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The GOP’s Gerrymandered Grip on Wisconsin Elections Is About to Break

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The GOP’s Gerrymandered Grip on Wisconsin Elections Is About to Break


For more than a decade, Republicans had Wisconsin carved up into one of the worst partisan gerrymanders in the country—practically ensuring GOP control over the state legislature, despite losing 14 of the last 17 statewide elections. No longer. On Monday, Democratic Governor Tony Evers approved new district maps for the upcoming November election in what supporters hailed as “progress towards true democracy” in the key swing state. “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,” Evers said in a statement. “The people should get to choose their elected officials, not the other way around.”

“The long, dark night of ultra-partisan gerrymandering is over,” added Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler. “A new day for democracy now dawns in the Badger State.”

The move by Evers comes after the state Supreme Court declared the current, GOP-friendly map unconstitutional. Its newest justice, Janet Protasiewicz, cast the deciding vote in that decision; the liberal won election to the open seat last spring in what was widely seen as a referendum on issues of democracy and abortion rights. “The mainstream Wisconsinite wants to have a right to choose,” as Protasiewicz told me ahead of that election, “and wants to have fair maps.” Voters affirmed that in the election last April. “This election changes everything,” Wikler told me afterward.

A day after Protasiewicz joined the court, democracy advocates filed a lawsuit challenging the Republican-drawn maps; the 4-3 liberal majority overturned the gerrymander in December, allowing Evers to redraw the maps. Though Republicans still control the legislature, they approved the Evers map last week, weeks before a March deadline. “It pains me to say it, but Gov. Evers gets a huge win today,” Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said. “The legislature will be up for grabs.”

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That holds a great deal of significance for Wisconsin, where Republicans have been “laying siege to democracy itself” since 2011, as Wikler put it Monday. But it could also resonate beyond Wisconsin, which will host the 2024 Republican National Convention this July. The state was crucial Joe Biden’s 2020 victory—and a focus of Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn his loss, which the Republican legislature supported with an absurd partisan “audit” into the results that dragged on well into 2022. The new maps, then, are a “victory, not for me or any political party, but for our state and for the people,” Evers said Monday. “It is a new day in Wisconsin.”





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President Trump endorses Tom Tiffany for Wisconsin governor

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President Trump endorses Tom Tiffany for Wisconsin governor


President Donald Trump has endorsed U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, in his bid to be the next governor of Wisconsin.

Trump announced the endorsement Tuesday night, writing on his social media platform Truth Social that Tiffany had his “Complete and Total Endorsement.”

“He will fight to advance Common Sense Values, and put WISCONSIN, AND AMERICA, FIRST,” Trump wrote.

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The endorsement puts to bed the questions of whether — and when — Trump would weigh in on the GOP primary for governor.

Tiffany, who has represented northern Wisconsin’s 7th District in Congress since 2020, was considered an early favorite to clinch the Republican nomination against Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann, but recent fundraising numbers suggested Schoemann could put up a fight.

The backing from Trump has proven critical in Republican primaries across the country, and it’s almost certain to give Tiffany a boost. Four years ago, Trump’s endorsement helped propel businessman Tim Michels over former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch in the 2022 GOP primary for governor.

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But whether the president’s nod is a help or a hindrance in the general election is an open question, especially in a cycle that polling suggests could favor Democrats. Four years ago, Michels lost to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in the general election. And almost immediately after Trump’s endorsement Tuesday, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin looked to seize on the president’s support of Tiffany as a condemnation.

“We agree with Donald Trump—Tom Tiffany has been by his side for all of it: ICE murdering Americans in the streets, the Big Ugly Bill, ending funding for the Affordable Care Act, invading Greenland, and raising every day costs,” read a statement from state Democratic Party Chair Devin Remiker. “Donald Trump just made Tom Tiffany the general election nominee, and we will stop him from bringing his chaotic and dangerous agenda in November.”

At least seven candidates are running in the Democratic primary for governor, where many of them have made attacking Trump central to their campaigns. The winner of the general election will replace Evers, who is not seeking a third term.

Trump’s announcement came as part of a slate of endorsements posted to his Truth Social platform late Tuesday evening. He also endorsed Michael Alfonso, who is running for Tiffany’s soon-to-be-vacant seat in Congress.

Alfonso is the 25-year-old son-in-law of U.S. Treasury Secretary Sean Duffy, who represented the 7th District before Tiffany. He’s one of four Republicans running to replace Tiffany.

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Trump called Alfonso “a young ‘STAR’.”

In a post on X, Alfonso wrote that it is his “greatest honor to accept this endorsement from President Donald J. Trump,” and pledged “to be a steadfast MAGA warrior.”



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Polaris to lay off 200 Wisconsin workers, close facility in Osceola

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Polaris to lay off 200 Wisconsin workers, close facility in Osceola



The move comes after Polaris announced it was separating from Indian Motorcycle.

Powersports company Polaris has announced it plans to wind down the operations at its facility in Osceola which specializes in manufacturing Indian Motorcycle.

The move impacts roughly 200 Wisconsin workers at the facility.

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On Jan. 27, during a fourth quarter and full year earnings call for 2025, Polaris said the company expects to sell Indian Motorcycle by the end of the first quarter of 2026 to Carolwood, a private equity firm based in Los Angeles. However the company plans to maintain some stake in the company.

Polaris officials said called the sale of Indian Motorcycle was a “difficult decision” and added it was a “move that we believe is best for Polaris and Indian Motorcycle.”

In a post on X, Wisconsin Democrat Sen. Tammy Baldwin said:

“We have seen this story in Wisconsin too many times – a private equity firm buys a company, hollows it out, & fires its workers, all to pad their profits. It’s simply wrong.”



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Prison ordered in western Wisconsin child porn case

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Prison ordered in western Wisconsin child porn case





















Prison ordered in western Wisconsin child porn case | News | wqow.com

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