We're on the cusp of reclaiming the type of democracy for which Wisconsin is so well known

February 2011 seems like a long time ago, but it is a month I will never forget.

On February 6 of that year, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31–25 to win Super Bowl XLV.

Then five days later, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker "dropped the bomb" that resulted in Act 10, effectively eliminating collective bargaining rights for most public-sector employees in the state. It also decimated Walker’s most powerful political opponent.

That began two years of chaos involving mass protests, recall elections, and court challenges.  All with little progress.

During Scott Walker’s eight years as Governor, with the help of the Republican-controlled legislature, Wisconsin not only passed Act 10, but also Right to Work (for less), a very strict voter ID law, concealed-carry, statewide private school vouchers, and the most gerrymandered voting maps in the country. 

All this despite significant citizen advocacy and pushback. 

But we kept at it.

Then, finally, progress. Tony Evers was elected Governor and assumed office in 2019.  During his eight years in office, he vetoed the worst of the Republican-controlled legislation. 

More importantly, Evers was in office during the 2020 Census, which meant he had to approve the voting maps that would be in place for the next 10 years.  After years of advocacy by citizens across the state, Gov. Evers signed new, fairer maps in 2024.  That was a huge step forward.

Now we need a permanent fix so the maps after the 2030 Census aren't gerrymandered to favor either party. We need a Democratic governor in place to ensure we don’t slide backward.

In 2011, Wisconsin’s Supreme Court held a 4-3 conservative majority.  With much hard work, Jill Karofsky, now the Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, was elected in 2020.  This was followed by Supreme Court wins in 2023, 2025, and 2026. The Court is now a 5-2 liberal majority. It has been instrumental in protecting reproductive rights, pushing through fair voting maps, and may soon issue rulings on Act 10 and congressional voting maps. 

That is real progress.

Over the past 16 years, progress has been slow, but steady.  We have fought inch by inch to regain Wisconsin’s progressive tradition.  The work is exhausting, but necessary. Now we have an opportunity to vote in a trifecta: a Democratic Assembly, a Democratic Senate, and a Democratic governor.  It will take all three to continue Wisconsin’s turnaround.  It is within our grasp.  

To use a famous quote of unknown origin: We didn't come this far just to come this far.