It sounds like Scott Walker, realizing his Republican trifecta in Wisconsin is in trouble due to recall elections, is trying to speed up redistricting. Illegally, that is, because redistricting is supposed to wait until the fall since cities must redistrict wards first. If Walker somehow gets his way, chances are he'll try to lock in Wisconsin's current 5-3 Republican delegation, since Wisconsin is too Democratic to support 6-2 or 7-1 Republican. The bad news is, no matter what, Democrats won't get to draw the new map. But the good news is that theoretically speaking, if the Democrats were absolutely ruthless, Wisconsin would be able to support 6-2 or even 7-1 Democratic.
More after the flip.
This map is simply intended for fun, to see what Democrats could draw if they were in control and as ready to screw over the Republicans as the Republicans are to screw over the Dems. I used 59% Obama for my baseline for a safe Democratic district. Granted, because Obama overperformed in Wisconsin, that only comes out to about D+5 or so. But Ron Kind, in his D+4 district, hung on in 2010 against a strong opponent. So I would argue that D+5 is pretty safe, especially with the Republican inability to nominate moderates.
As a note, I will say that when it is unclear where within a city a candidate lives, I go by the office that they registered with for their candidacy.
With that out of the way, let's get this party started.
WI-01 Incumbent: Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee)
Vote: Obama 59 McCain 40
Description: Let the baconmander begin! This district takes part of Milwaukee and its heavily Democratic northern suburbs and uses them to balance out Republican areas like Dodge County and the southern Milwaukee suburbs. If this district could vote 3-to-2 for a black man for president, they'll be fine with a black woman for congress. (And for whatever it's worth, this is the least white district in Wisconsin, at 68.3% white and 22.1% black total, 73.0/19.5 among 18+.)
WI-02 OPEN
Vote: Obama 59 McCain 40
Description: Another district that neutralizes Republican areas (Sheboygan) with Milwaukee. Also passes through Dane County, but doesn't contain any of Madison proper. Tammy Baldwin is certainly free to run here.
WI-03 Incumbent: Paul Ryan (R-Janesville)
Vote: Obama 60 McCain 38
Description: Everyone's favorite Medicare-hater is sitting pretty in his current 51-48 Obama district, but what if we upped the ante a bit? He's lost all of his part of Waukesha, most of Republican-leaning Walworth, as well as the Republican part of Racine County. Worse yet, he's gained a good chunk of Milwaukee. It'll be amazing if he makes it out of this one alive.
WI-04 Incumbent: Ron Kind (D-La Crosse)
Vote: Obama 59 McCain 40
Description: Basically the same as his current district, albeit a touch more Democratic. With this and Dan Kapanke being dead meat, Ron Kind would have plenty of reasons to smile.
WI-05 Incumbent: Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Menomonee Falls), Tom Petri (R-Fond du Lac)
Vote: Obama 38 McCain 61
Description: What's the only thing better than an ultra-red vote sink which allows us to win seven other districts? Answer: an ultra-red vote sink which allows us to win seven other districts and throws two Republicans together! Sensenbrenner and Petri should have a wonderful time duking it out in the primary. Well, Sensenbrenner should. Petri probably won't like that this district has much more of Sensenbrenner's territory than his. As it withdraws from the Democratic-leaning northern suburbs of Milwaukee, this district is even more Republican than Sensenbrenner's current, and probably goes from R+13 to R+15 or so.
WI-06 Incumbent: Reid Ribble (R-De Pere)
Vote: Obama 59 McCain 40
Description: Wikipedia says Ribble lives in Appleton, while the address he filed with is in De Pere. Either way, as all of Outagamie County is in the 6th, Ribble's likely here no matter what. Too bad for him. I don't think he'd appreciate running in a 59% Obama district in a year with Obama coattails.
WI-07 OPEN
Vote: Obama 59 McCain 40
Description: Here's another open seat linking Green Bay with Madison. Gerrymanderlicious! Especially when the gerrymander benefits us.
WI-08 Incumbent: Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison), Sean Duffy (R-Ashland)
Vote: Obama 59 McCain 39
Description: Same deal. Wikipedia says Duffy lives in Hayward, but the address he registered with is in Ashland and he was Ashland County DA before becoming a congressman. Either way, he's in the 8th, and he's probably feeling nervous about this district. On the one hand, he keeps a few counties that he currently represents and gets to use homophobic smear tactics against Tammy Baldwin. On the other hand, good luck winning a 59-40 Obama district in 2012, because ultra-liberal Madison ain't buying what you're selling.
And that's it! I'd love to hear suggestions, especially from Cheeseheads.