Gov. Tony Evers reflected on his two terms as governor, touting his accomplishments, including passing new legislative maps and extending public education funding at the Cap Times Idea Fest in an interview with author David Maraniss Wednesday.
“I love the job, I learn something new every day,” Evers said. “That’s what… I think, made me successful as a governor.”
Fair maps
Evers said his biggest accomplishment as governor was signing new legislative maps into law in February 2024, which re-drew previously Republican-dominated maps in the state.
“The most important thing we’ve done is develop fair maps,” Evers said. “Now we have to spend some time making sure that we have a process, an independent process, to do it again.”
The newly drawn maps passed the state legislature with bipartisan support in 2024 after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled the old maps were unconstitutional. Wisconsin Democrats fought for years to redistrict what experts considered some of the most “gerrymandered” maps in the country.
In the first election with new maps, Democrats picked up four targeted senate seats and 10 assembly seats, ending the Republican supermajority in the senate. In the next midterm election, Wisconsin Democrats need a net gain of two seats to flip control of the senate.
Evers also commented on President Donald Trump’s current involvement in Texas’ legislative maps, where the president influenced Gov. Greg Abbott to redraw congressional maps for a Republican advantage. Evers said he believes redistricting should be left to the states without federal pressure.
“I find it disgusting that Trump calls up the people in Texas and says ‘hey I need five more seats,’” Evers said, noting he’s glad he’s not in that position.
National Guard threat
President Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard to various cities, and his threats to send troops to Chicago, spurred talk of a possible presence in Milwaukee.
Although Trump recently shifted his focus away from Illinois, Evers said he would do everything he could to stop a National Guard deployment and criticized their effectiveness in Washington, D.C.
“What they are doing in Washington, D.C. is taking care of the lawn and putting mulch out here and there and wearing a uniform,” Evers said. “The National Guard are not police officers.”
400 year funding and education
Evers touted the creative line-item veto he used in April to change the state budget’s two year K-12 funding increase into a 400 year one.
“We crossed things off, lines and numbers and things like that, and voila,” Evers said. “Let’s add 400 years.” As a long-term educator, he is hopeful for the budget’s longevity, noting it would require a Republican governor and legislature to change it.
Evers began his career in education, teaching biology in the Baraboo school district before becoming a school administrator and eventually running for state superintendent. He lost the race twice before winning on his third try in 2009. Eventually, Evers ran for governor in 2018 and again in 2022, winning both races by narrow margins.
Evers recently declared he will not seek a third term, saying he wants to spend more time with his family, even though he confidently said he would win in 2026 if he ran.
