Yes I saw that Wikler error and logged on to say it, but as long as I’m here, thanks for reporting the great Wisconsin election results! Wrote postcards for Judge Janet last year and just finished writing 300 quick, easy WI voter registration postcards. Moving on next to write for Nebraska. Check out BlueWavePostcards.org for short, sweet messages, stick-on address labels, and you can even order forever postcard stamps with your postcards.
Thanks Louise, after reading your pitch and seeing your link to BlueWavePostcards.org, I signed up to postcard for the competitive Nebraska presidential-electoral and House district! Also noting that the NE Senate seat currently held by a very unpopular Deb Fischer is up this year and that she is the weakest R incumbent now running, being challenged by Dan Osborn, a well respected Independent with a fighting chance.
Norm - hats off to you. Thank you for supporting our Nebraska campaign. We are hoping that we secure the blue dot and rolling the dice to get Osborn in. We hope you like our cards they are super easy to do. Thank you for your activism and we hope you join us for Georgia!
Louise!! Thank you for writing for Blue Wave!! I think I packed your cards!! 300 - again thank you for your activism!! And for joining the Nebraska campaign. We are hoping a little push will have a big result! We are about to sell out our Nebraska campaign today. Next up is a 500,000 card campaign for Georgia!! I’ll post a link here later when we launch - should be in a few hours. We have AZ OH and we hope NC on deck as well.
When will you actually be shipping Georgia postcards? Would like to but can’t order now because I have to decide the best address to ship them to based on your answer!
(also Judge P's name ends in cz, not tz.) I'm in Michigan and changing the maps changed everything, even though we weren't as badly gerrymandered as Wisconsin.
Yes, absolutely: the defeat of the two referenda showed in harsh relief how much difference clear messaging can make.
Prior amendments, like these, were confusingly (and obscurely) worded - opaque to any but the most politically savvy.
This time we had a number of organizations putting plain-language explanations out in wide distribution, allowing voters to see what the texts really meant. And even the reddest of red-hat partisans could see that the last thing they need in a disaster situation would be the obstructionists in the Legislature slowing down the Governor's response just to score political points.
As a Wisconsin Poll Observer I witnessed a number of voters who simply didn't understand the deliberately confusing wording of the referenda. I'm grateful for the simple explanations publicized by local organizations.
This is such an excellent point Margaret! I would love to see Congress pass some type of legislation that requires clear, concise language on these ballot measures. I am an educator and have to reread some of them quite a few times to understand exactly what the proposition would mean for us “normal” Americans!
I did read about that. The issue in WI has never really been about defeating bad statewide measures or electing good people statewide, though sometimes you get a Ron Johnson or a Scott Walker. The issue was with gerrymandering, so I tried to keep today’s piece focused on what the effects of redrawn district lines could mean for the state. But I agree, those measures were important ones.
@Jay Kuo: good point, but we won't really know if the "de-gerrymandering" was successful until the November election. All we know is that certain extremists were defeated by marginally more moderate Republicans.
D Earl Stephens, writing in his Substack newsletter, has a detailed account of the voting patterns in yesterday's WI vote, and that Dane County, anchored by the city of Madison, is primed to give the Harris-Walz ticket an insane margin of victory, enough in itself to seal the deal for the Dems state-wide...check it out here:
You give me hope for Ohio. We put an anti gerrymandering amendment on the ballot for this November. I think it will pass and we will strip away the illegal supermajority that Magas have enjoyed for far too long. They ignored seven orders from our Ohio Supreme Court to fix it. SEVEN times!
Working on getting those folks re-enrolled. There is a phone bank for that if you are interested in helping. I don't have the link handy, but I'm sure you can google it. They have sessions set up through the end of this month.
I’m writing postcards in conjunction with field team6. The postcards have QR codes printed on them that will take them right to their voter registration or if they need to register. I’ve included a link as well.
Isn't Columbus a fast-growing city with younger people arriving for jobs? I see hope for democracy not too far down the road in Ohio. Watching the anti-gerrmandering battle from Michigan, it was frustrating to see the legislature ignore one court order after another. This fall's proposal to take the process away from the legislature should do the trick.
Same here! I'm eager to see how the MAGA Secy of State mangles the amendment ballot language, so we can begin our education campaign for real. And, please, let's vote in the Democratic OSC Justices who will help us defend and strengthen the voice of the electorate.
Lynn, I'm with you. Ohio is next. We have a lot of work to do, but I am certain the anti-gerrymandering amendment will pass. If we also get the Supreme Court seats I think we will be on our way to flipping the Governor and a lot of legislative seats Blue in the 2026 mid-terms.
When I was living in Chicago, Wisconsin was always the hip northern neighbor. Years later, after I moved to CA, I looked up and saw Scott Walker win an election, and I freaked out a little. But instead of saying, "What's the matter with Wisconsin (instead of Kansas, like the book)?" I really believed they'd bounce back. And they would have sooner if the Republicans hadn't seized control and gerrymandered the snot out of the place.
Now we just need to vote in some state legislators that will restore funding to our state university system. Years of republican control of the state have taken a severe toll on what used to be a venerated institution. They hate higher education, and make it very clear they want to see the UW System reduced to a handful of what amount to tech schools.
I don't know a lot about Wisconsin politics these days, but from what little I do know, the Democrats there could write a manual on how to get out from under the insidiousness of Republican hate politics. And then maybe send free copies to Florida Dems.
That should be co-written by Michigan Democrats. The Blue Wall is being rebuilt before our eyes. Ohio needs more doing. Pennsylvania is teetering. But Kamalenthusiasm is rampant….so we’ll see “How blue can you get”, with a nod to the late, great B.B. King!
We are on our way, now that we have a (slim) majority on the state supreme court, which allowed for the implementation of new state districting maps. We showed up in huge numbers to elect the new justice Janet Protasiewicz. The gerrymandering here was among the worst the country, and now we score an "A". That's at the state level. Next up, new US congressional district maps. There is a whole lot of hope here, but it's going to take time and effort.
Ignorant people vote Republican. They intend to destroy public schools completely. By the way, the Project 2025 includes drafting kids in public schools but not those in private schools.
One of the interesting things that stands out to me is how much one individual, in this case Ben Wikler (thanks, Jeanny), can make an extraordinary difference. His plan changed the court, then the district lines, then the legislators, and likely the US President. Talk about leadership - WOW!
I don’t know how many other counties in Wisconsin do this, but the Eau Claire County Democratic Party has maintained a year-round office and resource center for quite a number of years. Having that physical presence is a strong reminder that we’re here and active and it strengthens the county party by regularly having volunteers available to answer questions, get information, and organize. It’s also a place to gather and connect. It has been a tremendous asset.
that's very interesting, Jeanny - I live in Florida now (formerly a New Yorker), and I don't know if we have one in Broward County - but I will definitely find out, and encourage one if we don't. The latest polls here are showing that, with Kamala, we may actually become a swing state! :)
Apologies for that! I’ve worked with Ben and had it originally as Wixler, which was wrong. The internet asked me if I meant “Ben Wexler” and I should have questioned that rather than gone with it!
First, and most importantly, congrats on your soon-to-be baby!! I hope you enjoy every tiring and exciting minute to come this week/weekend. Second, it is thrilling to witness the Democrats finally figuring out how to work the long game in politics. Wisconsin is a role model, as well as my home state Michigan. The last brick to be placed in the BLUE wall was a phenomenal turnout. You go, Badgers! We are proud of you, and we are right behind you in November. VOTE BLUE FULL BALLOT
Who can make this happen in NC? We are very similarly gerrymandered into Democrat insignificance statewide, despite an near 50-50 split in Congressional representation when non-partisan maps were used 2 years ago. The legislature (thanks to the Supreme Court) has replaced those maps for the coming election and we will again be represented against our will, so to speak.
Anderson Clayton’s plan is for us to focus first on our State Supreme Court and Court of Appeals! We must elect Justice Allison Riggs, Judge Carolyn Thompson, Martin Moore, and Ed Eldred.
As always, Jay, THANK YOU for keeping us so carefully informed.
Congratulations on the soon-to-be birth of your daughter! I am hoping you will share photos of her soon! You are going to be GREAT parents, and you are doing everything you can to make this a better world for her and for ALL of our children. You and all the Ben Wiklers of the nation! Would that we all would do the same!
This shows the excitement that was missing in democratic voters, and I bodes well for the November General Election. Everyone is doing what they can to defeat maga, and it's working.
In my haste to get this out, I spelled Ben’s name wrong. It’s of course Ben Wikler, not Wekler! Doh!
Yes I saw that Wikler error and logged on to say it, but as long as I’m here, thanks for reporting the great Wisconsin election results! Wrote postcards for Judge Janet last year and just finished writing 300 quick, easy WI voter registration postcards. Moving on next to write for Nebraska. Check out BlueWavePostcards.org for short, sweet messages, stick-on address labels, and you can even order forever postcard stamps with your postcards.
Thanks Louise, after reading your pitch and seeing your link to BlueWavePostcards.org, I signed up to postcard for the competitive Nebraska presidential-electoral and House district! Also noting that the NE Senate seat currently held by a very unpopular Deb Fischer is up this year and that she is the weakest R incumbent now running, being challenged by Dan Osborn, a well respected Independent with a fighting chance.
Norm - hats off to you. Thank you for supporting our Nebraska campaign. We are hoping that we secure the blue dot and rolling the dice to get Osborn in. We hope you like our cards they are super easy to do. Thank you for your activism and we hope you join us for Georgia!
I'm writing postcards to GOTV in Ohio. Thanks to all who posted the info to sign up! Great news in WI!
I just mailed a batch of those, too. I wrote cards for Judge Janet in 2023...when we work together, we win! ON to a blue WISCONSIN
Yay, Norm!
Louise!! Thank you for writing for Blue Wave!! I think I packed your cards!! 300 - again thank you for your activism!! And for joining the Nebraska campaign. We are hoping a little push will have a big result! We are about to sell out our Nebraska campaign today. Next up is a 500,000 card campaign for Georgia!! I’ll post a link here later when we launch - should be in a few hours. We have AZ OH and we hope NC on deck as well.
That’s fantastic! I’ve recruited friends who are also writing. Can’t wait to finish Nebraska and get on to GA & NC!
We just launched Georgia!! Again thank you and your team!! Blue wave rising!! https://shop.bluewavepostcards.org/?source=substack-comment
I live in Georgia and would like to spread the link (via restacking and to my Medium platform readers) when it's ready :-)
Charles - thank you! We just went live with Georgia!! Here you go. https://shop.bluewavepostcards.org/?source=substack-comment
When will you actually be shipping Georgia postcards? Would like to but can’t order now because I have to decide the best address to ship them to based on your answer!
You folks are amazing. Thank you!!
LOVE Blue Wave Postcards!
(also Judge P's name ends in cz, not tz.) I'm in Michigan and changing the maps changed everything, even though we weren't as badly gerrymandered as Wisconsin.
And this after I triple checked the spelling!
It happens!!
This is from 2019 touting him for the position, so it is a nice & personable introduction to Ben Wikler, who has done a great job.
https://www.benwikler.com/meet-ben
Ben Wikler is an astonishing booster or all things Democratic! Would that he could be cloned!
I would argue that the most important thing in the Wisconsin primary was that both of the referenda stripping power from the Governor were defeated.
There were a lot of MAGAtty types running unopposed, so November will be the real chance to defeat them.
Yes, absolutely: the defeat of the two referenda showed in harsh relief how much difference clear messaging can make.
Prior amendments, like these, were confusingly (and obscurely) worded - opaque to any but the most politically savvy.
This time we had a number of organizations putting plain-language explanations out in wide distribution, allowing voters to see what the texts really meant. And even the reddest of red-hat partisans could see that the last thing they need in a disaster situation would be the obstructionists in the Legislature slowing down the Governor's response just to score political points.
As a Wisconsin Poll Observer I witnessed a number of voters who simply didn't understand the deliberately confusing wording of the referenda. I'm grateful for the simple explanations publicized by local organizations.
This is such an excellent point Margaret! I would love to see Congress pass some type of legislation that requires clear, concise language on these ballot measures. I am an educator and have to reread some of them quite a few times to understand exactly what the proposition would mean for us “normal” Americans!
I'm pretty sure that most politicians are not interested in the opinions of "normal" Americans.
I did read about that. The issue in WI has never really been about defeating bad statewide measures or electing good people statewide, though sometimes you get a Ron Johnson or a Scott Walker. The issue was with gerrymandering, so I tried to keep today’s piece focused on what the effects of redrawn district lines could mean for the state. But I agree, those measures were important ones.
@Jay Kuo: good point, but we won't really know if the "de-gerrymandering" was successful until the November election. All we know is that certain extremists were defeated by marginally more moderate Republicans.
D Earl Stephens, writing in his Substack newsletter, has a detailed account of the voting patterns in yesterday's WI vote, and that Dane County, anchored by the city of Madison, is primed to give the Harris-Walz ticket an insane margin of victory, enough in itself to seal the deal for the Dems state-wide...check it out here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/dearlstephens?r=1pdf3&utm_medium=ios
You give me hope for Ohio. We put an anti gerrymandering amendment on the ballot for this November. I think it will pass and we will strip away the illegal supermajority that Magas have enjoyed for far too long. They ignored seven orders from our Ohio Supreme Court to fix it. SEVEN times!
Enough already!
I’ve got my eye on that one, too. The GOP has gotten around the will of the people for far too long there.
so, I’ve been wondering if Ohio was really deep red now or if it was voter suppression. I guess it’s the latter? Same with Florida and Texas, it seems
It’s more of a 50/50 split. We have continually lost population for decades.
And the Magas in charge recently purged 150,000 voters from the rolls. So there’s that!
Working on getting those folks re-enrolled. There is a phone bank for that if you are interested in helping. I don't have the link handy, but I'm sure you can google it. They have sessions set up through the end of this month.
I’m writing postcards in conjunction with field team6. The postcards have QR codes printed on them that will take them right to their voter registration or if they need to register. I’ve included a link as well.
Here’s hoping they pay attention!!
Go Lynn! Team Blue Ohio is getting it done.
Isn't Columbus a fast-growing city with younger people arriving for jobs? I see hope for democracy not too far down the road in Ohio. Watching the anti-gerrmandering battle from Michigan, it was frustrating to see the legislature ignore one court order after another. This fall's proposal to take the process away from the legislature should do the trick.
Yes Columbus is one of the fastest growing cities in the country.
Sadly, the other large cities in Ohio are losing population faster than Columbus can grow.
It’s also very blue.
It’s the illegal gerrymandering that makes this state redder than it should be.
Hopefully that will be fixed come November.
they do keep doing that - just did it in Georgia. terrifying. I think that’s how we ended up with W.
Ohio is definitely purple but gerrymandered red.
Same here! I'm eager to see how the MAGA Secy of State mangles the amendment ballot language, so we can begin our education campaign for real. And, please, let's vote in the Democratic OSC Justices who will help us defend and strengthen the voice of the electorate.
Lynn, I'm with you. Ohio is next. We have a lot of work to do, but I am certain the anti-gerrymandering amendment will pass. If we also get the Supreme Court seats I think we will be on our way to flipping the Governor and a lot of legislative seats Blue in the 2026 mid-terms.
Lordy I hope so! 🤞
If the young women of worked with on issue 1 show up, we will get rid of the Magas on our courts.
You are so right, Lynn!
When I was living in Chicago, Wisconsin was always the hip northern neighbor. Years later, after I moved to CA, I looked up and saw Scott Walker win an election, and I freaked out a little. But instead of saying, "What's the matter with Wisconsin (instead of Kansas, like the book)?" I really believed they'd bounce back. And they would have sooner if the Republicans hadn't seized control and gerrymandered the snot out of the place.
Wisconsin's back! Yay!! Great coverage as usual.
Now we just need to vote in some state legislators that will restore funding to our state university system. Years of republican control of the state have taken a severe toll on what used to be a venerated institution. They hate higher education, and make it very clear they want to see the UW System reduced to a handful of what amount to tech schools.
I don't know a lot about Wisconsin politics these days, but from what little I do know, the Democrats there could write a manual on how to get out from under the insidiousness of Republican hate politics. And then maybe send free copies to Florida Dems.
That should be co-written by Michigan Democrats. The Blue Wall is being rebuilt before our eyes. Ohio needs more doing. Pennsylvania is teetering. But Kamalenthusiasm is rampant….so we’ll see “How blue can you get”, with a nod to the late, great B.B. King!
:-)
We are on our way, now that we have a (slim) majority on the state supreme court, which allowed for the implementation of new state districting maps. We showed up in huge numbers to elect the new justice Janet Protasiewicz. The gerrymandering here was among the worst the country, and now we score an "A". That's at the state level. Next up, new US congressional district maps. There is a whole lot of hope here, but it's going to take time and effort.
Ignorant people vote Republican. They intend to destroy public schools completely. By the way, the Project 2025 includes drafting kids in public schools but not those in private schools.
One of the interesting things that stands out to me is how much one individual, in this case Ben Wikler (thanks, Jeanny), can make an extraordinary difference. His plan changed the court, then the district lines, then the legislators, and likely the US President. Talk about leadership - WOW!
I don’t know how many other counties in Wisconsin do this, but the Eau Claire County Democratic Party has maintained a year-round office and resource center for quite a number of years. Having that physical presence is a strong reminder that we’re here and active and it strengthens the county party by regularly having volunteers available to answer questions, get information, and organize. It’s also a place to gather and connect. It has been a tremendous asset.
that's very interesting, Jeanny - I live in Florida now (formerly a New Yorker), and I don't know if we have one in Broward County - but I will definitely find out, and encourage one if we don't. The latest polls here are showing that, with Kamala, we may actually become a swing state! :)
It showed me the power of the people when they finally pay attention to what is going on.
Great post about my state, Jay. Dems all around the state have been working hard. However, the party chair’s last name is Wikler, not Wexler.
Apologies for that! I’ve worked with Ben and had it originally as Wixler, which was wrong. The internet asked me if I meant “Ben Wexler” and I should have questioned that rather than gone with it!
This is how we retake Democracy. Employ the Democratic process to give the people real choice without election interference or suppression.
Let the people decide!
First, and most importantly, congrats on your soon-to-be baby!! I hope you enjoy every tiring and exciting minute to come this week/weekend. Second, it is thrilling to witness the Democrats finally figuring out how to work the long game in politics. Wisconsin is a role model, as well as my home state Michigan. The last brick to be placed in the BLUE wall was a phenomenal turnout. You go, Badgers! We are proud of you, and we are right behind you in November. VOTE BLUE FULL BALLOT
Who can make this happen in NC? We are very similarly gerrymandered into Democrat insignificance statewide, despite an near 50-50 split in Congressional representation when non-partisan maps were used 2 years ago. The legislature (thanks to the Supreme Court) has replaced those maps for the coming election and we will again be represented against our will, so to speak.
Anderson Clayton’s plan is for us to focus first on our State Supreme Court and Court of Appeals! We must elect Justice Allison Riggs, Judge Carolyn Thompson, Martin Moore, and Ed Eldred.
https://flipnc.org/blog/2024/3/5/meet-our-2024-judicial-candidates
Kudos to the people of Wisconsin!
Another great victory for Democracy.
Wow, that’s fantastic! Well done Wisconsin! I hope it’s contagious!
As always, Jay, THANK YOU for keeping us so carefully informed.
Congratulations on the soon-to-be birth of your daughter! I am hoping you will share photos of her soon! You are going to be GREAT parents, and you are doing everything you can to make this a better world for her and for ALL of our children. You and all the Ben Wiklers of the nation! Would that we all would do the same!
PUT UP YOUR BANNERS!
PUT UP YOUR SIGNS!
WEAR YOUR T-SHIRTS!
Get registered to vote!
Make sure your friends and family members are registered to vote!
Shout it from the rooftops—-
HARRIS / WALZ 2024 !!!!!
On, Wisconsin! 🎶 May NC follow in your blue footsteps!
Jay, sending ✨💜💫 to you in these next precious weeks. Joy, indeed.
This news makes me very happy. Everyone--take some action-no matter how small--to defeat Trump and all Republicans in November!
This shows the excitement that was missing in democratic voters, and I bodes well for the November General Election. Everyone is doing what they can to defeat maga, and it's working.