Wisc. Supreme Court Turns Away Dem Challenge to Congressional Districts

The left-leaning Wisconsin Supreme Court on Wednesday chose not to consider lawsuits brought forth by Democrats aiming to overturn the existing congressional district maps in anticipation of the 2026 midterm elections.

The court rendered its decisions without providing any rationale, which is a setback for Democrats advocating for more advantageous district lines in this crucial battleground state as they strive to regain control of the U.S. House, as reported by the Associated Press.

Democrats had requested the court to redraw the maps, which could have rendered two of Wisconsin’s six Republican-held congressional seats more competitive. This ruling signifies the second consecutive year that the court has dismissed similar challenges.

Democrats had anticipated that the court would reconsider the congressional maps following its previous ruling to mandate new state legislative districts, a decision that aided the party in gaining seats during last November’s elections.

“It is positive that Wisconsin has equitable maps at the state level, but we also deserve them at the federal level. Regrettably, gerrymandered maps for congressional representatives will persist in Wisconsin,” expressed Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan.

Currently, Republicans occupy six of Wisconsin’s eight U.S. House seats, although only two of these districts are deemed competitive, according to the AP.

Two petitions contesting the congressional maps were presented to the state Supreme Court, which holds a 4-3 liberal majority. One petition was submitted by the Elias Law Group, representing Democratic candidates and organizations, while the other was filed by the Campaign Legal Center on behalf of Wisconsin voters.

Democrats contended that the court’s prior decision to redraw state legislative districts established a precedent for reexamining the congressional boundaries. They also argued that the current map infringes upon the Wisconsin Constitution’s assurance of equal treatment for all residents.

In 2010, prior to the redrawing of Wisconsin’s congressional districts by Republicans, Democrats held five of the state’s eight U.S. House seats, while Republicans had only three.

Democrats are focusing on two districts currently held by Republicans with the aim of flipping them. One of these is the 3rd District in western Wisconsin, where Republican Representative Derrick Van Orden secured the open seat in 2022 following the retirement of longtime Democratic Representative Ron Kind. Van Orden successfully won reelection in 2024.

The second district is the 1st District in southeastern Wisconsin, which has been represented by Republican Representative Bryan Steil since 2019. Recent redistricting has made this district more competitive, although it still leans Republican, as noted by the AP.

According to a new poll, Republicans appear to be enhancing their prospects of countering a potential Democratic surge in the 2026 midterm elections. However, other recent polls suggest that the GOP may encounter considerable obstacles. A spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee informed Newsweek that they anticipate a “favorable political environment” as they approach 2026.

Democrats are striving to replicate the “blue wave” experienced in 2018 during the forthcoming midterm elections, where all House seats and one-third of the Senate will be contested. Historically, the party in power at the White House tends to lose seats during midterm elections, and Democrats have shown strong performances in special elections nationwide.

They are optimistic that this trend signifies positive momentum as they near next year’s elections, according to various reports. However, a recent poll conducted by the Napolitan News Service and RMG Research reveals that Republicans currently hold their largest lead of 2025 on the generic congressional ballot, boasting an 8-point advantage over Democrats.

The survey indicates that 52% of respondents intend to vote Republican, while 44% expressed support for Democrats.

This represents a notable change from May, when Democrats had a slight lead of 48% to 45%. In April, the poll indicated that Democrats were ahead by five points, with a 50% to 45% margin.