In Wisconsin‘s second congressional district, Rep. Tammy Baldwin, the incumbent Democrat, is running for her sixth term against Republican challenger Peter Theron, a software designer and former professor of mathematics at the University of Wisconsin. After a thorough review of the candidate’s positions and records, we endorse Baldwin‘s re-election.

Baldwin has always enjoyed a well-deserved following from the student base in Madison, largely due to her consistent support for increased federal assistance for education, particularly higher education. When her party was the minority in Congress, Baldwin did not hesitate to criticize unjust cuts in funding for college loans and scholarships by the Bush administration. When the Democrats regained control of the House in 2007, the congresswoman supported legislation that provided the highest escalation in federal college aid since the passage of the G.I. Bill after World War II.

Theron, whose own campaign website does not even include a discussion of education, subscribes to the puzzling logic that decreasing federal financial aid programs might somehow lower costs for college students, when, if anything, the skyrocketing cost of college over the last decade and the government’s corresponding lackadaisical response shows the opposite.

On the economy, which is rightfully on the minds of most voters, the record is not quite as lopsided. Theron rightfully criticizes Baldwin and other members of Congress who ignored the fiscal implications of having two federally guaranteed mortgage lenders, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, control roughly half of the country’s mortgages. As Baldwin admits, economic policy is not her specialty, which is unfortunate given the dire consequences of the subprime mortgage crisis that may very well present a long-term economic recession.

However, Baldwin showed proper judgment in supporting the recent federal bailouts of many of the banks and other firms at risk because of the credit crisis. Although the economy has certainly not rebounded to levels worthy of optimism, and may not for some time, Baldwin understands that our government can and should work to prevent an economic collapse reminiscent of the Great Depression.

Both candidates present a mixed bag on the issues of energy and the environment. Although the benefits of offshore drilling are exaggerated by its proponents, we are skeptical enough of progress in the renewable energy fields to support a comprehensive energy policy including drilling provisions, which Baldwin and congressional Democrats have opposed.

Nevertheless, Theron’s views on the environment are alarming. His claim that the theory of man-made climate change is simply the product of scientists hungry for grant money is an appallingly irresponsible substitute of conspiracy theory for scientific fact. We are confident Theron’s radical views on the subject would similarly guide him to fight against more aggressive attempts to turn America on to alternative energy, which Baldwin has championed during her time in Congress by, among other things, pressuring utility companies to provide more energy-efficient appliances.

On foreign policy, we do not share Baldwin’s enthusiasm for immediate withdrawal from Iraq, but we recognize and appreciate her aversion to the military adventurism that has come to define the Bush presidency. Theron seems intent on continuing support for hawkish foreign policy and is utterly disinterested in diplomatic engagement with countries like Syria and Iran.

Finally, on the moral issues of our generation, Baldwin is clearly superior. Theron opposes domestic partnership benefits for federal employees. Furthermore, Theron not only opposes abortion rights but also opposes any form of embryonic stem cell research. Baldwin, the first open lesbian elected to Congress, has been a champion of gay rights throughout her career and supports aggressive federal funding for stem cell research.

No political candidate is perfect, and it is important that voters in this overwhelmingly liberal district do not give incumbent Democrats a free ride to perpetual office. However, after examining what Tammy Baldwin has accomplished in the past and listening to what she hopes to accomplish in the future, we are convinced she is worthy of re-election.