On Wisconsin...
A heroic battle has restored democracy along Lake Michigan's western shore
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers today signed into law new legislative maps. These maps will likely result in continued Republican state legislative majorities, but the maps are an enormous improvement from the radically gerrymandered ones that, for more than a decade, have undermined the ability of voters to hold their leaders accountable. They are fair maps.
We need to take a moment to celebrate.
We need to take a moment to thank the tireless advocates for democracy and freedom that so long and so hard to liberate that state. Among the many who never gave up are: Governor Evers. Tammy Baldwin. Mandela Barnes. Sara Godlewski. Greta Neubauer. Dianne Hesselbein. Ben Wikler. You are heroes.
This is an enormous win, not just for Wisconsin but for democracy. In state after state, where a minority holds power without accountability, we have seen them seek to maintain their control through increasingly corrupt means- giving favors to supporters and punishing challengers. In Wisconsin, Governor Evers has used his veto power to limit these efforts. The people of Ohio are not so fortunate. Taxpayers and utility rate payers in that state have been forced to pay billions to support a corrupt power structure. Maybe the win in Wisconsin will light the fire that liberates that state, too.
