Wisconsin Gov. Signs Redrawn Political Maps Into Law.

February 20, 2024 Glen Turpening

Wisconsin took a bite out of gerrymandering with new maps deemed much fairer to both sides. (ABCnews.go.com)

Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed new legislative district maps into law on Monday that he proposed and that the Republicans who control the Legislature passed to avoid having the liberal-controlled state Supreme Court draw the lines. Democrats hailed the signing as a major political victory in the swing state where the Legislature has been firmly under Republican control for more than a decade, even as Democrats have won 14 of the past 17 statewide elections. “When I promised I wanted fair maps — not maps that are better for one party or another, including my own — I damn well meant it,” Evers said prior to signing the maps into law at the state Capitol. "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.

ABCNews.Go.Com, BySCOTT BAUER Associated Press

Gerrymandering is an extraordinarily useful tool to skirt the meaning of democracy while still claiming to be democratic in nature if not in practice. Many states have political maps so twisted and bizarre that they almost make a mockery of a political system that ostensibly provides a 1 person 1 vote opportunity to enact change. Hopefully Wisconsin will cause momentum to build that enables votes to matter again and ensures political legitimacy that is crucial in a democracy.