Imagine someone claiming that a man named Scott Walker is a strong advocate for abortion rights, eager to enhance health care access, and a fervent supporter of labor unions.
You’d likely raise an eyebrow.
But don’t worry, you’re not the only one feeling a bit bewildered.
This Scott Walker isn’t the infamous former governor of Wisconsin who famously clashed with public unions and became a lightning rod for political divide. Instead, we’re talking about Scott Abbot Walker—a Democratic physician vying for a position in Wisconsin’s state Legislature.
Introducing the Other Scott Walker
“People can be quite resistant when I mention my name,” Walker recounted, sharing his experiences with potential voters. “Sometimes, they’ll start shutting the door before I even finish introducing myself.”
Walker is taking on Republican Travis Tranel, who has held the seat in the 49th Assembly District—a dominantly red, rural area in southwestern Wisconsin—for a remarkable 14 years.
The biggest town in that district is Platteville, which is home to a small state university and has a population of around 11,000.
As a political underdog in a Trump-leaning district, Walker has plenty of challenges ahead.
Even with the confusion surrounding his name, he’s embracing the situation fully, sporting a button that boldly proclaims him as “the other Scott Walker.”
While he and his campaign briefly entertained the idea of going with names like “Dr. Scott” or “Dr. Walker,” they ultimately concluded that his name would speak volumes on its own. “It’s definitely the elephant in the room,” Walker stated. “However, when I go door-to-door, it actually works in my favor—I never have to repeat my name!”
Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP
On the other hand, Tranel is positioning his campaign on issues like inflation while labeling Walker’s viewpoints as “socialist” and dredging up Walker’s past legal issues, such as a 2018 incident leading to a $700 fine after he pointed a shotgun during a dispute over a payment.
Walker clarified during an interview with The Associated Press that he was experiencing severe personal challenges at that time, including bankruptcy and depression. He maintains that he only aimed the gun at her car tire, never intending harm toward the individual.
The differences between the two Scott Walkers—politically and visually—are striking.
Scott Kevin Walker, the former governor, is a 56-year-old conservative with dark hair, who dropped out of college and now serves as the president of Young America’s Foundation, advocating conservative ideologies to the youth.
He first gained notoriety in 2011 when he outlawed collective bargaining rights for public unions, which ignited widespread protests at the state Capitol and a failed recall attempt.
www.theotherscottwalker.com
After losing his reelection to Democrat Tony Evers in 2018, he decided to step away from state politics.
Meanwhile, Scott Abbot Walker is 66 years old, has silver-white hair, holds a medical degree from Case Western Reserve University, and operates a clinic for the underinsured within his district.
The reactions from potential voters have ranged from humor to bewilderment. Denny Fuseth, a 71-year-old Democrat from Lancaster, lightheartedly suggested that Walker should consider changing his name. “Maybe go for ‘Scotty’ or something,” he joked.
Ron Johnsen, 64, was also unsure of who the Scott Walker was that was knocking on his door. A retired maintenance worker from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, he recounted how he lost his union rights under the previous governor’s administration and had signed the recall petition against him. “I looked at him and thought, he doesn’t look like the [Scott Walker] I remember,” Johnsen remarked.
As Walker gears up for the election in November, he faces significant challenges in a district that leans heavily conservative.
Yet, if nothing else, his name guarantees that voters won’t easily forget him.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press