New judicial panels to hear Wisconsin redistricting lawsuits for the first time
MADISON, Wisconsin (AP) — Two lawsuits I’m trying to redraw Wisconsin’s congressional districts are scheduled to be contested in court Friday, when a pair of three-judge panels meet for the first time, a measure never before used in the state.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Ordered last month Redistricting cases are expected to be heard by three-judge panels for the first time, using a process created by Republicans in 2011 but never used. Friday’s hearings were to determine a schedule for moving forward in both cases.
Lawyers in one case are presenting a proposed schedule that includes a possible trial in February 2027, while lawyers in the other case are pushing for a decision before the 2026 midterms. It will be the responsibility of each panel of judges to determine the schedule of trials and deadlines may not be the same.
These panels’ final decisions on the merits of cases can be appealed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which is controlled 4-3 by liberal justices.
Both pending redistricting cases in Wisconsin argue that the state’s congressional maps, first adopted in 2011, constitute an unconstitutional gerrymander that favors Republicans. Six of the state’s eight districts are currently held by Republicans.
Wisconsin court battle continues amid President Donald’s national redistricting battle Trump is trying to protect There is a slim Republican majority in the House of Representatives in next year’s elections.
A lawsuit was filed by a bipartisan coalition of business leaders the other was filed by the liberal Elias Law Group, which wants new maps for 2026 on behalf of voters. Law Forward and the Harvard Law School Election Law Clinic, which represents the business group, have proposed a timeline they say has been agreed upon with the defendants that would push final resolution of the case to early 2027.
Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy argues in its lawsuit that Wisconsin’s congressional maps are unconstitutional because they are an anti-competitive gerrymander. The average margin of victory for candidates in the eight districts since the maps went into effect has been close to 30 percent, the lawsuit states.
“In a 50-50 state, it makes no sense for a single party to control 75% of Wisconsin seats in the House of Representatives,” Law Forward said in a summary of the case on its website.
The other lawsuit, filed on behalf of Democratic voters, claims current maps discriminate against Democrats. They do this by concentrating a significant number of Democrats into two districts and splitting the other Democratic districts into six districts that favor Republicans.
The lawsuit argues that the current map violates the state constitution’s guarantees of equal protection, separation of powers, promise to maintain a free government and the right to free speech and association.
They are pushing for new district boundaries for the 2026 elections.
In 2010, a year before Republicans redrew congressional maps, Democrats held five seats while Republicans held three. Republicans hold six of the state’s eight seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, but only two are considered competitive.
The current congressional maps, based on those drawn in 2010, were approved by the state Supreme Court, which is controlled by conservative justices. US Supreme Court in March 2022 refused to block prevents them from being effective.
One of the top targets for Democrats is the Western Wisconsin seat held by Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden. He won in 2022 following the retirement of longtime Democratic Rep. Ron Kind. Van Orden won re-election in the 3rd District in 2024.
The other seat Democrats hope to make more competitive is southeastern Wisconsin’s 1st District, which Republican Rep. Bryan Steil has held since 2019. While the latest maps make this district more competitive, it continues to favor Republicans.
