Wisconsin’s Dinosaur-shaped Legislative District could soon be History. The curiously drawn District and other Oddities associated with the State’s extreme Gerrymandering, would be Erased in Mew Maps passed this week, by the Wisconsin Legislature.
A State Supreme Court Decision finally forced Wisconsin Republicans to cede an Advantage they enjoyed for more than a Decade, with Maps that made the State One of the Nation’s foremost examples of Gerrymandering.
The Senate and Assembly Voted to adopt Voting Maps drawn by the Office of Gov. Tony Evers (D). Evers said a week ago that He would Sign His Redistricting Plan into Law if passed unchanged by the Legislature, and Proponents of Fairer Maps have encouraged Him to do so.
The surprising Legislative Development promises to End a Six-month Battle, in front of the State’s now left-leaning High Court, which Ruled the GOP Maps Unconstitutional shortly before Christmas.
The New Maps resolves many of the Irregularities in the current Electoral Maps, Chief among them the “Swiss Cheese” appearance that stranded some Constituents in segments detached from the Rest of their Districts.
One of the more obvious examples of Partisan Artifice, was in the Northwest Corner of the State, in the 73rd Assembly District, where the GOP had Strategically added Republican areas and Subtracted Democratic Ones, in a plan enacted in 2022.
Residents joked the contours came to resemble a Tyrannosaurus Rex. The maneuver was successful. That year, a Republican Won the Seat, which had been held by Democrats for 50 years. The New Map completely redraws that District and Others. “The legislature will be up for grabs,” Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-63rd District), said from the Floor on Tuesday, the Day the Vote was taken. In an unusually magnanimous gesture, Vos said, “Pains me to say it, but Gov. Evers gets a huge win today.”
Even under the Governor’s Maps, the GOP is still expected to retain Majorities in both Chambers, though the Party’s advantage would likely be Slimmer than the absolute Authority it now Commands, particularly in the Senate. Currently, the GOP has a Supermajority in the Senate and a near Supermajority in the Assembly.
Vos acknowledged in a News Conference, that running under Evers’ Map is “going to be more challenging, there’s no doubt about that.” But, He said, “I still think we can win because we have a better message.”
Prior to the Legislative action, Justices had been set to select New District Maps from a Group of Proposals, including the One from Evers. Indications were the Decision would Not be Favorable to the GOP. Rather than take their chances, Republicans decided to Approve the Governor’s Maps, which are considered to be “friendlier” to the GOP than the Others, when measuring Partisan Bias and Incumbent Matchups.
A Marquette University Analysis determined, that if the 2022 Election had taken place under Evers’ Maps, it’s likely that Democrats would have Won an additional 11 Seats in the Assembly and Five in the Senate, neither enough to flip Control.
Nine Senate Democrats voted against Evers’ Plan, signaling concerns that the GOP’s Approval was a Strategic Ploy, to be followed by a Challenge in Federal Court from a Republican Ally. “I am voting no because I do not trust what you guys are up to,” said Sen. Chris Larson (D-7th District, Milwaukee).
But Vos downplayed the likelihood of more Court action, telling Reporters Tuesday that He preferred to get on with the Business of Campaigning, and talking about Ideas with Voters. “I think that is a better answer than drawn-out court battles and going through millions of dollars of taxpayer expense when there’s really no need to do so,” he said. The Assembly Passed the Governor’s Maps without Debate. Only one Democrat voted Yes.
The Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition, while celebrating the Prospect of New Maps, is vowing to continue to push for a Nonpartisan Body, rather than Politicians, to handle future Redistricting Plans.
“The coalition isn’t done,” said Debra Cronmiller, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, which is part of the Coalition. “We still need a legislative fix. We need an independent commission. We need, likely, a constitutional amendment that would codify that. So our work is not done.”
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