There's just something absolutely so you know when people say it's American as apple pie like they really that is legitimately American

Going out being in an apple festival drinking some cider. I love you walking in a parade that's so wholesome and honestly so lovely.

Hello and welcome to the Politics Girl podcast. I'm your host Lee McGowan. Let's get into it. Today we're continuing our series leading up to the midterms called Candidate Conversations where we chat with candidates from across the country who might not be getting as much press but whose races are deeply important.

Today's podcast will be split into individual conversations with two amazing Democratic congressional candidates both from their state's third district.

Brad Paff from Wisconsin's third and Marie Gluzenkamp Perez from Washington's third. These are two of the closest races in the country and both candidates are running against pro Trump pro insurrection mega super fans who promote the big lie and are vehemently anti abortion.

Both candidates are Democrats with deep ties to the community rural backgrounds and our believers in women's rights. Brad Paff grew up and worked on his family's dairy farm in Wisconsin.

He knows the land. He knows the people and he knows what his district needs. Paff was a staffer for Democrat Ron kind the outgoing congressman for 12 of his 24 years in Congress.

He spent eight years at the Department of Agriculture under Obama and served as a secretary of agriculture for the Democratic governor Tony Evers. He is currently the incredibly popular state senator for Wisconsin's 32nd district, the husband of a girl he met at 4-H and the father of two college age daughters.

He is literally perfect for his district except for the fact that he is running against a Trump loving gun toting sexual assault bragging mega super troll who is one of the six congressional candidates who was at the Capitol on 1-6 and whom Trump just loves.

It's believed that Brad's race will be the key indicator of which party controls the house after the midterms.

Do people care about local issues a representative that knows them and will fight for them or do they care more about a Trump endorsed culture war issue warrior?

So without further ado, please welcome my first guest state senator for Wisconsin's 32nd district and congressional candidate for Wisconsin's third Brad Paff. Welcome Brad.

Well, thank you, Lee, for having me. I was just overhearing your beautiful fall weather. I'm so jealous. You know, we live in Los Angeles, but I'm originally from Toronto and I miss the fall more than anything.

This is a beautiful time of the year right now in the upper Midwest. The problem is we know what's coming here in the next couple of months.

Well, I'm also from Toronto and went to my undergrad in Montreal. So I feel you on that. I remember walking outside and having my nose hairs freeze and I was like, you know, it's just so cold.

I hear you. That's exactly right. But now it's wonderful right now. The trees are just starting to turn color. You remember that the trees are starting to turn on the best.

The apples are all over the tree. It's just amazing to see that. I know. Isn't it? There's just something absolutely. So, you know, when people say it's American as apple pie, like they really that is legitimately Americana going out being an apple festival, drinking some cider.

I love you walking in a parade. That's so wholesome and honestly so lovely.

I've seen you. I've seen you, Brad. You out there opening restaurants. You're out there at community library gardens. I mean, you really love your district. And I really appreciate that about you.

Well, thank you.

You're a genuine public servant. I love this district. Well, thank you for joining me. I mean, Wisconsin is a key battleground state. Republican Senator Ron Johnson is being challenged by Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes.

Democratic Governor Tony Evers is running against the Republican Tim Michaels. And in your district, which went for Trump by five points in 2020.

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