Ohio’s Political Playbook: Strategic Lessons for Wisconsin Democrats Under Devin Remiker

June 16, 2025 | Boncopia.com

A New Era for WisDems in a Swing-State Arena

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 prepares for the 2026 midterm elections. As a swing state with a history of razor-thin margins, Wisconsin shares much in common with Ohio, another battleground where political strategies have shaped electoral outcomes. Ohio’s evolving political landscape, from its former bellwether status to a Republican-leaning state, offers critical lessons for Remiker and WisDems as they aim for a Democratic “trifecta” in 2026. By analyzing Ohio’s political tactics, WisDems can refine their approach to mobilize voters, counter GOP strategies, and capitalize on Wisconsin’s competitive edge.

Devin Remiker’s Vision: Building on Wisconsin’s Democratic Success

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. Endorsed by outgoing chairman Ben Wikler, who raised $262 million and led Democrats to victories in 10 of 13 statewide races since 2019, Remiker inherits a robust party infrastructure. His strategy emphasizes year-round organizing, grassroots engagement, and leveraging Wisconsin’s newly fair legislative maps to flip the state legislature. With a rallying call to “hit the gas,” Remiker is focused on key 2026 races, including the governor’s seat, 17 state Senate seats, and a state Supreme Court position.

Ohio, like Wisconsin, has been a swing state with a complex political geography, oscillating between parties in presidential and state elections. While Ohio has shifted rightward since 2016, its political strategies—particularly around voter mobilization, issue-driven campaigns, and redistricting reform—offer valuable insights for WisDems navigating Wisconsin’s purple terrain.

Ohio’s Political Landscape: From Bellwether to Republican Stronghold

Ohio was once a quintessential bellwether, voting for the winning presidential candidate in every election from 1896 to 2016, except for 1944, 1960, and 2020. However, Donald Trump’s eight-point victories in 2016 and 2020, despite his 2020 national loss, suggest Ohio is no longer a perfect mirror of the nation’s electorate. Republicans dominate state government, holding a trifecta (governor, House, and Senate) and a triplex (governor, attorney general, and secretary of state), with supermajorities in the state Senate (26-7) and House (66-32). The congressional delegation is also heavily Republican, with 10 of 15 House seats and both U.S. Senate seats held by Republicans Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted as of 2025.

Yet, Democrats maintain strongholds in Ohio’s major cities—Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, and Akron—while Republicans dominate rural northwest and Appalachian southeast regions, with gains in the industrial northeast. This urban-rural divide mirrors Wisconsin’s, where Milwaukee and Madison anchor Democratic support against rural Republican strongholds. Ohio’s political strategies, shaped by its “Five Ohios” regional diversity, offer lessons for WisDems to bridge similar divides.

Ohio’s Political Strategies: Lessons for WisDems

Ohio’s political tactics, driven by both parties, highlight strategies WisDems can adapt or counter under Remiker’s leadership. Here are key approaches and their relevance to Wisconsin:

1. Issue-Driven Campaigns and Ballot Initiatives

Ohio Democrats have leveraged ballot initiatives to mobilize voters, particularly on issues like reproductive rights. In 2023, voters rejected Issue 1, a Republican-backed proposal to raise the threshold for constitutional amendments to 60%, seen as an attempt to block a November 2023 reproductive rights amendment. The “no” campaign, led by groups like One Person One Vote, partnered with unions and advocacy groups across all 88 counties, using ads, yard signs, and early voting drives to boost turnout. The subsequent passage of the reproductive rights amendment showed the power of issue-driven campaigns.

WisDems have similarly capitalized on abortion rights, driving turnout in the 2023 and 2025 state Supreme Court races. A 2023 Marquette Law School poll found 57% of Wisconsin voters oppose restrictive abortion laws, mirroring Ohio’s voter sentiment. Remiker can adopt Ohio’s tactic of framing Democratic campaigns around personal freedoms, emphasizing economic opportunity and reproductive rights to mobilize urban and suburban voters in places like Waukesha and Green Bay.

2. Fighting Gerrymandering Through Citizen-Led Reform

Ohio’s redistricting battles highlight the importance of fair maps, a lesson Wisconsin has already embraced. Posts on X from 2023 and 2024 describe Ohio’s push for an anti-gerrymandering ballot measure to create a bipartisan commission of five Democrats, five Republicans, and five independents, aiming to end Republican-drawn maps that favor GOP supermajorities. Wisconsin’s 2024 adoption of fairer legislative maps, following a liberal Supreme Court majority, aligns with this trend. Remiker can draw on Ohio’s grassroots efforts, like those of Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights, to educate voters on how fair maps amplify their voices, boosting turnout in newly competitive districts.

3. Targeted Messaging and Regional Diversity

Ohio’s “Five Ohios” framework—Northeast (Cleveland), Southwest (Cincinnati), Central (Columbus), Northwest (Toledo), and Southeast (Appalachian)—recognizes regional diversity in voter priorities. Democrats focus on urban centers and educated suburbs, while Republicans target rural and working-class areas. Political marketing strategies in Ohio emphasize tailored messaging, using electoral analytics and digital platforms to address local concerns like economic policies and healthcare.

Wisconsin shares a similar urban-rural divide, with Democratic strength in Milwaukee and Madison and Republican dominance in rural areas. Remiker can adopt Ohio’s approach by crafting region-specific messages—economic opportunity for Milwaukee’s working-class voters, education funding for suburban families, and infrastructure for rural communities—while using digital tools to reach younger voters in college towns like Eau Claire.

4. Countering GOP Narratives

Ohio Republicans have pushed conservative priorities like voter ID laws, right-to-work proposals, and restrictions on abortion and IVF, often framing Democrats as extreme. Democrats counter by highlighting GOP attempts to limit voter power, as seen in opposition to Issue 1 in 2023. WisDems face similar GOP narratives, such as recent voter ID ballot measures. Remiker can adopt Ohio Democrats’ strategy of exposing Republican tactics as anti-democratic, using clear messaging to rally voters around protecting ballot access and personal freedoms.

Challenges and Opportunities for WisDems

Ohio’s shift rightward since 2016, driven by demographic changes and GOP gains in working-class areas, warns WisDems against complacency. A 2021 Redfield & Wilton Strategies poll showed Joe Biden’s disapproval in Ohio at 46%, reflecting challenges in maintaining swing-state support. Wisconsin’s 2024 presidential loss to Trump underscores similar risks. Remiker must address voter concerns like cost-of-living and education funding, as Ohio Democrats have struggled with GOP attacks on public school budgets.

However, Ohio’s urban Democratic strongholds and suburban gains offer hope. WisDems can replicate Ohio’s focus on suburban voters in counties like Waukesha, where educated professionals are trending Democratic. Additionally, Ohio’s grassroots coalitions, like those led by Policy Matters Ohio, provide a model for building alliances with unions and advocacy groups to boost turnout.

Remiker’s Roadmap: Applying Ohio’s Lessons

Remiker’s leadership team, including First Vice Chair Sarah Godlewski and Second Vice Chair Joshua Taylor, is poised to adapt Ohio’s tactics. With Wisconsin’s fair maps creating new opportunities, Remiker can:

• Mobilize on Key Issues: Emphasize reproductive rights and economic opportunity to drive turnout, as Ohio did in 2023.

• Strengthen Grassroots Coalitions: Partner with local groups to mirror Ohio’s county-level organizing.

• Tailor Messaging: Address regional concerns, from urban Milwaukee to rural Fox Valley, using digital and traditional media.

• Counter GOP Attacks: Frame Republicans as undermining voter rights, drawing on Ohio’s successful “no” campaign on Issue 1.

Why This Matters

Ohio and Wisconsin are swing-state siblings, with shared histories of competitive elections and progressive reforms. Ohio’s strategies—leveraging ballot initiatives, fighting gerrymandering, and tailoring messages—offer a playbook for WisDems to secure 2026 victories. As Remiker takes the helm, his ability to adapt these tactics will shape Wisconsin’s political future and influence national Democratic strategies in battleground states.

Thought-Provoking Questions for Readers:

1. How can WisDems under Devin Remiker use Ohio’s issue-driven campaign tactics to mobilize Wisconsin’s diverse voter base?

2. What lessons from Ohio’s anti-gerrymandering efforts can WisDems apply to sustain momentum for fair maps in 2026?

3. Can WisDems counter GOP narratives as effectively as Ohio Democrats did in 2023, and what messaging strategies might resonate most?

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