Monday, August 21, 2023

Cheating to win elections: Wisconsin GOP attempts to defend the indefensible use of cracking and packing in drawing legislative districts (Beloit edition)

 
Located in south-central Wisconsin, the 45th Assembly District includes most eastern and central Green County and western and southwestern Rock County
 
Clinton Anderson (D-Beloit) has represented the district since January 2023.  He defeated his Republican opponents by 11 percentage points.


Headline:  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8/11/2023
Map:  Wisconsin State Legislature (box added)

Somehow, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Tyler Katzenberger can write an article about legislative district without mentioning 'gerrymandering', 'packing', and 'cracking'.  

It's called journalistic malpractice.

The UW Applied Population Lab defines 'cracking' as 
drawing districts in such a way as to divide a concentration of specific types of voters across several districts such that they are a minority in each one, with practically no hope of achieving representation in any of the districts. This practice also helps make districts less competitive.
Th UW Applied Population Lab defines 'packing' as 
the practice of drawing particular districts in such a way as to ensure that another party's candidate wins that seat by a tremendous margin. Although the opposing party is all but guaranteed the seat, packing makes surrounding districts less competitive, and thus tips the balance of power in the legislative body overall toward the ruling party.


Meet the leaders of the packing and cracking brigade!


Wouldn't you rather have this diverse group in the majority?
 

Related reading:

Mark Spreitzer represented the 45th Assembly District from January 2015 to January 2023.

WisPolitics,  8/2/2022

The maps are rigged.
“Partisan gerrymandering is at the heart of the disconnect between Wisconsin voters and the lawmakers who serve in our Capitol. 
“While Democratic candidates have repeatedly won statewide, Democratic legislative majorities have been far out of reach due to Republican gerrymandering. That defies the will of Wisconsin voters and violates the Wisconsin Constitution.

Other posts in the series:

See also:  Spotlight on Wisconsin gerrymandering

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