The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 11, 2024
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
If you follow the American Democracy Minute you know that until last year Wisconsin held the infamous title as one of the most gerrymandered states in the U.S. That changed November 5th.
Former Governor Scott Walker accelerated gerrymandering of the Wisconsin Assembly, Senate and Congressional maps during his 2011 to 2019 tenure, engineering a 64 to 35 majority in the Wisconsin Assembly, and a 22 to 11 majority in the Senate, despite an evenly divided liberal and conservative electorate.
In 2023, the GOP was short of a supermajority by only two Assembly seats. Vetoes by current governor Tony Evers tried to keep even worse maps at bay, but a conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court ultimately allowed them. But a Supreme Court election in 2023 shifted the ideology of the court, and the court’s reconsideration of the Assembly and Senate maps led to new, fairer maps for the 2024 general election.
While Republicans maintain control of both houses, fair maps reduced the artificial Republican advantage in the Assembly to 54 to 45, and the Senate 18 to 15. Veto overrides of the Governor are far less likely, forcing the legislature to compromise on more legislation. The Congressional district map, which did NOT change but is also widely recognized as gerrymandered, gave a 6-2 advantage to Republicans.
We have links to local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – (2022) Wisconsin Republicans do not secure a supermajority
Wisconsin Examiner – (2023) Special election moves Republicans closer to Assembly supermajority
American Democracy Minute – (2023) With Court Cases and Elections Looming, the Wisconsin Assembly Scrambles to Protect its Gerrymandered Voting Districts
American Democracy Minute – Wisconsin Supreme Court Puts State Legislature’s Maps on Naughty List, Orders Legislature to Draw Constitutional Voting Districts
Wisconsin Public Radio – Republicans retain majority in Wisconsin Assembly
Wisconsin Watch – Democrats flip 14 legislative seats, affirming GOP gerrymander is dead
WBAY – Republicans retain Wisconsin Senate control but lose supermajority
Groups Taking Action:
Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition, Law Forward, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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