Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, was elected Tuesday as Assembly Democratic minority leader. He will replace Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, in the post as early as October.
Barca, who served as Democratic minority leader since 2011, stepped down after Democrats raised concerns about his leadership. Many voiced frustration with Barca’s decision to join Republicans in voting for a $3 billion incentives package for Foxconn.
While Hintz has been chosen to replace Barca, his move to the post doesn’t come without comment from across the aisle. Republicans have criticized Hintz because in 2011 he was cited by Appleton police for sexual misconduct at a massage parlor.
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Hintz said he’s learned from past mistakes and has tried to live his life with “intent and purpose” ever since.
“While I can’t change the mistakes of my past, I can continue to learn from them going forward,” Hintz said.
Assembly Democrats voted Tuesday to elect Hintz with no opposition.
Looking forward, Hintz urged Democrats to work together and avoid infighting in order to be effective against Gov. Scott Walker and majority Republicans. Hintz promises to make the goals clear to Democrats and deliver a clear narrative. Part of that narrative is how to balance the Assembly — Democrats have 35 members in the 99-seat Assembly, their lowest numbers since 1957.
“We’ve got to put ourselves in the position to succeed,” Hintz said, reiterating his goal to narrow that margin in the 2018 elections. “I think there’s a good chance we might be running in more favorable districts.”
Hintz added that Wisconsin’s legislative districts have been drawn to favor Republicans and that Democrats will “go with the lay of the land,” unless the U.S. Supreme Court orders districts to be redrawn.
“I think it’s a disgrace that Wisconsin now has their maps in the Supreme Court because of the most partisan redistricting in the nation’s history,” said Hintz.
Jim Simmons, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh political scientist and former mentor to Hintz, said it will be a difficult job.
“The Democrats in the Assembly are in a difficult position. With only 35 members they’re practically irrelevant,” he said. “Even if you have a few conservative Republicans who are willing to break with the majority, it doesn’t matter.”
Editor’s Note: This story was updated Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, with original reporting from WPR.
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