Wisconsin Democrats Chart the Future: Devin Remiker’s Election and WisDems’ Political Strategies

June 16, 2025 | Boncopia.com

A New Leader for a Swing State Battleground

On June 15, 2025, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin (WisDems) convened in Wisconsin Dells for its state party convention, electing Devin Remiker as its new chairman. This leadership transition, following Ben Wikler’s transformative tenure, underscores Wisconsin’s critical role as a political swing state and highlights the strategic roadmap WisDems are crafting for the 2026 midterm elections. Remiker’s election, paired with the party’s proven organizing and fundraising strategies, positions Wisconsin Democrats to navigate the state’s complex political landscape, where tight margins and fierce competition define every race.

Devin Remiker: The Next Chapter for WisDems

Devin Remiker, a 32-year-old from Two Rivers, Wisconsin, secured the chairmanship with 485 votes in a ranked-choice voting system, defeating competitors Joe Zepecki and William Garcia. As the former executive director of WisDems, Remiker is no stranger to the party’s operations. His campaign emphasized continuity, leveraging the party’s robust infrastructure to build on victories like Governor Tony Evers’ re-election, a liberal state Supreme Court majority, and the end of gerrymandered legislative maps. Remiker’s vision is clear: “The Democratic Party of Wisconsin works. We take on the big fights, and we win.”

Endorsed by outgoing chairman Ben Wikler and key figures like U.S. Representative Gwen Moore and Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, Remiker inherits a party known for its relentless organizing. His election signals a commitment to maintaining WisDems’ edge in a state where elections are often decided by razor-thin margins—four of the last six presidential races were won by less than one percentage point.

Wisconsin’s Political Landscape: A Purple Powerhouse

Wisconsin’s political identity is a paradox: a state with progressive roots, from Robert La Follette’s early 20th-century reforms to Milwaukee’s “sewer socialism,” yet also the home of conservative icons like Senator Joe McCarthy and modern Republican dominance under former Governor Scott Walker. Today, Wisconsin is a quintessential swing state, oscillating between Democratic and Republican victories. Donald Trump’s 2016 and 2024 presidential wins broke the Democratic “blue wall,” while Democrats have reclaimed ground with Governor Evers’ 2018 and 2022 victories and Senator Tammy Baldwin’s 2024 re-election.

The state’s political geography amplifies this competitiveness. Urban strongholds like Milwaukee and Madison are Democratic bastions, surrounded by rural, conservative areas that lean heavily Republican. This divide, coupled with extreme partisan gerrymandering until recent map reforms, has made legislative control a persistent challenge for Democrats, despite competitive statewide races. Remiker’s strategy will need to bridge these divides, mobilizing urban voters while appealing to swing voters in suburban and rural areas like the Fox Valley and Green Bay.

WisDems’ Winning Strategies

Under Ben Wikler’s leadership since 2019, WisDems became a national model for Democratic organizing. Raising $262 million compared to the Wisconsin GOP’s $97 million, the party powered victories in 10 of 13 statewide contested elections. Key strategies included:

• Year-Round Organizing: WisDems maintain a permanent field operation, engaging voters beyond election cycles. This approach, which Remiker vows to continue, builds trust and turnout in tight races.

• Fundraising Prowess: The party’s financial advantage allows robust advertising, voter outreach, and support for local candidates, critical in a state where national attention brings heavy spending.

• Issue-Driven Campaigns: Democrats have capitalized on issues like abortion rights, which drove turnout in the 2023 and 2025 state Supreme Court races. A 2023 Marquette Law School poll found 38% of Wisconsin voters considered abortion a top issue, with 57% opposing restrictive laws.

• Fighting Gerrymandering: The 2024 adoption of fairer legislative maps, following a liberal Supreme Court majority, has given Democrats a shot at flipping the legislature for the first time in 15 years.

Remiker’s challenge is to sustain these strategies while adapting to new realities, including national Democratic losses in 2024 and growing Republican efforts to counter WisDems’ organizational edge.

The 2026 Roadmap: A Democratic Trifecta?

Remiker’s election aligns with WisDems’ ambitious goal of achieving a “trifecta” in 2026—retaining the governor’s mansion and flipping both legislative chambers. With Governor Evers’ third-term decision pending, the gubernatorial race will be a focal point. The state Senate and Assembly, now more competitive due to redrawn maps, offer Democrats a rare opportunity to end Republican dominance.

Key strategies for 2026 include:

• Mobilizing Swing Voters: Along Milwaukee’s North Avenue, a 15-mile corridor reflecting Wisconsin’s diversity, voters prioritize economic issues and bipartisanship. Remiker must address cost-of-living concerns and counter perceptions of gridlock, as noted by voters in NPR’s 2024 reporting.

• Countering GOP Narratives: Republicans, emboldened by Trump’s 2024 win, are pushing issues like voter ID laws, which passed overwhelmingly in 2025, and opposing Democratic resolutions on immigration and DEI. WisDems must craft messaging that resonates without alienating moderates.

• Leveraging Local Engagement: Candidates like Ryan Spaude, campaigning in Green Bay’s competitive districts, emphasize respectful dialogue and local issues. Remiker’s grassroots focus will amplify such efforts.

Challenges and Republican Counter-Strategies

Wisconsin’s GOP is not standing still. After losing ground in recent years, Republicans are refining their approach. They’ve capitalized on cultural issues, like opposing DEI initiatives and school choice reforms, as highlighted in X posts from June 2025. The party’s 2024 decision to host its national convention in Milwaukee underscored Wisconsin’s importance, and strategists like Bill McCoshen stress the need for better organizing to match WisDems’ ground game.

Gerrymandering, though mitigated, remains a hurdle. Marquette University research shows Democrats’ urban concentration naturally “packs” their voters, limiting legislative gains unless turnout is exceptionally high. Additionally, national Republican figures like Elon Musk have poured unprecedented funds into Wisconsin races, as seen in the 2025 Supreme Court election, posing a financial challenge for WisDems.

New Leadership, New Opportunities

Remiker’s leadership team, including First Vice Chair Sarah Godlewski and Second Vice Chair Joshua Taylor, brings fresh energy to WisDems’ mission. Godlewski’s prominence and Taylor’s organizing experience complement Remiker’s operational expertise. Together, they’ll tackle pressing issues like public school funding, which has sparked tensions with GOP legislators, as noted in recent budget talks.

The convention’s theme, “The Road to 2026,” reflects WisDems’ forward-looking strategy. Remiker’s call to “hit the gas” emphasizes urgency, drawing on Wisconsin’s history of resilience—from La Follette’s progressivism to modern abolitionist movements. By doubling down on grassroots engagement, strategic messaging, and fair-map opportunities, WisDems aim to reshape Wisconsin’s political future.

Why Wisconsin Matters Nationally

Wisconsin’s political strategies are a microcosm of national trends. Its swing-state status, competitive races, and innovative organizing make it a testing ground for both parties. Remiker’s ability to sustain WisDems’ momentum could offer Democrats a blueprint for reclaiming battlegrounds elsewhere, while Republicans watch closely to counter these gains. As NPR noted, “As goes North Avenue, so goes Wisconsin”—and perhaps, so goes the nation.

Thought-Provoking Questions for Readers:

1. How can Devin Remiker expand WisDems’ appeal to rural and suburban swing voters while maintaining urban turnout?

2. What role will issues like abortion and economic opportunity play in shaping WisDems’ 2026 strategy, given Wisconsin’s divided electorate?

3. Can WisDems’ organizing model be replicated in other swing states, or is Wisconsin’s political geography too unique?

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