Hi, I'm Denise, and this is your civic minute.
In 2022, under Wisconsin's old gerrymandered maps,
only four out of 99 state assembly races
were decided by fewer than five points.
The other 95, the outcome was basically known
before the first vote was cast.
Congress is even worse.
Since those maps were drawn,
the medium margin of victory across Wisconsin's
eight congressional districts has been close to 30 points.
In a state that's essentially 50-50.
When your representative knows they can't lose,
they don't have to listen to you.
They don't have to compromise.
They don't even have to show up.
They answer to whoever picks their voters,
not to the voters themselves.
Wisconsin got new state legislative maps in 2024,
and the difference was dramatic.
Real races, real choices, and 14 seats changed hands.
The congressional maps still the same.
There are lawsuits and courts right now
challenging those maps, but no new lines
before this November.
That's your civic minute.
Find more at civicmedia.us.
