Wisconsin redistricting lawsuit tries new strategy after Supreme Court dismissed similar case
A new lawsuit, led by a bipartisan group called Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy, aims to challenge and redraw Wisconsin’s congressional districts before the 2026 midterm elections. The coalition argues that the current maps are unconstitutionally gerrymandered, creating an uncompetitive political landscape that undermines democracy by limiting electoral competition. This lawsuit follows a recent rejection by the Wisconsin Supreme Court of a similar attempt to revise the maps. Unlike the previous case, this suit was filed in Dane County circuit court and targets the Wisconsin Election Commission, which oversees elections in the state. Despite nearly equal registration between Democrats and Republicans in Wisconsin, only two out of eight congressional seats are held by Democrats, with most districts favoring Republicans heavily.The current maps, originally drawn in 2011 by state Republicans, are considered among the most gerrymandered in the country. The Wisconsin Supreme Court previously invalidated the state’s legislative maps in 2023 because of extreme gerrymandering and ordered new maps to be drawn before the 2024 elections.
Wisconsin redistricting lawsuit tries new strategy after Supreme Court dismissed similar case
A new lawsuit from a bipartisan coalition of business leaders is looking to redraw Wisconsin’s congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy argued the state’s congressional maps are unconstitutionally gerrymandered and create an uncompetitive landscape.
“Anti‐competitive gerrymanders are every bit as antithetical to democracy, and to law, as partisan gerrymanders and racial gerrymanders. This is because electoral competition is as vital to democracy as partisan fairness,” the lawsuit states.
This suit was filed weeks after the Wisconsin Supreme Court declined to hear another lawsuit that looked to redo the maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The new lawsuit was filed in Dane County circuit court, instead of directly with the Wisconsin Supreme Court as the previous one was. The case will have to make its way through the courts, meaning there might not be a decision on the maps before the 2026 midterms. The lawsuit was filed against the Wisconsin Election Commission, a bipartisan board that administers elections in the state.
Wisconsin has a near-even split between voters registered as Democrats and Republicans. Despite this, just two of Wisconsin’s eight House seats are held by Democrats as the other six districts more heavily favor Republicans. Only two districts in the state are considered somewhat competitive, both of which are held by Republicans: Wisconsin’s First District, held by Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI), and Wisconsin’s Third District, held by Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI).
Before state Republicans redrew the congressional maps in 2011, Democrats held five seats compared to Republicans’ three.
EVERY WISCONSIN COUNTY SHIFTED LEFT IN STATE SUPREME COURT RACE
The current congressional maps, which are based on the 2011 set, are considered some of the most gerrymandered in the country.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the state’s legislative maps in 2023 due to heavy gerrymandering and ordered state lawmakers to redraw them ahead of the 2024 election.
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