In a chaotic and somewhat discombobulating end to the process, Wisconsin lawmakers passed a state budget and Gov. Tony Evers signed it into law at about 1:30 a.m. on July 3. 

What made this budget different from the others signed in this era of divided government — with a Democratic governor and a Republican-controlled legislature — is that Democratic votes were needed to pass the budget in the State Senate. 

Part of the reason that was made possible is because of new, fairer maps. Last November, Senate Democrats flipped four seats, shrinking the Republican majority to just an 18 to 15 margin. Now, candidates are already lining up to take this the rest of the way and flip the chamber. Democrat Jenna Jacobson, who currently serves in the Assembly, is now running for Senate, challenging Republican Howard Marklein in the 17th District in southwestern Wisconsin. If Democrats can flip that district and one more seat, they could control the State Senate for the first time in more than 15 years. That would be a big deal for state politics in Wisconsin. 

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