There are a lot of inflection points in the history of modern Wisconsin politics, where democracy has been as tenuous as anywhere in the United States. In 2010, Republicans won control of the State Assembly & Senate, and elected Scott Walker, enabling them to systematically curtail voter power with the most extreme gerrymandered maps in the nation. In 2011, Act 10 was passed, curbing the power of public sector workers, setting off massive protests and a failed recall election. In 2018, Wisconsinites elected Democratic Governor Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul, and Republicans used a lame duck session to curtail the powers of those offices. 

But perhaps the most important moment was one few were watching. In April 2019, progressive Supreme Court candidate Lisa Neubauer lost to conservative Brian Hagedorn by less than 6,000 votes—a race most experts expected Democrats to have the advantage in. 

After that loss, Wisconsin progressives decided it was time for a change. They invested heavily in rebuilding the state party and independent state-based organizations. They revamped their organizing program, developing the year-round neighborhood team system. They improved their research and polling abilities, digital advertising strategies, voter protection efforts, disinformation monitoring—you name it. In 2020, Joe Biden won the state. In 2022, Tony Evers was re-elected. In 2023, Janet Protaseiwicz flipped the Court. Next, we may see the 1849 abortion ban struck down and a fair maps process implemented. By 2024, voters in Wisconsin may actually have the option to elect a Democratic majority in the legislature for the first time in more than a decade. While there’s still a lot to do, we’re bringing Wisconsin’s democracy back from the brink. 

Here’s the point: change takes time. It takes money. It takes work. 

Which brings us to No Off Years, Phase 2. 

No Off Years has two goals: win critical 2023 elections and invest in grassroots organizing and infrastructure that will enable us to win in 2024 and beyond.

On Tuesday, we won the biggest 2023 election of them all. For the next few months, we’ll be focusing on what we call infrastructure-building—which we realize is a bit of an odd term for politics. To Joe Biden, that means literal highways and bridges being built across the country, but to us it means supporting the grassroots, locally-based organizations that communicate with voters year-round, not just during election season. That means volunteering for deep canvassing efforts, contesting local elections, and raising money for local groups to hire organizers in communities. When elections do come around, these relationships with voters are the highways and bridges that pave the way for progressive candidates and issues. 

The biggest way we’re doing this is through the No Off Years Fund. We’ve set a goal of raising $25,000 for these excellent organizations by the end of April. Will you chip in?

No Off Years also means no state left behind. This week in Tennessee, two Black legislators, Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson were expelled because they stood up for gun violence prevention. Their white colleague who joined them, Rep. Gloria Johnson, was not expelled. Justin and Justin can run to get their seats back for re-election. If you're able, consider chipping in to help them get re-elected. 

Let’s keep the wins coming!

Vote Save America