Rural-urban statehouse divisions foreshadow policy fights

Blue counties got bluer and red counties got redder in the November elections, widening ideological divides as Democrats and Republicans dug in and became less likely to compromise on pressing issues in the 2021 legislative sessions, including dealing with covid-19 and budget deficits," Elaine Povich reports for Stateline. That ideological divide, often along rural-urban lines, foreshadows "the rancorous redistricting process that will set political boundaries for the next decade, particularly in states where the governor is of one party and the legislature the other."

The deepening political divide could affect a wide range of issues, from state budgets, minimum wages, marijuana, infrastructure funding, and more, Povich reports.

In Wisconsin, for example, political entrenchment is hampering pandemic response. "Democratic Gov. Tony Evers plans a new executive order requiring a mask mandate into 2021 and called on Republicans to drop a lawsuit against it," Povich reports. "Wisconsin is one of a handful of states without a statewide pandemic plan, due to GOP efforts to thwart Evers’ proposals, except for the mask mandate, so far."