Wisconsin Rep. Tara Johnson on gerrymandering wars, public outreach

State Assembly Rep. Tara Johnson in studio discussing whether Wisconsin should get into the gerrymandering wars, ways to better communicate with constituents and some of the dilemmas she’s hearing from those in her district. We started the show discussing outreach — holding office hours, hosting town halls and other ways to reach constituents. That conversation started because Johnson has put 70,000 miles on her car, including hosting town halls throughout the state on her proposal for a BadgerCare public option. After that, we got into some of the issues she’s hearing, including one that’s a big off the radar but relatable to the housing crisis happening everywhere — outside entities are coming into Wisconsin, buying up mobile home parks and jacking up the rent and utilities.  The second half of the show dealt a bit with the gerrymandering wars, as Republican states are changing their voting maps and stopping elections in the middle of voting, while Democratic states are going to the polls and asking voters if they want to change their maps. An issue started by Donald Trump telling Texas Republicans to change their voting maps.  Johnson was asked multiple times if she would be in favor of changing voting maps if things kept getting worse for Democrats. In Wisconsin, politicians who control the Legislature decide how the maps are drawn but Gov. Tony Evers called a special election a month ago to change this process to a nonpartisan voting commission. Though Republicans have gaveled in and immediately out of all 13 prior Evers’ special elections, this one remains open. And Johnson talks about where she stands on the issue. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.