Intro: "Republicans scored a redistricting win Friday, with Wisconsin lawmakers unveiling a draft congressional map that boosts three House GOP incumbents including House Budget chief Paul Ryan."
Rep. Paul Ryan stands to benefit from Wisconsin Republicans' redistricting plan. (photo: Charles Dharapak/AP)
09 July 11
epublicans scored a redistricting win Friday, with Wisconsin lawmakers unveiling a draft congressional map that boosts three House GOP incumbents including House Budget chief Paul Ryan.
The proposal, released Friday afternoon by GOP leaders in the state Assembly and Senate, makes modest changes to the state's eight districts but provides support to GOP Reps. Ryan, Sean Duffy and Tom Petri - crafting for each a new seat that is slightly more GOP friendly.
Republicans hold full control over both state legislative chambers and the governor's mansion, so Democrats hold little power in the redrawing of the state's congressional boundaries. The GOP-led state Legislature intends to vote on passing the maps by July 19 - ahead of an August recall election that could cost Republicans control of the state Senate.
Democrats are planning to aggressively target Ryan and Duffy.
Kenosha County Supervisor Rob Zerban, a progressive favorite, has announced plans to challenge Ryan, the House Budget Committee chairman and the author of the controversial Republican plan to rewrite Medicare legislation. Duffy, a former reality TV star who is widely regarded as one of the most vulnerable Republicans in the country, faces a challenge from Democrat Pat Kreitlow, a former state senator and onetime TV news anchor.
In shoring up the three Republicans, the GOP plan also provides a friendlier district for Democratic Rep. Ron Kind.
In a statement, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate ripped Republicans for the new map, saying: "This is nothing but a pure, unprecedented partisan power grab. From now on, anytime any Republican claims they are fulfilling their constitutional duty when they defend this map, or they are trying to better represent Wisconsin, it's either A) a bald faced lie or B) stunning ignorance."
Republicans were dealt early setbacks in redistricting, with new maps in Illinois and California costing the GOP as many as 10 seats between the two states.
But, in June, Michigan Republicans released a draft map that would cost Democrats one seat, and North Carolina Republicans last week unveiled a blueprint last week that could imperil up to four House Democrats.
