Share this @internewscast.com

Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers on Monday signed into law new maps that will shift the balance of power in a state Legislature that has been dominated by Republicans for more than a decade.

The new maps followed a change in the balance of the state Supreme Court from a 4-3 conservative majority to a 4-3 liberal edge after Janet Protasiewicz won a seat last year following the retirement of a conservative-leaning justice. In December, the court ruled that the state’s existing maps, which experts have described as some of the most gerrymandered in the country, were unconstitutional, ordering new lines to be drawn ahead of the 2024 elections.

The existing map heavily favored Republicans — who controlled 64 of 99 seats in the state Assembly and 22 of 33 in the state Senate — in a battleground state that that has seen razor-thin margins of victory in recent U.S. Senate and presidential races. According to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analysis, the new maps have a roughly even split of Democratic and Republican-leaning state Assembly districts, which will all but guarantee a wave of Democratic gains this fall.

“When I promised I wanted fair maps — not maps that are better for one party or another — I damn well meant it,” Evers said 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.”

In a statement, state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a Republican, said the maps Evers signed were “the most Republican-leaning maps out of all the Democrat-gerrymandered maps” the state’s high court is considering.

“We sent him those maps, not because they are fair, but because the people of Wisconsin deserve certainty in state government,” Vos said. “This fall Republicans will prove that we can win on any maps because we have the better policy ideas for the State of Wisconsin.”

Ben Wikler, chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, described the new legislative maps as “a sea change.”

“The end of Wisconsin’s gerrymandering era will unleash a new wave of energy from candidates, volunteers, and voters that could affect not just the state legislature, but the U.S. House, the Senate, and the presidential race,” he said.

With the new maps in place, Democratic groups are already gearing up to flip seats this fall.

“Wisconsin is a top priority for the DLCC in 2024, and we’re already hard at work building the campaigns that will fuel our legislative gains this fall,” Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee president Heather Williams said in a statement. “The time for fair representation in Wisconsin is long overdue, and we are building winning campaigns and sustainable infrastructure to build power this cycle and ultimately take back both majorities.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Oklahoma troopers, ICE detain 120 illegal immigrants in three-day interstate enforcement sweep

Oklahoma Troopers and ICE Apprehend 120 Undocumented Immigrants in Three-Day Operation

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in conjunction with the Oklahoma Highway…
Trial underway over Angels' alleged role in baseball pitcher Tyler Skaggs' overdose death

Trial Begins Over Angels’ Supposed Involvement in Pitcher Tyler Skaggs’ Overdose Death

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — Proceedings commenced on Monday for a wrongful-death…
Blizzard traps hundreds on Mount Everest as rescue teams race to save lives

Severe Blizzard Strands Hundreds on Mount Everest: Urgent Rescue Operations Underway

Fox News senior correspondent Mike Tobin has detailed his preparation and the…
Zelda Williams urges stop to AI videos of Robin Williams

Zelda Williams Calls for an End to AI-Generated Videos of Robin Williams

“Stop believing I wanna see it or that I’ll understand, I don’t…
‘Act of violence’: New Jersey Rabbi injured in suspected hate crime before Jewish holiday

‘Violent Assault’: New Jersey Rabbi Injured in Suspected Hate Crime Prior to Jewish Holiday

A rabbi has been assaulted outside his home in New Jersey just…
Dallas train shooting leaves 1 dead, second homicide on DART transit system in a week

Second Fatal Shooting on DART Train in a Week: One Person Killed in Dallas

One individual is deceased following a shooting incident on a Dallas Area…
Mexican authorities say they arrested Nelson Arturo 'N,' an alleged local leader of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang

Mexican authorities report the arrest of Nelson Arturo ‘N’, an individual believed to lead the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang locally.

MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s Security Ministry said Saturday that it arrested an…
Gov. JB Pritzker to address Trump's effort to deploy National Guard to Illinois as Pentagon authorizes Chicago mission

Governor JB Pritzker to Discuss Trump’s Plan to Deploy National Guard to Illinois Amid Pentagon’s Approval of Chicago Mission

CHICAGO (WLS) — On Monday, Illinois and Chicago initiated legal action to…
Blue city records 22 shootings and four murders over the weekend amid feud with feds

City Experiences Surge in Violence with 22 Shootings and Four Murders Over the Weekend During Federal Dispute

Preliminary crime statistics from this past weekend show 22 shootings in Chicago…
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyers want him sent to a New Jersey federal prison that offers drug treatment

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Legal Team Advocates for New Jersey Federal Prison with Drug Rehab Programs

NEW YORK (AP) — Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs are advocating for…
St. Johns County operations net 36 arrests

Law enforcement operations in St. Johns County result in 36 arrests

The St. Johns County Sheriff Office arrested 36 after operations targeting crimes…
Nashville skydiving instructor dead after falling without parachute

Nashville Skydiving Tragedy: Instructor Dies After Fatal Fall Without Parachute

A Tennessee skydiving instructor died after a tandem jump went wrong over…