| Democratic Party of Wisconsin | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Mike Tate |
| Senate leader | Mark Miller |
| Assembly leader | Peter W. Barca |
| Headquarters | Madison, Wisconsin |
| Ideology | American Liberalism Progressivism Center-left |
| National affiliation | Democratic Party |
| Official colors | Blue |
| Website | |
| http://www.wisdems.org/ | |
| Politics of the United States Political parties Elections |
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The Democratic Party of Wisconsin is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in Wisconsin. As of 2009, it is headed by state party chairman Mike Tate, who is the youngest chairman of a state party.[1]
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The Democratic Party dominated politics until the late 1850s, followed by the newly founded Republican Party of Wisconsin. The Republican Party held sway for almost 100 years. Jacksonian democracy was strong in Wisconsin in the early days, until 1856 all territorial and state governors were Democrats, except for one Whig. In 1854, however, a coalition of Whigs, Antislavery Democrats, and Free Soilers formed a Republican Party in the state—a key event in the establishment of the national Republican Party.[2] From that point on, Republicans quickly gained control of most elected offices; from 1856 to 1959 there were only three Democratic governors. This period of time would last almost one hundred years, until the Democratic party would gain a stronger foothold within the state.
In the late 19th century, the Republican Party was primarily concerned with the special interests of railroads, the lumber industry and the concerns of unionized labor.[3] Along with these interests and the Republicans' ability to accumulate Federal funding for Wisconsin, gained the Republicans the support of many individuals in the working class, along with small business and Populist farmers. In the last decade of the 19th century, the Republican Party's progressive base, which was led by Robert La Follette, began to dominate Wisconsin state politics. The election of La Follette as governor in 1900 was the cornerstone of this movement. Democrats were virtually dormant in the state during this time.
The Republicans led by La Follette employed many progressive policies within in the state of Wisconsin. These policies during the twentieth century were rather influential with the masses, and helped spur their later success in the state of Wisconsin.[4] The Republicans' tight control of Wisconsin politics lasted until the 1950s, when Democrats altered some aspects of their party to become more aligned with the national party. These changes were consistent with the new social policies being called for by the national Democratic Party. The Democrats won their first major victory when William Proxmire was elected in the late 1950s. Wisconsin in the 1980s and early 1990s was characterized by competitive two-party politics for control of the governorship, other state constitutional offices, the state legislature, and U.S. Senate seats. [5]
The dawn of the twenty first century has been a mixed one when it comes to control of state politics. The Democrats and Republicans in Wisconsin have both had multiple occasions of controlling either the state house of representatives or the state senate. The first decade of the twenty first century has been an even balance between the parties fight for control of Wisconsin. As of the elections in 2011, the Democrats lost control of the governorship, the house and senate.[6]
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin tends to be closely aligned with many of the ideas/ideologies of the national Democratic Party in the United States. While the national Democratic Party has a wider scope of views, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin shares many of the same views which fall under the same ideology. The Wisconsin Democratic Parties Ideologies can be classified as liberal, progressive and center-left. Many of these views can be characterized by what the party is calling for relating to the party's social ideals and economic ideals. This can encompass topics such as education, healthcare, foreign policy, environmental issues and labor.
Many of these issues are addressed when the Party has their convention and they develop and vote on a party platform. The most recent party platform was created and voted on during the 2010 midterm elections.
In February 2011 the Republican-controlled state congress, proposed the "2011 Wisconsin budget repair bill" also endorsed by Governor Scott Walker caused much controversy within the Democratic Party and the state of Wisconsin. The debate over first-term Republican Governor Scott Walker's call to stop just short of eliminating collective bargaining for most public employees divided Wisconsin and prompted a walkout by all 14 Senate Democrats.[7] The group of State Senators fled the state to halt the vote on the bill. The fourteen included: Tim Carpenter, Spencer Coggs, Tim Cullen, John Eprenbach, Dave Hansen, Jim Holperin, Robert Jauch, Chris Larson, Julie Lassa, Mark MIller, Fred Risser, Lena Taylor, Kathleen Vinehout, and Robert Wirch. Due to much of the controversy that this bill has brought, as of November 2011, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin has began a movement for the recall of Governor Scott Walker.
The Wisconsin Democratic Party controls one of the five statewide offices. Wisconsin's legislature has a senate with 33 members and an assembly with 99 members. The state elects two senators and eight representatives to the U.S. Congress and has ten electoral votes.[8] The Wisconsin Democratic Party currently holds one of the two national senate seats, which is occupied by Herb Kohl.
The Wisconsin State Legislature has a Senate and a House of Representatives.
Herbert Kohl is a Senator from Wisconsin.
He is known for being a senator for a long period time of being deemed a “senior senator”. He is age 76 and has been a senator since 1989. Senator Herb Kohl, is the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks (NBA).
Tammy Suzanne Baldwin is the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin’s 2nd congressional district. She is a member of the Democratic Party and has a long track record with her political career. Tammy Baldwin has over eight memberships in various different caucuses and stands on one committee and two sub committees. She has won every race in her district since 1998.[11]
Ron Kind is a U.S. Representative of Wisconsin’s third district. He was born in Plateville on March 16, 1963, and has been active member in politics in the area and on his seat since 1997. He has five caucus memberships and sits on two committees and five sub committees.[12]
Gwendolynne Moore is the U.S. Representative of Wisconsin’s fourth congressional district. She has been active in politics since 1993 serving in the state senate till 2004. She has been serving on her current house seat since 2005. Gwendolynee is the first women to represent her district, and serves on two committees and three sub-committees. [13]
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