Elias Law Group files lawsuit challenging Wisconsin congressional maps
A lawsuit has been filed by the Elias Law Group in Wisconsin, challenging the state’s current congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The lawsuit, representing several Wisconsin voters, asks the Wisconsin Supreme Court to reconsider the maps, which were previously endorsed by the court in 2022 when it had a conservative majority. The plaintiffs argue that the current maps,drawn under Democratic Governor Tony Evers,unfairly disadvantage Democratic voters and violate multiple clauses of the Wisconsin Constitution.
The lawsuit claims that the maps effectively silence Democratic voters and calls for a replacement with a more equitable choice. Currently, Wisconsin’s congressional representation—despite a nearly even split between registered Republicans and Democrats—leans heavily Republican, with only two out of eight U.S. House seats held by Democrats. The previous conservative majority of the wisconsin Supreme Court ordered the least amount of change for the new maps, a directive that has been criticized as unworkable.
the 2023 shift to a liberal majority on the court has led to successful challenges against other legislative maps, and activists argue that previous maps were gerrymandered. In a recent attempt, the Wisconsin Supreme Court declined to hear an earlier lawsuit by the elias Law Group concerning these congressional maps. The current lawsuit seeks to address ongoing concerns about fair representation in the state’s electoral process.
Elias Law Group files lawsuit challenging Wisconsin congressional maps
A lawsuit has been filed challenging Wisconsin’s congressional maps, asking the Wisconsin Supreme Court to reconsider the maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of several Wisconsin voters by Elias Law Group, chaired by Marc Elias, who has led election lawsuits across the country. The state’s current congressional map was endorsed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2022 when it had a conservative majority.
The lawsuit argues that the maps violate multiple clauses of the Wisconsin Constitution.
“This congressional map directly discriminates against Petitioners, who support Democratic candidates in Wisconsin and—because of that affiliation—are effectively silenced and shut out from casting a meaningful congressional vote,” the lawsuit states.
“Wisconsin’s Constitution prohibits this injustice several times over. This Court should grant this original action and replace the adopted congressional map with a lawful alternative,” it adds.
The current map, redrawn by Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI), favors Republicans. The state has a near even split between registered Republicans and Democrats, but of Wisconsin’s eight U.S. House seats, just two are Democrats: Reps. Gwen Moore and Mark Pocan each represent heavily Democratic areas.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s former conservative majority had previously ordered Evers and other parties to draw a new map by making the “least changes.” Activists had argued for years that the legislative and congressional maps drawn by the GOP-controlled state legislature and signed by former GOP Gov. Scott Walker in 2011 were gerrymandered.
In 2023, after the Wisconsin Supreme Court flipped to a liberal majority, a lawsuit challenging the state’s legislative maps was successful, and those districts were redrawn. The court also addressed the “least changes” directive and determined it was “unworkable in practice.”
In 2024, the high court declined to hear a lawsuit from the Elias Law Group that asked the court to look into the congressional maps. The group argued that the congressional maps were made using the “least changes” framework that was dismissed three months beforehand.
The justices did not explain why they declined to hear the case. The 2022 maps were used in the 2024 general election, and Republicans maintained their 6-2 majority in the Wisconsin delegation in the U.S. House.
EVERY WISCONSIN COUNTY SHIFTED LEFT IN STATE SUPREME COURT RACE
There are two competitive districts in the state, 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).
The 2024 new legislative maps allowed Democrats to pick up a number of seats in the state Assembly and state Senate in the last election.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...