Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers says one priority this fall is to help fellow Democrat Joe Biden become president. Evers says another key goal is to hold on to his veto power over Republicans in the state Legislature.
Evers is getting some high-profile assistance with that state politics effort.
The GOP controls both legislative chambers in Madison, but on party-line votes, is a few short of the two-thirds majorities needed to override a gubernatorial veto. Evers told a webcast organized by the Wisconsin Democratic Party Thursday that he and party leaders have been raising money for a program called "Save The Veto."
"I put raising money for myself and my [2022] reelection on hold. Bottom line is, we must protect my veto for a whole bunch of reasons,” Evers said.
He said the key reason is to be able to veto an expected Republican redistricting plan next year, one that would redraw legislative boundaries for the next decade. The governor says the fundraising has brought in millions of dollars to help Democratic incumbents and challengers this fall in potential swing districts.
Former Obama administration Attorney General Eric Holder told the webcast the legislative races in Wisconsin are very important. "This is an existential presidential election. I get that. But so are the races happening down the ballot in Wisconsin as well,” Holder said.
Holder said he took part in a fundraiser last week for Wisconsin Democrats running for the legislature. Holder, chair of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, has been involved in several other Wisconsin contests in the last few years.
For example, Evers credits Holder's past money-raising for helping him defeat Republican incumbent Scott Walker in the 2018 race for governor.
