The panel rejected a suit from Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy, citing a 2022 Wisconsin Supreme Court precedent that deems gerrymandering claims non-justiciable political questions.
Law Forward, representing the plaintiffs, will appeal directly to the state Supreme Court, arguing anti-competitive and partisan gerrymanders are distinct. The suit's dismissal ensures the current Republican-favored map remains for the 2026 midterms.
A similar case by Democratic voters was dismissed last month. The current congressional map, based on 2011 Republican-drawn lines, gives Republicans a 6-2 advantage in Wisconsin's House delegation.
Why are Wisconsin's state legislative maps being redrawn but not its congressional districts?
Could independent commissions provide a more objective alternative to court-decided district maps?
If courts cannot rule on map fairness, what other avenues for reform exist for citizens?
Why might a court label an electoral map dispute a 'political question' outside its authority?
What is the key legal difference between an 'anti-competitive' and a 'partisan' map challenge?
How do quantitative tools like the 'efficiency gap' attempt to measure electoral fairness?