democratic Party officials are enthusiastic about Wright, it remains to be seen whether he will appeal to voters.

“When people voted for Todd in the first election, he had no record of voting in the Legislature,” says Barb Woodruff, an executive member of the Green County Democratic Party. “Instead of voting independent, he votes 95 percent of the time with Republicans and Scott Walker’s group. I honestly think he feels afraid that the Republicans will punish him otherwise.”