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Strong Democratic showings in elections across the country last week, rooted in the party’s ire at Republican President Donald Trump, have Democrats in Wisconsin saying maybe — just maybe — 2018 will be when their fortunes finally improve.

The response from Wisconsin Republicans? We’ve heard those predictions before, and look where we stand.

Republicans also predict their turnout and fundraising machines could help them weather a national election climate favoring Democrats, should one materialize in 2018.

Democrats won governorships in Virginia and New Jersey last week and made legislative gains there and in other states. More surprising than the winners of many of those races — Democrats were favored in both governor’s races — were the margins by which Democrats won.

The results emboldened Democrats here in Wisconsin, where Republican Gov. Scott Walker will seek a third term next November and Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a second. All 99 state Assembly seats will be on the ballot, as will 17 of 33 state Senate seats.

Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, said during Thursday’s floor debate that the results “showed a rejection of the Trump-Walker agenda.”