Describe your county's political/demographic history

[TJ in Oregon]

Dane County, Wisconsin



Dane County was founded in 1836, shortly after Federal Judge James Doty successfully convinced the Wisconsin territorial legislature to select it as the permanent location of the future state capital. Doty convinced them to select a narrow strip of land between two large inland lakes, making Dane County’s seat and major city, Madison, one of very few cities in the world built on an isthmus. Madison’s unique geography and beautiful scenery make it a city like no other.


Much of south-central Wisconsin had significant settlement by German '48-ers, who had attempted a failed left-wing revolution before immigrating to the US. Wisconsin as a whole, and the Madison area in particular, was a bastion of the late 1800s/early 1900s Progressive movement. Dane County's own Robert La Follette was one of the foremost members of the Progressive Party.

During the 1960s, Madison was home to numerous (and occasionally violent) anti-war protests. Most notable were the bombing of Sterling Hall, where research was being done for the US Army and the Mifflin Street Block Party, which is still an annual occurrence today (though it is an undergrad festival of debauchery rather than a political protest at this point). Madison retains a  countercultural scene that permeates through much of the isthmus. More recently, Madison was host to massive protests against the union reform act passed by the Republican state legislature and signed by Gov. Scott Walker in 2011. Smaller versions of this protest still occur on close to a daily basis known as the Solidarity Sing-Along. Madison is also home to the Freedom from Religion Foundation.

Dane County is considered to be very liberal and accordingly the Democrats win by large margins. Republican Governor Lee Dreyfus called Madison "77 square miles surrounded by reality" when campaigning in 1978 and the phrase has stuck (though no one can ever seem to keep the number of square miles straight). Despite Wisconsin being a Democratic-leaning state, Dane County has a certain reputation of otherness that more conservative Democrats from elsewhere in the state are often loath to identify with. Wisconsin Republicans tend to view Dane County as something of a posterchild for reckless debauchery, new age drivel, and out-of-control government spending. All of that being said, most Dane County residents simply self-identify with liberalism and progressivism often without really understanding what they mean. Despite a slow reduction in activism in recent years, the union protests nonwithstanding,  American progressivism as an identity is generally wrapped with the act of in living in Madison. Madison is slowly growing less activist and more akin to most upper-class liberal parts of the country.

Dane County used to be more less Democratic with Madison itself as a Democratic bastion but somewhat more conservative suburbs. Over the last couple decades, the suburbs have moved significantly leftward.

President:
2000:
Gore 61.15%
Bush 32.56%
Nader 5.60%

2004:
Kerry 66.02%
Bush 32.95%

2008:
Obama 72.80%
McCain 25.82%

2012:
Obama 71.03%
Romney 27.50%

Governor:
2006:
Doyle  69.95%
Green 27.25%

2010:
Barrett 67.96%
Walker 30.98%

2012 Recall:
Barrett 69.07%
Walker 30.38%