A group keyed in on state legislative battles is reportedly spending at least $1 million to boost Democrats in Wisconsin legislative races.
The States Project, an outside group with deep pockets, has yet to release its 2024 budget but has pledged to spend at least a million dollars in the Badger State, according to a New York Times report.
“Our electoral work focuses on winning governing majorities in the states by making state legislative campaigns more effective and better-funded,” the States Project website says, adding that it believes “state legislatures are the strongest force for change” in the United States.
Wisconsin has a near-even split between Republicans and Democrats. It is one of seven key battleground states going into the 2024 general election.
Under new maps, for the first time in more than a decade, Democrats have the opportunity to flip Wisconsin’s State Assembly, and outside groups are eyeing the Badger State as a place to flip blue.
“Maps can make a chamber uncompetitive, but maps aren’t going to win a chamber,” said Daniel Squadron, co-founder of the States Project. He pointed to who was most successful in Michigan, a Democratic stronghold at the state level: “Good candidates who have a great relationship with their constituents or their voters, who have a good recognition of who their voters are.”
In 2011, when Wisconsin’s previous legislative maps were implemented, the Wisconsin GOP held a heavy majority. Republicans held at least 60 of the state’s 99 Assembly seats for the last 12 years. For 28 of the last 30 years, Republicans held on to a majority of the state’s Assembly, according to CNAnalysis. Republicans are predicted to hang on to their majority in the Senate.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the Scott Walker-era maps for being unconstitutional. They were considered to be some of the most gerrymandered maps in the county.
National Democrats also have their eyes on the Badger State. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee has already donated $24,000 to each chamber of Wisconsin’s legislature, the Assembly and Senate. Wisconsin is part of its $60 million budget this year. The timing of the new maps is viewed as a good way to bolster support at the state level for Democrats.
“There’s a lot of vibrance down ballot, with state legislatures being part of the story of 2022 and hopefully the story of 2024,” said Vicky Hausman, a founder of Forward Majority, a Democratic super PAC.
The Republican State Leadership Committee has not yet released its budget, but Wisconsin is on its list of states where it plans to defend legislative majorities.
“It comes as no surprise that Wisconsin Democrats are hopelessly dependent upon out-of-state donors and outside groups to remain competitive. From the Wausau mayoral race to the Zuckerbucks referendums, Wisconsinites are ditching the WisDem charade and embracing common sense Republican policies,” Matt Fisher, Wisconsin GOP spokesman, said.
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In last week’s statewide primary, Wisconsin voters passed GOP-backed referendums, including banning private money from being used to fund elections.
Wisconsin’s Democratic Party did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.