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On today’s episode: How a 12-year project to lock in political power in Wisconsin could culminate in this year’s midterms — and provide a glimpse into where the rest of the country is headed.
On today’s episode
Reid J. Epstein, who covers campaigns and elections for The New York Times. He previously worked as a political reporter in Wisconsin.
Background reading
“Republicans have such control of the levers of power in Wisconsin that voters are almost immaterial,” Reid J. Epstein wrote in the On Politics newsletter. “It is the most gerrymandered state legislature in the country.”
In April, the conservative majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court voted to adopt new state legislative maps. The maps were partisan gerrymanders that had been drawn in secret after the 2010 elections, when Republicans took control from Democrats in both houses of the Legislature.
Maps in four other states were ruled illegal gerrymanders, but they’re being used anyway. Here’s why.
Credits
“The Run-Up” is hosted by Astead W. Herndon and produced by Elisa Gutierrez and Caitlin O’Keefe. The show is edited by Frannie Carr Toth, Larissa Anderson and Lisa Tobin. Engineering by Corey Schreppel and original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano and Elisheba Ittoop. Fact-checking by Caitlin Love.
Special thanks to Paula Szuchman, Sam Dolnick, David Halbfinger, Julia Simon, Mahima Chablani, Shannon Busta, Nell Gallogly, Jeffrey Miranda and Maddy Masiello.
Source: Elections - nytimes.com
