The Wisconsin Supreme Court has overturned state legislative maps that were favored by Republicans. In a 4-3 ruling, the court held that the maps were unconstitutional and directed the state’s entire legislature to be re-drafted.
The maps had been in place since 2011 and were widely seen as favoring the Republican Party. Through the gerrymandering of district lines, the maps were thought to have helped Republicans win an outsize number of state legislative seats in subsequent elections.
The court ruled that the maps violated the “freedom of association” clause of the Wisconsin constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to an “equally representative” legislature. The Republican-favored maps were faulted for creating districts that polarized the electorate along party lines and weakened competition for many state districts.
The ruling is a major victory for Wisconsin Democrats, who have argued that the biased redistricting process has enabled the Republican party to solidify its power and sense of control in the state. The ruling has significant implications for the 2020 election, as it paves the way for a frankly competitive environment for seats in the Wisconsin legislature. The timeline for the revised maps is unclear at this point, but the new maps are expected to be in place before the November elections.
