MERRY CHRISTMAS WISCONSIN, GERRYMANDERED MAPS HAVE BEEN STRUCK DOWN!
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled current state legislative maps to be unconstitutional.
The Recombobulation Area is a ten-time Milwaukee Press Club award-winning weekly opinion column and online publication written, edited and published by longtime Milwaukee journalist Dan Shafer. Learn more about it here.
It finally happened. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has struck down Wisconsin’s ridiculously gerrymandered state legislative maps, ruling they are unconstitutional.
In a 4-3 decision, available here, Justice Karofsky wrote, “Because we enjoin the current state legislative district maps from future use, remedial maps must be drawn prior to the 2024 elections.”
After the Spring Election for Wisconsin Supreme Court, I wrote that this would bring about a seismic shift in state politics.
Today’s ruling, striking down the state legislative maps, is the earthquake.
Law Forward, the group leading the charge to challenge the maps, released the following statement from Dan Lenz, staff counsel:
“Today’s decision from the Wisconsin Supreme Court is a victory for a representative democracy in the state of Wisconsin. For too long, rightwing interests have rigged the rules without any consequences. Gerrymandered maps have distorted the political landscape, stifling the voice of the voters. It challenges the very essence of fair representation and erodes confidence in our political system. Our team will be working to draw constitutional, fair, representative maps and will provide more information in the coming weeks.”
There will be much more for us to say on this in the coming days and weeks here at The Recombobulation Area — frankly, the timing of this is a bit discombobulating — so stay tuned for more, but we couldn’t let this moment pass without sharing it with you.
What a day for Wisconsin. Happy holidays, everyone.
Dan Shafer is a journalist from Milwaukee who writes and publishes The Recombobulation Area. He’s also written for The New York Times, The Daily Beast, Heartland Signal, Belt Magazine, WisPolitics, and Milwaukee Record. He previously worked at Seattle Magazine, Seattle Business Magazine, the Milwaukee Business Journal, Milwaukee Magazine, and BizTimes Milwaukee. He’s won 17 Milwaukee Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards. He’s on Twitter at @DanRShafer.
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Man we must have been good this year. Santa came early!
Such great news. Thanks, Dan!