Wisconsin Supreme Court Throws Out GOP-Drawn District Maps, Potentially Changing Political Landscape

The recent ruling by the Wisconsin Supreme Court has thrown out the current GOP-drawn district maps, which have been in place since 2011. This decision could significantly impact the political landscape of the state, particularly in the upcoming 2024 elections.

Republicans, who have dominated the state legislature with a 64-35 majority in the Wisconsin Assembly, have indicated that they will take the fight to the U.S. Supreme Court. The ruling was based on a violation of the state constitution’s requirement of “contiguous territories” in districts.

The revised map, set to be enforced in March 2024, will put all 132 state lawmakers up for reelection. This presents an opportunity for Democrats to challenge the Republican stronghold on the state’s legislature and potentially influence key issues such as abortion.

Nicole Safar, executive director at Law Forward, a nonprofit law firm representing the 19 Democratic voters in the lawsuit, expressed optimism about the implications of the ruling. She believes it will give voters more of a voice in the legislative process and lead to real organizing, lobbying, and campaigning around issues like access to abortion, gun safety, and public education.

The lawsuit was filed in August 2023, shortly after the election of Justice Janet Protasiewicz, which tilted the Wisconsin Supreme Court from a conservative to a liberal majority. The race was the most expensive state Supreme Court election in American history, with Democrats spending over $50 million.

Republicans argued that the redesigned map would lead to the creation of more Democrat-friendly districts before the 2024 election and called for Protasiewicz to recuse herself from the case. Speaker Robin Vos even threatened impeachment if she refused. However, an agreement between the state legislature and Wisconsin’s Democratic Governor Tony Evers is expected to prevent this.

If an agreement cannot be reached, the state’s Supreme Court will consider maps based on the partisan makeup of the state. Mark Gaber, senior director at the Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan group that seeks to curb partisanship in redistricting, believes that a new map will likely not heavily favor either Republicans or Democrats. Instead, it will be “more representative of the true electorate,” which he noted as deeply purple.

Democrats are celebrating the redrawing of the state’s district lines, but Gaber emphasizes that this ruling should be viewed as a win for both parties because it will result in a more fair and representative map.