Wisconsin lawsuit aims to redraw congressional maps amid gerrymandering claims

In Wisconsin, a recent lawsuit was filed by a bipartisan coalition known as the Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy in Dane County circuit court. This lawsuit, filed less than two weeks after the state Supreme Court declined to hear previous similar cases, argues that the congressional district maps are unconstitutional due to anti-competitive gerrymandering. The coalition claims that the current maps, which have resulted in a median margin of victory of approximately 30 percentage points for candidates across the eight districts, violate citizens’ equal protection rights under the state constitution. These accusations are rooted in the assertion that anti-competitive gerrymanders are detrimental not only to democratic principles but also pose a threat to the law itself. They argue that fairness in electoral competition is essential to sustaining a democratic process, treating anti-competitive maps as equally problematic as partisan and racial gerrymanders. Defendants in the lawsuit include the bipartisan elections commission which oversees elections in the state, although a spokesperson for the commission has refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation. Prior to this new lawsuit, there were two rejected attempts to challenge the congressional maps. These lawsuits were denied by the state Supreme Court without comment, and they were filed by Democratic representatives, highlighting a significant partisan contention around the redistricting issue. The Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy had previously sought to intervene in the dismissed cases but had their arguments overlooked by the court. Currently, Republicans hold six out of eight congressional seats in Wisconsin with only two districts considered competitive, making this lawsuit particularly significant for upcoming elections. The historical context shows that before the redrawing of maps in 2011, Democrats controlled five House seats. However, due to the redistricting efforts by Republicans following the 2010 Census, they gained a stronger foothold in the state. This latest lawsuit aims to address these imbalances, especially in light of two specific districts that Democrats view as potential gains. The first is the 3rd District, where Republican Representative Derrick Van Orden won in 2022 after the retirement of longtime Democratic Representative Ron Kind. The second is the 1st District, held by Republican Representative Bryan Steil since 2019. In light of the consequences of previous redistricting, the new lawsuit reflects a broader trend of demanding equity in electoral representation moving towards the 2026 elections.