In a historic turn of events that marks a leap forward in Wisconsin's politics, Democratic Governor Tony Evers has officially inked the New State Legislative Maps Law. The document, proposed by Evers, was embraced and passed by the Republicans controlling the Legislature. This considerable stride was a premeditated move to shun the prospect of the state's Supreme Court, dominated by Democrats, laying down the districts
Manifestation of a Political Victory
This legislation witnesses Democrats securing a sweeping political win in Wisconsin. The battleground state's Legislature has seen sturdy Republican leadership for over a decade, whereas Democrats have triumphed in 14 of the past 17 statewide elections. The new maps legislatively approved by Governor Evers promise Democrats an almost certain prospect of gaining seats in the state's Senate and Assembly. It is worth noting that the maps are slated for use in the forthcoming November elections.
What Mattered in the Battle Against Gerrymandering?
Republicans drew the previous maps under which they've been operating since 2011. These maps were among the most gerrymandered nationwide. Attempts by Democrats to invalidate these maps had been ongoing for over a decade. However, their efforts bore fruit only when the control of the state Supreme Court tipped in their favor following the election of Liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz in August 2021.
Democrats filed a lawsuit soon after Protasiewicz joined the court. Republicans, in turn, debated that Protasiewicz should recuse herself from hearing the lawsuit. The reason they put forth was her campaign assertions that the GOP-drawn maps were "unfair" and "rigged." Nevertheless, she did not step away.
Critical Rulings and Deadlines in the Legal Arena
In December, Protasiewicz became the fourth decisive vote that brought about a critical ruling. The current maps were deemed unconstitutional since not all the districts were contiguous, indicating regions disconnected from the principal district. The court decided it would outline the districts if the Legislature failed to pass the maps proposed by Evers.
The Legislature put Evers' maps into effect on a Tuesday to meet the mid-March deadline issued by the State Elections Commission. This move ensured the new maps were in place by the deadline. Republicans portrayed an image of limited options, whereas Democrats, aghast and skeptical, voted against the governor's plans out of fear of a GOP ruse.
Voicing Opinions on New District Boundaries
"It pains me to say it, but Gov. Evers foo gets a huge win today," stated Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos candidly, adding that the Legislature would now be under contention due to the new maps. Other Republicans elaborated on the tough choices they faced. Critically, they acquiesced to the changes to endure the political battles ahead.
Conversely, Democrats expressed concerns that the maps wouldn't be implemented promptly, causing legal implications for any special or recall elections ahead of November. These concerns hold weight in light of the state Supreme Court ruling the old maps unconstitutional.
Under the fresh maps, 15 Assembly incumbents would be obliged to run against other incumbents. Similarly, six such pairings would exist within the Senate. The only Democratic pairing between incumbents in the Senate includes one who decided not to run this fall, providing an exciting dynamic to the Senate elections.
While the gerrymandering skirmish ends in Wisconsin with Democrats coming out on top, legal battles continue in over a dozen states regarding the Congressional and state legislative districts established following the 2020 census. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has also been newly challenged by Democrats to revisit the state's congressional district lines. The argument states that the court's instructions to undertake new state legislative maps pave the way for challenging the congressional map. Republicans possess six out of the eight congressional seats in the state.
