Get Ready To Be Badgered: Wisconsin Is A Presidential Battleground
Aug 25, 2023
auto_awesome
In this engaging discussion, Tom Bowman, NPR's Pentagon correspondent, shares a gripping narrative of an Afghan family's perilous quest for safety in the U.S. Their journey from Afghanistan to Mexico and across the U.S. border reveals the harrowing challenges faced by refugees and the intricacies of immigration policy. The conversation also highlights Wisconsin's evolving political landscape, emphasizing how shifting demographics and abortion politics are reshaping the state's role as a crucial presidential battleground.
Wisconsin's political landscape is divided, with opposing parties holding key positions of power, creating a dynamic and fiercely competitive atmosphere for elections.
Changing demographics in the suburbs, along with a rural-urban divide, contribute to the competitiveness of elections in Wisconsin, with major parties vying for support from different constituencies.
Deep dives
Presidential Politics in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has a history of close presidential races, with four out of the last six elections being decided by less than a single percentage point. In 2016, Donald Trump won the state by about 20,000 votes, while in 2020, Joe Biden won by a narrow margin of around 23,000 votes. The state's political landscape is divided, with opposing parties holding key positions of power. The Republican-led legislature contrasts with a Democratic governor, and both parties strive to secure Wisconsin's crucial electoral college votes.
The Changing Politics of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's political landscape is marked by a rural-urban divide and shifting demographics in the suburbs. Rural areas have trended Republican since 2016, while major urban areas like Milwaukee and Madison are becoming more diverse and cosmopolitan. These changes contribute to the competitiveness of elections in the state. The suburbs also play a significant role, with their own distinct identity. These factors create a dynamic political atmosphere where both major parties vie for support from different constituencies.
The Impact of Wisconsin on National Elections
Wisconsin holds great importance in national elections, as it was traditionally part of the 'blue wall' for Democrats. However, in 2016, Donald Trump's victory in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan shattered this electoral stronghold. The state's electoral college votes could again prove decisive in future elections, including the possibility of Donald Trump seeking another term. As a result, attention and campaign efforts from politicians, including President Biden, are increasingly focused on Wisconsin. The outcome in this closely contested state could play a pivotal role in determining the next president.
Wisconsin's diverse geography and intense state politics have kept it a closely-fought presidential battleground for years — but abortion politics and the GOP's slipping grasp on the state's evolving suburbs might be changing things.
And a family's journey to find care for their daughter — from Afghanistan to Mexico and then across the U.S. southern border — exposes the complicated state of affairs for Afghan immigrants and other migrants in the United States.
This episode: White House reporter Deepa Shivaram, senior political editor and correspondent Ron Elving, WUWM reporter Maayan Silver, and Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman.
The podcast is produced by Elena Moore and Casey Morell. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.
Unlock access to this and other bonus content by supporting The NPR Politics Podcast+. Sign up via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.