Michigan’s Playbook for Swing-State Success: Lessons for Wisconsin Democrats Under Devin Remiker

June 16, 2025 | Boncopia.com

A Swing-State Showdown: Michigan and Wisconsin in Focus

On June 15, 2025, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin (WisDems) elected Devin Remiker as its new chairman at its state convention in Wisconsin Dells, signaling a strategic pivot toward the 2026 midterm elections. As a fellow swing state, Michigan offers a blueprint for political tactics that WisDems, under Remiker’s leadership, can adapt to maintain their edge in Wisconsin’s fiercely competitive political landscape. Both states share a history of tight races, diverse voter bases, and innovative organizing strategies that have reshaped their political terrains. By examining Michigan’s political tactics, WisDems can refine their approach to secure a Democratic “trifecta” in 2026.

Devin Remiker’s Mandate: Building on Wisconsin’s Success

Devin Remiker, a 32-year-old former WisDems executive director, won the chairmanship with 485 votes in a ranked-choice election, defeating Joe Zepecki and William Garcia. His platform builds on the legacy of outgoing chairman Ben Wikler, who raised $262 million and led Democrats to victories in 10 of 13 statewide races since 2019. Remiker’s strategy emphasizes year-round organizing, grassroots engagement, and leveraging Wisconsin’s new, fairer legislative maps to flip the state legislature. His rallying cry—“It’s time to hit the gas”—sets the stage for an aggressive push toward 2026, with key races for governor, 17 state Senate seats, and a state Supreme Court position.

Michigan, like Wisconsin, is a swing state where elections are often decided by slim margins. Donald Trump’s 2016 victory in Michigan by just 10,704 votes and Joe Biden’s 2020 win by 154,188 votes mirror Wisconsin’s narrow presidential outcomes. Michigan’s political tactics, particularly its citizen-led reforms and voter mobilization efforts, offer valuable lessons for WisDems as they navigate similar challenges.

Michigan’s Political Tactics: A Model for WisDems

Michigan’s political landscape, like Wisconsin’s, is defined by urban Democratic strongholds (Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing) and rural Republican bastions (Western Michigan, the Upper Peninsula). Both states have leveraged innovative tactics to strengthen their Democratic parties, offering insights Remiker can adapt.

1. Citizen-Led Redistricting Reform

Michigan’s 2018 establishment of the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) through a voter-initiated constitutional amendment (Proposal 18-2) transformed the state from one of the most gerrymandered to one with highly competitive districts. In 2022, this led to Democrats winning seven of 13 congressional seats and securing narrow majorities in both legislative chambers for the first time in 40 years. The MICRC’s fair maps ensured that vote shares closely matched seat shares, with Democrats’ 51.2% of congressional votes translating to 53.8% of seats.

Wisconsin’s recent adoption of fairer legislative maps, following a liberal state Supreme Court majority in 2024, mirrors Michigan’s reform. Remiker can draw on Michigan’s success by mobilizing voters around the promise of competitive districts, emphasizing how fair maps amplify voter voices. Grassroots groups like Voters Not Politicians, which drove Michigan’s redistricting reform with 6,500 volunteers, offer a model for WisDems to engage citizens in protecting and promoting these gains.

2. Voter Mobilization and Issue-Driven Campaigns

Michigan Democrats have excelled at mobilizing key constituencies, particularly Black voters, organized labor, and young voters. In 2020, Joe Biden’s 93% support among Black voters and 56% among union households, coupled with high turnout in Detroit and its suburbs, secured his victory. Issues like abortion rights, bolstered by a 2022 ballot measure protecting reproductive freedom, have driven turnout, especially among Democrats and independents. A 2023 PRRI survey found 39% of Michiganders prioritize candidates who share their abortion stance, a tactic WisDems have also used successfully in state Supreme Court races.

Remiker can replicate Michigan’s focus on mobilizing urban voters in Milwaukee and Madison while targeting swing voters in suburban areas like Waukesha County, akin to Michigan’s competitive Oakland and Macomb counties. Emphasizing economic opportunity, as Michigan Democrats did with Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s 2018 campaign, which flipped nine Trump-won counties, could resonate with Wisconsin’s working-class voters.

3. Countering GOP Narratives

Michigan’s GOP has leveraged cultural issues, like opposing vaccine mandates and DEI initiatives, to energize its base. Trump’s 2024 campaign tactics, including claims that Democrats would ban gasoline-powered vehicles, appealed to working-class voters in regions like the Thumb and Saginaw Bay. Michigan Democrats countered by focusing on bipartisan issues like infrastructure and healthcare, with Whitmer’s 2025 State of the State address highlighting economic growth and cost reduction.

WisDems face similar GOP narratives, including recent ballot measures on voter ID laws. Remiker can adopt Michigan’s strategy of framing Democratic policies as common-sense solutions, such as protecting public school funding, to neutralize Republican attacks and appeal to moderates.

4. Grassroots and Digital Innovation

Michigan’s Voters Not Politicians demonstrates the power of grassroots organizing, collecting 170,000 signatures for a 2022 voting rights amendment. Firms like Victor Strategies emphasize digital advertising to cut through clutter, a tactic WisDems can use to reach younger voters. Remiker’s focus on year-round organizing aligns with Michigan’s approach, where Harris established campus offices to engage young voters in 2024. WisDems could expand digital campaigns to target Wisconsin’s college towns like Eau Claire and La Crosse.

Challenges for WisDems: Learning from Michigan’s Struggles

Michigan’s tactics aren’t without pitfalls. The 2024 election saw challenges with key Democratic constituencies, including an “enthusiasm gap” among Black voters and reduced support from Muslim and MENA communities due to foreign policy concerns. Over 100,000 Michigan Democrats voted “uncommitted” in the 2024 primary to protest Biden’s Gaza policy, a warning for WisDems to address diverse voter concerns. Wisconsin’s smaller but significant immigrant communities, particularly in Milwaukee, require tailored outreach to avoid similar alienation.

Michigan’s GOP also poses a challenge, with figures like State Senator Lindsey accusing Democrats of undermining election integrity. Wisconsin faces parallel accusations, and Remiker must ensure transparent election processes to maintain voter trust, as Michigan’s Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has done despite impeachment threats.

Wisconsin’s Path Forward Under Remiker

Remiker’s leadership team, including First Vice Chair Sarah Godlewski and Second Vice Chair Joshua Taylor, is well-positioned to adapt Michigan’s tactics. Godlewski’s prominence and Taylor’s organizing experience mirror Michigan’s cohesive Democratic leadership under Whitmer. WisDems’ $262 million fundraising haul under Wikler provides a financial foundation to emulate Michigan’s robust campaign infrastructure.

With 2026 looming, Remiker can prioritize:

• Fair-Map Advocacy: Highlighting the end of gerrymandering to energize voters, as Michigan did post-2018.

• Targeted Messaging: Focusing on economic opportunity and reproductive rights to mobilize urban and suburban voters.

• Grassroots Expansion: Building coalitions with local groups to mirror Michigan’s Voters Not Politicians model.

• Digital Outreach: Investing in digital ads to reach young and swing voters in competitive districts.

Why This Matters

Michigan and Wisconsin are twin battlegrounds, with shared histories of progressive reforms and competitive elections. Michigan’s citizen-led reforms and mobilization tactics offer a roadmap for WisDems to secure a 2026 trifecta. As Remiker takes the helm, his ability to adapt these strategies will shape Wisconsin’s political future and influence national Democratic efforts in swing states.

Thought-Provoking Questions for Readers:

1. How can WisDems under Devin Remiker balance Michigan’s citizen-led reform model with Wisconsin’s unique political divides?

2. What issues, like abortion or economic opportunity, should WisDems prioritize to replicate Michigan’s voter mobilization success?

3. Can Wisconsin Democrats counter GOP cultural narratives as effectively as Michigan Democrats have, and what tactics might work best?

Sources: Information compiled from Wisconsin Examiner, NBC26, WisPolitics, NPR, Marquette University Law, Brookings Institution, and posts on X. For more on U.S. News & Politics, visit Boncopia.com.