Arizona’s Swing-State Strategies: A Blueprint for Wisconsin Democrats Under Devin Remiker

June 16, 2025 | Boncopia.com

A New Chapter for WisDems in a Battleground State

On June 15, 2025, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin (WisDems) elected Devin Remiker as its new chairman at its state convention in Wisconsin Dells, marking a pivotal moment as the party gears up for the 2026 midterm elections. As a swing state with a history of razor-thin margins, Wisconsin shares significant parallels with Arizona, another battleground that flipped Democratic in 2020 but swung back to Republican control in 2024. Arizona’s political strategies—emphasizing urban turnout, diverse voter mobilization, and issue-driven campaigns—offer a robust playbook for Remiker and WisDems to secure a Democratic “trifecta” in 2026. By examining Arizona’s tactics, WisDems can refine their approach to energize voters, counter GOP strategies, and maintain Wisconsin’s competitive edge.

Devin Remiker’s Vision: Powering WisDems Toward 2026

Devin Remiker, a 32-year-old former WisDems executive director, secured the chairmanship with 485 votes in a ranked-choice election, defeating Joe Zepecki and William Garcia. Building on outgoing chairman Ben Wikler’s legacy, which raised $262 million and secured victories in 10 of 13 statewide races since 2019, Remiker’s platform emphasizes year-round organizing, grassroots engagement, and leveraging Wisconsin’s newly fair legislative maps. His rallying cry to “hit the gas” targets key 2026 races, including the governor’s seat, 17 state Senate seats, and a state Supreme Court position.

Arizona, like Wisconsin, is a swing state where elections are decided by slim margins. Joe Biden’s 2020 win in Arizona by 10,457 votes (0.3%) marked the first Democratic presidential victory since 1996, while Donald Trump’s 2024 flip by 5.5% highlights its volatility. Arizona’s strategies, particularly its focus on urban and Latino voters, provide actionable insights for WisDems navigating Wisconsin’s purple terrain.

Arizona’s Political Landscape: A Purple State in Transition

Arizona’s political history mirrors Wisconsin’s swing-state evolution. A Republican stronghold from 1952 to 2016, except for Bill Clinton’s 1996 win, Arizona turned competitive due to demographic shifts and urban growth. Biden’s 2020 victory and Democratic wins in 2018 (U.S. Senate) and 2022 (governor, attorney general, secretary of state) reflect a state in flux. As of April 2025, Arizona’s voter registration shows 35.9% Republicans, 28.6% Democrats, and 33.8% unaffiliated, underscoring its competitiveness.

Arizona’s political geography centers on Maricopa County (Phoenix, 59% of voters), which flipped Democratic in 2020, and Pima County (Tucson, 15%), a Democratic stronghold. Rural counties lean heavily Republican, mirroring Wisconsin’s divide between urban Milwaukee/Madison and rural northern counties. Arizona’s diverse electorate—31% Latino, 5% Black, 5% Mormon—parallels Wisconsin’s growing Latino population and independent voter base (38% per 2024 Marquette polls).

Arizona’s Political Strategies: Lessons for WisDems

Arizona’s Democratic strategies, driven by grassroots organizing and issue-focused campaigns, offer a model for WisDems. Here are key tactics and their relevance to Wisconsin:

1. Maximizing Urban and Suburban Turnout

Maricopa County’s 2.4 million voters, comprising 59% of Arizona’s electorate, are the linchpin of Democratic victories. In 2020, Biden won Maricopa by 2%, driven by high urban turnout and suburban shifts, particularly among college-educated women. Groups like Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) targeted Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties, registering 10,000 voters and making 1 million contacts in 2024.

WisDems can replicate this by boosting turnout in Milwaukee and Madison, while targeting suburban Waukesha and Ozaukee counties, where educated voters are trending Democratic. Partnering with unions, as Arizona did with labor groups, can mobilize public-sector workers in urban centers.

2. Mobilizing Diverse Voters

Arizona’s Latino voters (25% of the electorate) were critical to Biden’s 2020 win, with Clinton winning over 80% in 2016. Groups like Our Voice, Our Vote (OVOV) focus on Black, Latino, and youth voters, making 1.6 million contacts in 2024. However, GOP gains with Latinos (one-third switched to Republican since 2020) highlight risks. Democrats also court Mormon voters (5% of the population), with figures like former Senator Jeff Flake endorsing Kamala Harris in 2024.

WisDems can adopt this by intensifying bilingual outreach to Milwaukee’s Latino and Black communities, while engaging young voters in college towns like Eau Claire. Arizona’s success with diverse coalitions suggests WisDems should use trusted messengers to boost turnout.

3. Issue-Driven Campaigns

Arizona Democrats leverage abortion rights, immigration, and economic issues. A 2024 ballot measure to enshrine abortion rights until fetal viability (24 weeks) mobilized young, suburban, and independent voters, with 60% of Arizonans identifying as pro-choice. A February 2024 Emerson College poll ranked immigration (31%), the economy (20%), and housing affordability (11%) as top voter concerns.

Wisconsin Democrats have used abortion rights effectively, with 57% of voters opposing restrictive laws per a 2023 Marquette Law School poll. Remiker can amplify messaging on reproductive rights, education funding, and cost-of-living, appealing to urban and suburban voters in Racine and Waukesha, as Arizona did in Maricopa.

4. Contesting Every Race

Arizona Democrats contested nearly all legislative races in 2024, aiming to flip the state House and Senate (one seat shy in each). Groups like the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee recruited moderates like John McLean, who knocked on 4,000 doors, to challenge GOP extremists. This strategy mirrors North Carolina’s success in contesting 168 of 170 races.

WisDems can adopt this by fielding candidates in all legislative districts, leveraging fair maps to boost turnout in competitive areas like Green Bay, as Arizona did in Tucson’s Legislative District 17.

5. Countering GOP Narratives

Arizona’s GOP capitalizes on immigration and economic concerns, with a 2024 ballot measure criminalizing unauthorized border crossings. Democrats counter by framing Republicans as extreme, highlighting GOP figures like Kari Lake’s election denialism. WisDems face similar GOP narratives, like voter ID measures. Remiker can adopt Arizona’s tactic of exposing GOP extremism, while emphasizing bipartisan issues like infrastructure to appeal to independents (38% of Wisconsin voters).

Challenges and Opportunities for WisDems

Arizona’s 2024 loss to Trump, despite Democratic gains in 2020 and 2022, highlights risks for WisDems. GOP inroads with Latino voters and high rural turnout, as seen in Arizona’s 13 rural counties, mirror Wisconsin’s 2024 presidential loss. Arizona’s internal party turmoil, with conflicts between state chair Robert E. Branscomb II and Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, warns WisDems to maintain unity.

However, Arizona’s successes—winning the governor’s race and Senate seats—offer hope. Wisconsin’s fair maps, like Arizona’s competitive districts, create opportunities to flip legislative seats. Remiker can leverage Wisconsin’s urban strength and suburban trends, as Arizona did in Maricopa, to build a winning coalition.

Remiker’s Roadmap: Applying Arizona’s Lessons

Remiker’s leadership team, including First Vice Chair Sarah Godlewski and Second Vice Chair Joshua Taylor, can adapt Arizona’s tactics with Wisconsin’s fundraising strength. Key priorities include:

• Urban/Suburban Turnout: Boost Milwaukee and Madison turnout while targeting Waukesha, as Arizona did in Maricopa.

• Diverse Mobilization: Engage Latino, Black, and young voters with bilingual outreach, inspired by Arizona’s LUCHA and OVOV.

• Issue-Driven Messaging: Focus on abortion, education, and affordability, mirroring Arizona’s 2024 ballot strategy.

• Contesting All Races: Field candidates in every district, as Arizona Democrats did in 2024.

• Countering GOP Extremism: Frame Republicans as extreme, while appealing to independents, as Arizona did against Kari Lake.

Why This Matters

Arizona and Wisconsin are swing-state peers, with shared histories of close elections and urban-rural divides. Arizona’s strategies—urban turnout, diverse mobilization, and issue-driven campaigns—offer WisDems a blueprint to secure 2026 victories. As Remiker leads WisDems forward, adapting these tactics could shape Wisconsin’s political future and inform national Democratic strategies in battleground states.

Thought-Provoking Questions for Readers:

1. How can WisDems under Devin Remiker replicate Arizona’s urban turnout strategy to maximize votes in Milwaukee while engaging Wisconsin’s suburban voters?

2. What lessons from Arizona’s Latino voter outreach can WisDems apply to boost turnout among Wisconsin’s diverse communities in 2026?

3. Can WisDems counter GOP narratives on voter ID and immigration as effectively as Arizona Democrats, and what issues might drive their campaign?

Sources: Information compiled from Wisconsin Examiner, NBC26, WisPolitics, Marquette University Law, U.S. News, POLITICO, Arizona Mirror, The New York Times, The Guardian, ABC News, Ballotpedia, Brookings, and posts on X. For more on U.S. News & Politics, visit Boncopia.com.