Wisconsin experienced its first election using the state's new competitive political maps, and experts said it made a significant difference in outcomes.

Although Republicans still have the upper hand, their supermajority is quashed and Democrats made some key gains in the Wisconsin Legislature, which they believe puts them in a better position to gain chamber control in 2026.

David Helpap, associate professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, said it lays the groundwork for changes in future policy proposals.

"As districts become more competitive, it makes it more difficult for those who are elected officials in those districts to really propose policies that are too far left or right of center," Helpap explained. "Simply because they know they're going to have to answer to voters that are more 'center' than they used to be."

He pointed out the new legislative maps leveled the playing field for legislators in a way Wisconsin hasn't seen in more than a decade, making it possible for Democrats to pick up key seats in districts covering the northern Milwaukee suburbs, the north side of Madison, as well as Richland and Sauk counties, the Green Bay area and much of the Fox Cities.

Until Gov. Tony Evers came into office, Republicans had free rein in choosing which policies to push forward, Helpap added. But Evers changed the dynamic overall, most recently with the new legislative maps.

One of the biggest upcoming policy issues is the next state budget. From K-12 education to funding local government, the University of Wisconsin system and corrections, Helpap emphasized it is where Wisconsinites could see the effect of the map changes the most, and the dynamic will be different.

"There's no doubt that Republicans still have the majority and they can sort of proceed in that fashion," Helpap observed. "But I think perhaps some folks will be thinking about the next election cycle and maybe the implications of specific decisions that they'll be making during this budget process."

Wisconsin also picked up a key Democratic win on the national level, with Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin winning a third term in the U.S. Senate by less than a percentage point.


get more stories like this via email

Minnesota voters this week signed off on giving a longer shelf life to a funding tool helping protect the state's natural resources and its backers see more room for making farmland climate resilient.

Nearly 78% of Minnesota voters said yes to Amendment 1, a 25-year extension of a constitutional amendment dedicating 40% of lottery proceeds to the Environment and Natural Resources Fund.

Theresa Keaveny, Minnesota state policy lead for the group Climate Land Leaders, said the program has already helped spur adoption of practices such as managed grazing of farm animals to help restore the health of some landscapes. She argued smaller family farms need more support to embrace conservation.

"In this time of low corn and soybean prices, money that is available to help incentivize these kinds of practices is absolutely critical if we are to ensure that we have good-quality drinking water and don't pollute our rivers, lakes and streams," Keaveny contended.

Keaveny noted the latest extension creates a specialized grant program for rural and other underrepresented communities to pursue environmental projects. She stressed sustainable agriculture could be part of a more localized mix. Despite Minnesota's efforts, the state's southeast region has drawn the focus of the federal Environmental Protection Agency over nitrate pollution in water resources.

Keaveny noted the fund, first established in 1988, has also aided research in the area of cover crops, another climate-friendly farming practice. She emphasized pushing ahead with efforts to make the products more profitable can hopefully build a stronger movement within farming circles.

"There's an openness once farmers are given information," Keaveny observed. "But the financial risks have to be minimized so that farmers can make the transition. "

According to state data from earlier this year, farmers enrolled in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program have higher profits than noncertified operations.


get more stories like this via email

Donald Trump's victory in the race for the White House was again aided by wins in rural states such as Nebraska.

While other contributing factors are discussed, a rural expert says it's clear longstanding political sentiments in smaller towns haven't changed. As the results from Tuesday night are examined, political analysts cite Trump's gain with Latino voters.

Nick Jacobs, assistant professor of government at Colby College is also an author who has written about rural issues, and says the campaign also regained some ground in rural America that it had lost in 2020. Jacobs said if the media or political strategists try again to understand why these areas still largely back Trump, they have to resist preconceived notions.

"We're going to see it again with these diner interviews - is that prior to even being interviewed [post-2016], rural people were put into this prefabricated box," he explained. "And the truth is, voters in rural places -- [like] urban places -- they're complicated."

It's been decades in the making, but Jacobs feels the public still doesn't grasp that rural voters feel underappreciated by the political establishment. The trouble is, he added, this generally doesn't lend itself to policies that can directly appeal to them. He thinks Democrats should keep trying to produce local candidates who can relate to these voters, adding that having both parties find success in rural America is good for democracy.

Jacobs said his research, along with separate polling, has shown that rural and urban voters often agree on certain issues.

"Concerns about corporate monopolies, freedom within, sort of, the marketplace, whether that's for health care or reproductive rights -- there are very few policy issues that divide the two," he explained.

In Nebraska, voters this week rejected an abortion rights amendment and instead endorsed restrictions, even as reproductive rights saw victories in other conservative states. However, Nebraskans did approve paid sick-leave requirements, a policy often aligned with the Left.

The Biden administration's big policy achievements, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, have paved the way for a lot of rural investment. But Jacobs says many projects aren't shovel-ready yet, and aren't likely to move the needle with rural voters hesitant to embrace them.

"It can't be such a simple story as, 'Spend money and the votes will follow,' because what we're talking about [is] decades of feeling like 'the government has left me behind,'" he concluded.


get more stories like this via email

As results continue to come into focus post-Election Day, factors like the youth vote are expected to be scrutinized.

Experts said it is important to keep historical connections in mind and to avoid finger-pointing. Leading up to Tuesday's vote, election forecasters tried to get a better reading of the enthusiasm level among voters under 30. However, some analysts said it is difficult to get an accurate reading of the subgroup.

Mindy Romero, director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the University of Southern California, said even if the final results show a stronger turnout among young voters, it is still a demographic which tends to be overlooked in the political process.

"One of the big reasons, not the only one, is because we have what I call an 'inequitable outreach landscape,'" Romero emphasized.

She explained it is the case when a young voter who feels ignored by campaigns and outreach groups tries on their own to become more informed and runs into information gaps. Meanwhile, Romero and other experts said it would not be surprising to see the outcome of the presidential vote slowed by potential lawsuits.

Romero stressed another noteworthy aspect is in the presidential race, Vice President Kamala Harris focused on reproductive rights but not so much on her own gender. She suggests it is still likely a tricky spot in trying to appeal to centrists and voters from the opposing party.

"An appeal based on gender doesn't always work for Republican voters, when you would hope that across party lines -- Republican or Democrat -- it would be an exciting thing at least to consider," Romero asserted. "The first female president."

Romero also expects more follow-ups to the reported bomb threats called into voting sites, namely in Georgia, with officials there citing Russia as the culprit. She added such events can have a chilling effect on voters who had to leave and were later informed the all-clear was given, although it can easily make someone not feel safe and not return to cast their ballot.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.


get more stories like this via email