Updates on Arizona and Wisconsin
- Mary Beth
- Jul 28, 2024
- 2 min read
Arizona
I recently attended a ZOOM meeting of 14 Giving Circles leaders who are supporting AZ.
Most of the information came from the State Senator and Justin (TSP man on the ground in AZ and NV). In a state that is held captive by the most radical MAGA ideas, the possibility of flipping 1-2 seats in both Assembly and Senate is very close. A Trifecta is more than possible and necessary. Voters seem to be most concerned about abortion and water.
The importance of AZ is evidenced by 24 Giving Circles sending approximately $900,00 to AZ to date.
Wisconsin
I watched the “Grab’em by the States” Giving Circle ZOOM open to all Giving Circles supporting WI holding my breath. The situation in WI is very dramatic as described clearly by long time Dem State Chairman Ben Wikler and Assembly Minority leader Greta Neubauer.
For many years WI was a safe Blue stronghold...Pro Union, first state to pass the 19th amendment, Dem Senator Feingold bipartisan Campaign finance bill with John McCain, etc. Starting in 2010 with GOP opposition to Obama and rise of Tea Party there was a dramatic backlash within the GOP resulting in a Blue trifecta being replaced by Red. Every 2 years there has been an erosion in Voting Rights, Women’s Health, control of Supreme Court etc under the control of Gov Scott Walker and Sen Ron Johnson (fan of The Big Lie and supporter of Fake Electors in 2020).
The tipping point has come with appointment of a Liberal Superior Court judge who narrowly avoided impeachment by GOP before she was even installed!
There are 2 major issues currently at stake:
Voter photo ID requirement... the GOP applauds the fact that more than 1/2 of the State Black population do not have Drivers License and they want to keep it that way.
Fair Maps movement...For 14 years Dems have tried to contest the extreme Gerrymandering Maps put in place by the GOP trifecta. With a Dem Governor and newly installed Supreme Court judge the Fair Maps Bill was signed in February 2024.
In the current scenario Dems see realistic hope of gaining at least 2 seats in the Assembly and enough seats in the Senate to pave the way for a Blue Trifecta in 2026.
It is clear why WI calls itself “ Land of the Nail Biter” and why your support has never been more important.