The Wisconsin Supreme Court agreed Thursday to hear an appeal in the second of two lawsuits challenging the state’s congressional district maps. The case, brought by Democratic voters, argues that the current maps amount to an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander.
A three-judge panel dismissed the suit in March. Attorneys for the plaintiffs filed notice of appeal in May.
On May 29, the Court accepted an appeal in a separate case filed by the Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy. That suit contended the maps represent an “anti-competitive gerrymander” that packs voters into safe districts, discourages challengers and entrenches incumbents. A three-judge panel dismissed it in April.
The current congressional maps were adopted in 2022 under a “least-change” approach ordered by the Wisconsin Supreme Court after lawmakers and then-Gov. Tony Evers could not agree on new boundaries following the 2020 census. Republicans hold six of the state’s eight U.S. House seats under the maps.
The Court’s liberal majority voted to accept both appeals but declined requests to expedite proceedings in the business leaders’ case. Standard briefing schedules mean any further action, including potential trials or remedial map-drawing, would likely come in 2027 at the earliest and might not be in time to affect the 2028 congressional elections.
