In a decisive move that is reshaping Wisconsin’s political landscape, Governor Tony Evers has approved new state legislative maps, signaling the end of what has been characterized as one of the most egregious gerrymanders in the country.
“I’ve promised from the beginning that I will always try to do the right thing. Today, I’m keeping that promise and I’m signing fair maps for Wisconsin,” declared Evers, fulfilling a commitment to address the partisan redistricting that has skewed Wisconsin’s elections for over a decade. The governor’s endorsement of these maps comes on the heels of a Wisconsin Supreme Court decision that found the previous maps to be unconstitutional, prompting a legal mandate for new ones.
The court, which shifted from a conservative to a liberal majority with the election of Justice Janet Protasiewicz, ruled in December that the prior districts were not “composed of physically adjoining territory” as required by the state Constitution. Following a rigorous review by political scientists Bernard Grofman and Jonathan Cervas, it was determined that the maps submitted by various Democratic entities and independent mathematicians were competitive, whereas two submissions by the state legislature and the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty were flagged for gerrymandering.
As a result of the court’s directive, Evers’ maps, although granting a nominal edge to Republicans, were lauded for their fairness. “The governor’s maps are pretty darn good,” remarked Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause Wisconsin. The Supreme Court’s assessment validated this perspective, concluding that with these maps, “the party that wins the most votes will win the most seats.”
This historic shift was unexpected, especially considering Republican lawmakers’ initial opposition to the governor’s maps before they passed them through the Assembly and Senate. Despite GOP legislators acknowledging that Evers’ maps were their best option, many Democrats remained skeptical, fearing the GOP’s acquiescence concealed ulterior motives for future legal challenges.
Yet amidst these concerns, good governance groups celebrated a win for democracy. Chris Walloch hailed the maps as “a win for Wisconsinites,” citing years of suffering under gerrymandered maps that enabled Republicans “to protect their power and allow themselves to obstruct action on popular policies while avoiding accountability at the ballot box.” The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) also saw the new maps as an opportunity to address fair representation across Wisconsin communities.
A statement from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a Republican, summed up the reluctant acceptance from his party: “This fall Republicans will prove that we can win on any maps because we have the better policy ideas for the State of Wisconsin.”
Relevant articles:
– Ending Reign of GOP Gerrymanders, Evers Approves Fair Maps in Wisconsin
– Wisconsin adopts new legislative maps, giving Democrats chance to win state, The Guardian US, Mon, 19 Feb 2024 15:53:00 GMT
– Gov. Tony Evers signs his legislative maps into law, giving Democrats big boost in Legislature, Madison.com, Mon, 19 Feb 2024 20:17:00 GMT
– New GOP-passed maps that weaken gerrymandering become law in Wisconsin, The Washington Post, Mon, 19 Feb 2024 20:57:00 GMT