When it comes to WisGOP tricks, Wisconsin voters say HELL NO

Another nice election night for the good guys in Wisconsin, as Marquette Professor Philip Rocco breaks down at Dan Shafer's site.

Wrote about the defeat of two constitutional amendments on yesterday’s August primary ballot. My big takeaway here: the “No” side revealed the value of “expanding the scope of conflict”, especially in the face of a strategically timed election. https://t.co/4H17qCDQ7V

— Philip Rocco (@PhilipRocco) August 14, 2024

The “No” campaign was thus wise to go beyond partisan appeals and to focus on the substantive implications of the legislation for the release of federal emergency aid, as well as their violation of core small-d democratic values, including the legislature’s use of the constitutional amendments to undermine “checks and balances.” Well-timed ads by groups opposing the amendments were buoyed by a raft of op-eds and letters to the editor in publications around the state. The voices opposing the amendment included not just popular Democratic Party leaders but small-business owners, first responders, and farmers. This not only dragged the amendments into the harsh light of day, it illustrated a broad, cross-cutting coalition of Wisconsinites opposed to them for a variety of reasons.

By casting a spotlight on the amendments’ effects, the opponents also forced the “Yes” side to identify themselves, and to put their arguments into the public sphere. This expanded the scope of conflict further still by illustrating that the only visible public constituency in support of the amendments were the allies of Republican legislators, who would gain greater power if they were enacted.

And it further ID'd the amendment as self-absorbed partisan BS that didn't have any principles behind it beyond being yet another power grab by a soon-to-be-ungerrymandered Legislature. Putting the vote in August instead of November made it seem even more sleazy, and the tactic likely backfired on Robbin' Vos, Tyler August Devin LeMahieu and other Koched-up GOP dweebs who think they are much more clever than they actually are.

the And as is habit when Dems win big in this state, the NO votes didn't just come from Milwaukee and Madison, but from throughout the state.

2) While “No” vote heartland was in Dem strongholds (Dane County saw huge increases in number of votes from ‘22 party primary), this was not just a partisan vote. “No” vote outperformed Evers ‘22 results in virtually every county. Mobilization likely had spillover effects. pic.twitter.com/32EEvkrJn7

— Philip Rocco (@PhilipRocco) August 14, 2024

I'll especially note that NO went down in all three of the BOW counties in the Fox River Valley (Brown, Outagamie and Winnebago), even though much of that area had a heavily contested Republican primary for Congress.

Yesterday's vote also continued a big movement toward Dems and Dem-supported positions in Milwaukee suburbs that has happened over the last 10 years. It has turned an area that used to be the bedrock of the state's GOP and a source of huge statewide Raepublican margins into an increasingly purple area that more than offsets any losses Dems have taken in rural Wisconsin.

Hi from Ozaukee County, which went from 70% for Scott Walker 10 years ago to 50-50 in yesterday's amendment votes.

The GOP chair here says they have to hit 56% to win statewide. Dems chair still recalls the state party refusing to give yard signs in the '90s bc it'd be a waste pic.twitter.com/VOKRDmDcJe

— A.J. Bayatpour (@AJBayatpour) August 14, 2024

Hey Duey Stroebel, I see that you're trying to stay in the Legislature for another 4 years by taking a Senate seat that is largely made up of Ozaukee County and the very blue Milwaukee County North Shore suburbs. And you're the public face of the type of behind-the-scenes WisGOP legislative obstruction that everyday voters overwhlemingly rejected yesterday. Good luck running on that record this Fall, Due-bag.

As Professor Rocco notes, Wisconsin voters are tired of the GOP's games, and Ben Wikler and other WisDems made the public aware of what's going on behind the scenes at the Capitol. When the voters were given the plain facts about what the GOPs were trying to sneak behind their backs, they revolted, and the GOP went down hard.

First, it shows that Wisconsin voters simply do not support the aggrandizement of the legislature’s power. We saw a similar result in Janet Protasiewicz’s victory in the 2023 State Supreme Court election — a result which led to the historic reversal of the state’s legislative gerrymanders. Even in a sleepy, low-turnout August primary, a majority of voters in the Badger State came out to derail a legislative power grab.

Second, Tuesday’s vote illustrates the value of expanding the scope of conflict. Over the last few decades, the safe bet is that if a constitutional amendment is on the ballot, Wisconsin voters will support it.

... [but] [w]ith a strong enough “No” campaign, voters could more easily see — and resent — vagueness and obfuscation in constitutional amendments. Strategic ambiguity can only be called “clever” and only works in the absence of a mobilized electorate.

Sure seems like a theme of "get a Legislature that listens and gets things done that you want" is a good way for Dems to clean up this November. GOPs at all levels have to be reeling, and especially this guy, who "represents" a district that overwhlemingly voted NO yesterday.

Washington DC sends money to Madison then Madison sends money to Madison and Milwaukee.

We are forgotten out here.

Vote:

Question 1: YES

Question 2: YES

No governor should have a private slush fund. pic.twitter.com/6LdFtWkWbp

— Derrick Van Orden (@derrickvanorden) August 12, 2024

Dumb, wrong and LOSING. That's Small-D Van Orden for ya! It's really gonna hurt that guy when he gets Cooked this Fall. And I am here for it!