Wisc. Supreme Court Turns Away Dem Challenge to Congressional Districts

The left-leaning Wisconsin Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to hear lawsuits filed by Democrats seeking to overturn the state’s current congressional district maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The court issued the decisions without explanation, delivering a blow to Democrats who were pushing for more favorable district lines in the key battleground state as they aim to retake control of the U.S. House, the Associated Press reported.

Democrats had petitioned the court to redraw the maps, which could have made two of Wisconsin’s six Republican-held congressional seats more competitive. The ruling marks the second consecutive year the court has rejected similar challenges.

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Democrats had hoped the court would revisit the congressional maps following its earlier decision to order new state legislative districts, a move that helped the party gain seats in last November’s elections.

“It’s good that Wisconsin has fair maps at the state level, but we deserve them at the federal level as well. Unfortunately, gerrymandered maps for members of Congress will remain in Wisconsin,” Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan complained.

Republicans currently hold six of Wisconsin’s eight U.S. House seats, though only two of those districts are considered competitive, the AP reported.

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

Democrats argued that the court’s earlier decision to redraw state legislative districts set a precedent for revisiting the congressional boundaries. They also contended that the current map violates the Wisconsin Constitution’s guarantee of equal treatment for all residents.

In 2010, before Republicans redrew Wisconsin’s congressional districts, Democrats held five of the state’s eight U.S. House seats, while Republicans held three.

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The current congressional map—initially drawn by Democratic Governor Tony Evers—was approved by the state Supreme Court when conservatives held the majority. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to block the map in March 2022, allowing it to take effect. Last year, the state Supreme Court rejected a request to revisit the maps without offering an explanation.

Democrats are targeting two Republican-held districts in hopes of flipping them. One is the 3rd District in western Wisconsin, where Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden won the open seat in 2022 after longtime Democratic Rep. Ron Kind retired. Van Orden secured reelection in 2024.

The other is the 1st District in southeastern Wisconsin, held by Republican Rep. Bryan Steil since 2019. The current maps made that district more competitive, though it still leans Republican, the AP noted further.

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Republicans seem to be improving their chances of resisting a Democratic surge in the 2026 midterms, according to a new poll. However, other recent surveys indicate that the GOP may face significant challenges. A spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee told Newsweek that they expect a “favorable political environment” as they head into 2026.

Democrats are working to replicate the “blue wave” of 2018 in the upcoming midterm elections, where all House seats and one-third of the Senate will be contested. Historically, the party in control of the White House tends to lose seats during midterms, and Democrats have experienced strong performances in special elections across the country.

They hope the trend indicates positive momentum as they approach next year’s elections, according to reports. But a new poll from the Napolitan News Service and RMG Research shows Republicans with their largest lead of 2025 on the generic congressional ballot, holding an 8-point advantage over Democrats.

According to the survey, 52% of respondents said they plan to vote Republican, while 44% indicated support for Democrats.

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This marks a significant shift from May, when Democrats held a narrow lead, 48% to 45%. In April, the poll showed Democrats ahead by five points, 50% to 45%.