Democracy Wins in Wisconsin

Democratic Governor Tony Evers signed into law new Wisconsin electoral maps which experts say will rebalance representative power in the purple state after more than a decade of extreme Republican gerrymandering.

“Wisconsin, when I promised I wanted fair maps—not maps that are better for one party or another—I damn well meant it,” said Evers in a statement. “Wisconsin is not a red state or a blue state—we’re a purple state, and I believe our maps should reflect that basic fact. The people should get to choose their elected officials, not the other way around. And under the maps I’m signing today, I am making good on that promise.”

Evers’ description of Wisconsin as a purple state has been reaffirmed by years of polling data, surveys, and voting habits. Effectively, for every Wisconsin resident who identifies as Republican, you can find at least one Democrat. 

Wisconsin’s two United States Senators are divided by party and the state went for Obama in 2012, Trump in 2016, and President Biden in 2020. 

Despite these facts—as well as the fact that Democrats have outperformed Republicans in recent elections—the GOP has enjoyed a tremendous advantage in the legislature, controlling 64 out of 99 seats in the state assembly and 22 of 33 in the state senate. 

The election of liberal justice Janet Protasiewicz in April 2023 changed the balance of the state supreme court, enabling a successful challenge to the Republicans’ heavily gerrymandered maps. 

The GOP contemplated impeaching Protasiewicz before ultimately conceding to the conclusion held by conservative ethicists and judicial experts that such a move would be baseless and unconstitutional.

Evers’ new maps were ultimately accepted by the reluctant state Republicans. Experts say the result is a roughly even split between the two parties: 46 leaning Republican, 45 leaning Democrat, and 8 which are toss up.