Republicans in Wisconsin, a heavily gerrymandered State, agreed to legislative maps drawn by Governor Tony Evers (D-WI) over the weekend:
Wisconsin Republicans lost their more than decade-long grip on control of the state Legislature Monday after Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed into law new electoral maps that reshape down-ballot races in this battleground state.
Evers signed a bill put forward by GOP lawmakers last week implementing new legislative maps the Democratic governor drew himself that dramatically weaken the advantages Republicans have enjoyed each election cycle since 2011. [milwaukee journal sentinel]
So what’s going on? Here’s the official Republican pronouncement, same link:
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said Republicans chose to pass Evers’ maps because they were “the most Republican-leaning maps out of all the Democrat-gerrymandered maps” being considered by the court.
“We sent him those maps, not because they are fair, but because the people of Wisconsin deserve certainty in state government,” Vos said in a statement. “This fall Republicans will prove that we can win on any maps because we have the better policy ideas for the State of Wisconsin.”
Yeah, maybe. In part, sure.
But here’s what he won’t say: The Wisconsin Republicans have been an unattractive crew for at least a decade. Most recently, their behavior concerning the 2020 Election was loud, shameful, and quite ridiculous. In fact, they reminded the independents that they’ve become the Party of fourth-raters.
And now it’s time to comb their hair and tie their ties. They’ve realized that they need to win votes, once again, and the way to do that does not include a ludicrously futile stop at a Wisconsin Supreme Court that will, without a doubt, rule against them. They’ve spent a lot of time being ludicrous and futile, and they realize it has to stop.
Can they get that train to stop? I don’t know. The conservatives have been mostly chased out of the Party at this point, so the lunatics with big mouths and arrogant beliefs don’t have much to keep them away from microphones. But Vos, as House Speaker, will give it a shot.
I expect that the Wisconsin Legislator will be sporting a new look next year, this time, and a few anti-abortionists who think they’re in safe districts right now won’t be in office next year.
