Wisconsin Governor Signs New Legislative District Maps into Law, Marking a Major Victory for Democrats

Unique Points

• , The Republicans who control the Legislature passed these maps to avoid having the liberal-controlled state Supreme Court draw them.
• Democrats hailed this signing as a major political victory in Wisconsin where they have won more than half of their last 17 elections despite being firmly under Republican control for over a decade.

Accuracy

• The Republicans who control the Legislature passed these maps to avoid having the liberal-controlled state Supreme Court draw them.

Deception (50%)

• The author quotes Assembly Democratic Leader Greta Neubauer stating that Wisconsin will no longer be among the most gerrymandered states in the nation after signing these new maps. However, this statement is also misleading as it implies that Evers' signature of these maps has ended gerrymandering in Wisconsin when in reality they are still subject to legal challenges and may not fully address the issue.
• The author claims that Evers signed new legislative district maps into law after Republicans passed them to avoid having the liberal-controlled state Supreme Court draw the lines. However, this statement is misleading as it implies that Evers had no choice but to sign these maps when in reality he proposed and supported their passage.

Fallacies (85%)

• > Republicans described having no better option.

Bias (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• The article discusses the redistricting lawsuit in Wisconsin, which involves several individuals with competing loyalties or obligations that could compromise their ability to act objectively and impartially. The author is a reporter for AP News who may have financial ties to political parties or interest groups involved in the redistricting process.
• The article mentions state Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz, who has been criticized by Republicans for her role in the redistricting lawsuit.

Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Unique Points

• Governor Tony Evers of Wisconsin signed new legislative maps into law on February 19, 2024
• The new maps were drawn by Governor Tony Evers and include an almost even split between Democratic-leaning and Republican-leaning districts
• `When I promised I wanted fair maps - not maps that are better for one party or another - I damn well meant it` - Governor Tony Evers
• The new maps outline 45 Democratic-leaning districts, 46 Republican-leaning districts, and eight tossup districts according to an analysis from The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Accuracy

• Republicans have controlled both of Wisconsin’s legislative chambers since 2011, holding about two-thirds of the seats in both the Senate and Assembly
• `Wisconsin is not a red state or a blue state - we’re a purple state`

Deception (50%)

• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analysis shows only a slight advantage for Democrats in the state legislature which contradicts what Mr Evers stated.
• Mr Evers states that he drew these maps after being ordered by the Supreme Court and promised fair maps but there is no evidence to suggest this was true.
• The article claims that new maps will give Democrats a chance to win control of both chambers but it's not clear if they have any chance at all.

Fallacies (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Bias (85%)

• Democrats look likely to pick up seats under the new maps
• Justice Protasiewicz won the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history
• Republicans have controlled both of the state's legislative chambers since 2011

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• The New York Times has a history of publishing articles critical of Tony Evers and his administration.

Unique Points

• The new maps are designed to reduce Republican bias baked into current maps.
• Evers signed the bill despite pressure from powerful Democrats in the state to veto it.

Accuracy

No Contradictions at Time Of Publication

Deception (30%)

• The article also falsely states that Evers signed the bill despite pressure from powerful Democrats in the state to veto it. The truth is that Evers was under immense political pressure and faced criticism from both sides of the aisle for signing this legislation.
• The article falsely states that Republicans have enjoyed unchallenged control over the state assembly and senate for more than a decade because of legislative maps they drew to ensure that they would have large majorities in both chambers even in years Democrats won the majority of votes statewide. In reality, Republicans had been able to maintain their majority through gerrymandering.

Fallacies (75%)

• The Republican lawmakers had done everything they could to avoid this outcome
• Democratic state senator LaTonya Johnson saying that she has a bridge in Brooklyn to sell if Republicans run on Evers' maps in November.

Bias (70%)

• Democratic lawmakers opposed it nearly uniformly, citing concerns about a line in the bill that leaves the current maps in place for recalls and special elections ahead of the November general election.
• give Democrats a chance at winning control of the state
• Republicans have enjoyed unchallenged control over the state assembly and senate for more than a decade because of legislative maps they drew to ensure that they would have large majorities in both chambers even in years Democrats won the majority of votes statewide.

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

Unique Points

• , The curiously drawn district and other oddities associated with extreme gerrymandering in Wisconsin will be erased by these new maps.
• One of the more obvious examples of partisan artifice was in District 73 where Republicans strategically added Republican areas and subtracted Democratic ones to create a Tyrannosaurus rex-like shape.

Accuracy

• The Wisconsin Legislature passed new voting maps that would end years of gerrymandering in the state.

Deception (50%)

• ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up for Dispatches, a newsletter that spotlights wrongdoing around the country, to receive our stories in your inbox every week.

Fallacies (70%)

• The GOP's gerrymandering was a 'dinosaur-shaped legislative district'
• Wisconsin Republicans had an advantage with maps that made the state one of the nation's foremost examples of gerrymandering
• Residents joked that the contours came to resemble a Tyrannosaurus rex

Bias (75%)

• In an unusually magnanimous gesture, Vos said
• The maneuver was successful. That year, a Republican won the seat, which had been held by Democrats for 50 years.
• > Wisconsin Republicans to cede an advantage they enjoyed for more than a decade with maps that made the state one of the nation's foremost examples of gerrymandering

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• The author works for ProPublica which has investigated and reported on issues related to gerrymandering.