AG hopefuls bring night-and-day perspectives

Prosecutors Happ, Schimel have eyes on the attorney general's office

MADISON, Wis. — Susan Happ and Brad Schimel are both prosecutors with their eyes on the attorney general’s office. But they couldn’t be further apart in their philosophies.

Happ, who emerged from a three-way Democratic primary on Tuesday, has spent the last six years putting bad guys behind bars as Jefferson County district attorney. She has said she wouldn’t defend GOP-authored laws banning gay marriage, requiring abortion providers have hospital admitting privileges and voters show photo identification.

Schimel, a Republican, has spent eight years as Waukesha County’s district attorney. He has said he would defend all three laws.

Political observers said voters should expect a rough-and-tumble campaign ahead of the Nov. 4 election.