Wisconsin's new maps get national attention, including from Obama and NYT's news quiz
Hope Karnopp
The approval of Wisconsin's new legislative maps was one of last week's biggest political stories in the state — and even nationwide, with former President Barack Obama and the New York Times' weekly news quiz boosting the spotlight.
Wisconsin's maps drew the attention of Obama, who won the state twice. He posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Wisconsin "made history" with the new maps.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers "signed into law new, competitive state legislative maps that get rid of one of the most gerrymandered maps in the country. Wisconsinites will now have a real shot at electing leaders who are responsive to the will of the people," Obama said.
Obama's former attorney general, Eric Holder, is the chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee and has been involved in redistricting efforts in Wisconsin.
More:You have questions about Wisconsin's new election maps and how they affect you? We have answers.
Wisconsin was also featured in the New York Times' news quiz, which asked: "The Democratic governor of a swing state this week signed into law state legislative maps that reduce Republicans’ longstanding advantage. Which state is it?"
The answer, of course, was Wisconsin — and 70% of nearly 360,000 readers answered it correctly. It was the fifth hardest question out of eleven, according to those stats.
National publications and news outlets tuning into how the changes will affect politics in the battleground state, with a focus on how Democrats have a chance at power after years of Republican majorities under gerrymandered maps.
Democratic Party of Wisconsin chairman Ben Wikler appeared on MSNBC to talk about the new maps, which he called "a sea change moment." Pod Save America, a liberal podcast, also interviewed Wikler about why Democrats have won recent statewide elections in the battleground state while remaining in the Legislature's minority.
PolitiFact:Although Wisconsin voted for Biden in the 2020 election, it’s far from a blue state
Republicans in Wisconsin have responded to the new maps by saying they will win over voters through better policy positions, and Democrats won't be able to blame the way districts are drawn if they lose.
"I wonder what my friends on the other side of the aisle are going to say when they lose Legislative races on the issues this November and can't blame the maps anymore," Republican Party of Wisconsin chairman Brian Schimming said on WKOW-TV's "Capital City Sunday."