The most recent redistricting action started with liberal justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court approving redistricting maps proposed by Governor Tony Evers.
The liberal justices won the day with help from conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn providing the lone swing vote to give them the majority.
Legislative Republicans quickly filed a lawsuit against the Gov. Evers maps at the US Supreme Court.
Democratic State Legislator Lena Taylor has also threatened a separate lawsuit alleging that African-American voters in Milwaukee are being diluted.
The primary criticisms of the Wisconsin State Supreme Court approved maps are:
1) State Senator Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) has been bumped out of the district he currently represents and into the district of State Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills). He will either need to move back into the "new" 5th Senate District to run for re-election in 2022 or run in the 8th Senate District in 2024.
2) State Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) intends to file a lawsuit (separate from the one filed by Republicans) that several districts in the city of Milwaukee violate the Civil Rights Act by significantly splitting the African-American vote.
3) U.S. Representative Bryan Steil of the Wisconsin 1st Congressional District is likely to have an extremely competitive or "toss-up" district as opposed to a relatively Republican-friendly district.
4) Republicans are likely to see a significant reduction in seats perhaps losing 5-10 total seats out of 132 (99 Assembly, 33 Senate Seats total) under the new lines. State Legislative seats are subject to national trends in some years.
The worst part of the never ending cycle of partisan gerrymandering and the expensive pursuant lawsuits is that we the good people of Wisconsin continue doing this to ourselves! We keep re-electing partisan hacks who are too afraid to run on a platform of ideas and leadership. Consequently, we are represented and governed by far right and far left partisans instead of leaders.
Without a doubt, to be continued…
Further Reading:
Mar 03, 2022 - 2021AP001450-OA - Billie Johnson v. Wisconsin Elections Commission
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