John,

It’s hard to believe that 13 years ago, almost to the day, I was at the Wisconsin Capitol protesting Governor Scott Walker’s heinous attacks on our unions and our democracy. 

I like to say that I have Scott Walker to thank for lighting a fire in my soul — because without him, I wouldn’t be writing to you today as Legal Counsel for the NDR PAC.

Looking back today, in the wake of the recent fair-maps victory in my home state, we need to recognize that this took years of organizing, activism, and holding Republicans accountable to make possible. 

Let’s take it from the top:

• In 2011, newly-elected Governor Scott Walker wasted no time focusing on manipulating our legislative maps. 
• He and his extreme allies in the state legislature quickly got to work, changing the rules of the state Supreme Court to undermine the state’s longstanding chief justice, gutting the state’s nonpartisan elections board, and enacting a horrifying gerrymander, which guaranteed them an unearned lock on power for a decade.
• When the NDRC was founded in 2017, we began to build an infrastructure for activism and organizing which put a spotlight on just how badly Republicans were bending the rules.
• In 2018, Governor Tony Evers won and promised to be a fair maps champion. But the GOP-controlled legislature immediately stripped away many of his powers.
• In that critical moment, we didn’t back down. We took our organizing to another level.
• All that work culminated last year in the election of Judge Janet Protasiewicz to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, breaking the long-held conservative stranglehold on the court. 
• By 2024, Republicans knew their days of running rampant with maps were over. The legislature passed Governor Evers’ fair maps ahead of this year’s elections. 

For the first time since I became eligible to vote, Wisconsin’s maps are finally fair.

While the pundits will try and point to one person, one election, or one court decision, the truth is none of this would've been possible without this movement. Thank you for being with us every step of the way. 

But our work is far from over. We need to build on the momentum from this victory and bring it to other states in need of reform. 

What we’ve done in Wisconsin is proof that the investments you make in this work pay off — can we count on you to make a grassroots donation of $30 today?

Our work doesn’t always make headlines, but it does make a difference. You’re powering the small but critical steps we’re making towards fair maps every day, and for that, this Wisconsinite is grateful.

Thank you,
Jacob Carrel