Politics
BREAKING: Wisconsin Supreme Court Completely Derails 2026 Midterms For Democrats
The liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to hear challenges brought by Democrats seeking to throw out the state’s current congressional district boundaries before the 2026 midterm elections. The move is widely seen as a setback for Democrats, who hoped a redraw would allow them to pick up seats and flip control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Democrats had asked the court to redraw the maps, which would have put two of the state’s six congressional seats currently held by Republicans into play.
In particular, the state’s 3rd Congressional District, which is currently represented by Rep. Derrick Van Orden, would likely become more Democrat-leaning in the event of a redraw. Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District, currently represented by Rep. Bryan Steil, would also shift to pure toss-up territory after leaning slightly right under the current map.
Wednesday’s decision marked the second time in as many years that the court refused to hear redistricting challenges.
Democrats hoped the court would revisit the congressional lines after it ordered state legislative maps to be redrawn in February of 2024. The party ultimately picked up 10 assembly seats and four in the State Senate after Democrat Governor Tony Evers signed the new boundaries into law.
Republicans currently hold six of the eight U.S. House districts in the Badger State, while the two aforementioned districts are the only ones that are considered competitive under the Cook Partisan Voting Index.
Two requests to reconsider the congressional boundaries were filed with the court, which is controlled 4-3 by liberal justices. One came from the Elias Law Group, headed up by infamous lawfare architect Marc Elias, which represents Democratic groups and candidates, while the other was submitted on behalf of voters by Campaign Legal Center.
Democrats argued that the previous decision on state legislative boundaries opened the door for a redraw of the state’s federal congressional maps. They further argued that the current map violates the state constitution’s requirement that all Wisconsin residents receive equal representation.
Both requests were denied in a 4-3 decision from the liberal-controlled court.
The current congressional maps, drawn by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, were approved by the state Supreme Court when it was controlled by conservative judges. The U.S. Supreme Court in March 2022 declined to block them from taking effect
With the Wisconsin decision in the books, it is unlikely that Democrats will be able to successfully redraw the maps by the 2026 midterm elections. Justice-elect Susan Crawford, a liberal, will not be taking office until August after she managed to win a high-stakes, expensive race back in April.
Democrats had campaigned on the idea that Crawford would authorize redistricting when she replaces retiring Justice Ann Walsh Bradley.
Outside Wisconsin, Republicans are currently pushing for redistricting in Texas and Ohio that could further complicate Democrat efforts to flip the House if enacted.
