Will Governor Tony Evers sign his own [damn] maps???
As a teaser heading into the weekend Governor Evers posted: “Wisconsinites deserve fair maps.”
However, Gov. Evers stopped short of saying he would indeed sign his own maps after they were passed by the Republican-controlled State Legislature.
What could be more entertaining than the milquetoast Governor stoking the drama?
The teaser gives us no insight into whether Gov. Evers means his maps were fair or whether he wants to let the newly liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court and their handpicked duo of mapmaking professionals make allegedly fair-er maps.
Republicans in the Wisconsin State Assembly and State Senate opted to pass the maps drawn by Gov. Evers as a lessor of several evils for their 2024 electoral prospects.
Gov. Evers had previously vetoed a version of his own maps with modest edits made by Republicans in the State Legislature. The edits by Republicans were to reduce “pairings” where Gov. Evers redistricted pairs of Republican incumbents into the same district.
The pairings as drawn by Gov. Evers would force numerous GOP incumbents into a Primary race against another incumbent to keep a seat or choose retirement from elected office.
In the greater political power struggle the pairings would force Republicans to recruit a large number of first-time candidates while also forcing them to purge a large number of experienced, well-funded incumbents. Consequently, the Republican state level political machine will be forced to absorb a significant atrophy and forced to rebuild.
From the perspective of Wisconsin Democrats who have been beaten down by the Republican machine for several cycles, putting numerous dents in the GOP armor is sweet revenge, but also an essential offensive move to help them gain seats which is always an uphill battle.
Gov. Evers has until Tuesday of this week to sign his own maps or veto them.
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