Madison, Wisconsin, has been known as THE progressive/liberal “ground zero” in the state for at least a few decades now. If not longer. And it’s definitely not a “small town” unless that’s part of the author’s tongue-in-cheek reference to Jason Aldean saying he’s from a small town in that stupid song of his when he is NOT from a small town!
https://www.rawstory.com/madison-wisconsin/?utm_source=123456&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=15365