Report on the GOP Redistricting from State Senator Chris Larson (D-7)

Republicans Rush Through Redistricting Power Grab, Overrule Local Governments

Despite outcries from local government and growing constitutional concerns, Republican legislators hurriedly passed their redistricting maps that remained secret until recently.

Republican Redistricting Process Shrouded in Secrecy

Republican legislators began working on the new district maps months ago in secret and behind closed doors. The maps did not become available to the public until Friday, July 8. Further decreasing transparency, Republicans opted to fast-track their redistricting plan by scheduling a vote less than two weeks after the release of the new district maps, leaving little time for public input. Over the course of 10 days, Republicans perpetrated a power grab that will impact our communities for the next 10 years.
 
The Wisconsin State Legislature is required by Article IV, Section 3 of the Wisconsin Constitution to redraw Senate and Assembly districts every 10 years based upon the results of the federal census to ensure districts provide representational equality for all potential voters.
 
Wisconsin currently uses a legislative redistricting process, where the maps are drawn up by the majority parties in the Legislature, are voted on by the Senate and Assembly, and are then signed by the governor. If the Legislature cannot agree on a redistricting plan, as is usually the case when there is partisan balance, the judicial system steps in to finalize the new legislative districts. For the past 50 years, Wisconsin's elected officials have had to work together with bipartisan cooperation or leave the task of redistricting up to the courts. This will be the first time in 60 years that one political party will have complete control over the redistricting process.
 
The new district maps proposed by Republican legislators will likely have a profound effect on Wisconsin politics by making districts less competitive, placing the jobs of Republican incumbents ahead of the interests of Wisconsin voters. These maps will also increase partisanship across the state making Wisconsin even more polarized than it is now.
 
Republicans Overrule Local Governments on Redistricting, Costing Valuable Taxpayer Dollars
 
Rushing through the current redistricting proposal created by Republican legislators and the lawyers they hired with taxpayer dollars will have a detrimental impact on our local governments as well. Republicans have been so focused on passing redistricting legislation before the recall elections have concluded that they are acting before all local governments have even submitted their local ward redistricting maps.
 
The City of Milwaukee, for example, will be forced to change 55 of its 315 wards and nine of its 15 aldermanic district boundaries, as a result of the preemptive actions by Republicans on redistricting. These changes come after Milwaukee has already held four public hearings, participated in three public listening sessions, held two full-day public workshops for citizens to produce their own maps, and conducted countless informational briefings to individuals and activist groups. Milwaukee has also already spent over $40,000 for dedicated labor hours and administrative expenses related to the redistricting process.
 
There is no reason why the state should be moving at such a careless speed. Such actions will negate months of work by local officials, circumvent the open and transparent public hearing process, and waste additional taxpayer funds.
 
To view the map that illustrates the changes Milwaukee will be mandated to make, please CLICK HERE.
 
Legal Challenges
 
Given the concerns over the maps that were drafted by Republican legislators, it is likely that legal challenges will be filed citing constitutional grievances once the bill is signed into law by the governor and published. However, it is impossible to know what the outcome of such challenges would be.
 
The Future of Redistricting in Wisconsin

One common and constant concern with the redistricting process is the potential for gerrymandering, or manipulating the redrawing of districts to achieve political gain and help ensure the re-election of incumbents. The majority of states still use a Legislative Redistricting Model, where the maps are drawn up by the majority parties in the Legislature. However, many states are shifting to using bipartisan or nonpartisan commissions to draw up their maps in an effort to decrease partisanship as well as legal fees involved with the process. So far 21 states use some form of a Commission Redistricting Model. Below you will find a list of redistricting models currently used throughout the country.

Legislative: Maps are drawn by the majority parties in the Legislature. Once finalized, they are placed in a bill which must be passed by both houses and signed by the governor. This model is used in Wisconsin, Minnesota and 27 other states.

Back-up Commission: Maps are drawn by the majority parties in the Legislature. If the Legislature does not finish by the statutory deadline, a bipartisan commission completes the process. This model is used in Connecticut, Texas and three other states.

Advisory Commission: Maps are drawn by the advisory commission. These can be accepted or rejected by the Legislature. The Legislature must enact their own plan or the commission’s, before the statutory deadline. This model is used in Maine and Vermont.

Bipartisan Commission: Maps are drawn by a redistricting commission comprised of bipartisan members. The plan must be approved by either the commission or the State Supreme Court. This model is used in Ohio, Washington and 10 other states.

Nonpartisan Commission: Maps are drawn by a redistricting commission comprised of nonpartisan members. If the Legislature rejects all three plans proposed by the commission, the State Supreme Court makes the final decision. This model is used in Iowa.

For more information about redistricting or to view the proposed maps for the state, please CLICK HERE.