Wisconsin Democratic Party
|
Democratic Party of Wisconsin
|
|
|---|---|
| Chairperson | Martha Laning |
| Senate leader | Jennifer Shilling |
| Assembly leader | Peter Barca |
| Headquarters |
Madison, Wisconsin United States
|
| Ideology |
Liberalism Progressivism Social liberalism |
| National affiliation | Democratic Party |
| Colors | Blue |
| Seats in the Upper House |
14 / 33
|
| Seats in the Lower House |
36 / 99
|
| Website | |
| www |
|
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the state of Wisconsin. It is currently headed by state party chair Martha Laning.
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. 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. 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. 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.
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Wikipedia