The Shape Of Things: WI-07
The district: Wisconsin's 7th District is the state's largest, covering 20 counties. No district went untouched by map manipulators in 2011 as they cracked and packed voters throughout the state, and WI-07 was no different.
The Hill explained at the time that the WI-07 incumbent was one of the ten congressmen most likely to benefit from gerrymandering after Democratic areas in the southern part of his district were swapped out for more Republican ones in 2011.
What is the history of this district? This was a reliable Democratic district for decades until Sean Duffy unseated Rep. Dave Obey in the 2010 Tea Party wave. Under the pre-2011 maps, the district may have remained competitive, but instead, the state's congressional and state legislative maps were gerrymandered. In fact, the state's legislative map became the focus of litigation in the
Gill v. Whitford partisan gerrymandering case that worked its way up all the way to the Supreme Court. So it's no surprise that the same politicians who drew the maps at the center of
Gill are also responsible for the maps that have kept WI-07 safe for a decade.
Our Shape of Things series raises awareness about the barriers to political representation in local communities and provides an opportunity to support our fight for their representation. Will you consider adopting WI-07 with a recurring donation of any amount? Our monthly donors support our work in all of our target states and receive fewer fundraising emails.
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Who represents it? Nobody right now, but a special election to fill the seat following Rep. Duffy's sudden resignation is scheduled for May 12th. The primary election for the Republican nominee was a sad case study in how map manipulation has shaped our politics, as the fight to represent WI-07 may have ended with the Republican primary election. Over $2 million was spent by special interest groups to try and bend the ideology of the next representative to their will. In fact, a former Executive Director of the Wisconsin GOP even said the quiet part out loud when he said, "Whoever wins the primary is there for life, so if you want somebody that takes your side of the issue, this is the time."
What's next? Advocates for fairness in the Badger State have notched some huge victories in recent years. One such victory: Governor Evers established the People's Maps Commission, a nonpartisan body that will give voters a strong voice in the process to achieve fair maps. Governor Evers couldn't represent a clearer contrast from Governor Scott Walker who signed Wisconsin's 2011 gerrymanders into law and now leads the National Republican Redistricting Trust. The People's Maps Commission is a great first step, but the legislature still holds tremendous power to redistrict and it will be up to citizens to show that there will be consequences if politicians manipulate the maps again.
Wisconsin is one of All On The Line's target states, but we're working against power-hungry incumbents, a disappointing Supreme Court decision, and well-funded special interests. In order to restore fairness in districts like WI-07, it is critical that we fund these plans with sustained donations. Can you help our efforts by adopting WI-07 with a recurring contribution?
Thanks for reading,
Team AOTL
All On The Line is the grassroots advocacy campaign supported by the National Redistricting Action Fund. Support our work to end gerrymandering.
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