A leftist legal group challenged Wisconsin’s congressional maps at the state’s Supreme Court on Wednesday, just one month after a “dangerously liberal” judge was elected to the high court.
The maps were challenged by the Elias Law Group on behalf of nine Wisconsin voters. The suit claims that the maps are designed to disenfranchise Democratic voters.
“Wisconsin’s congressional map is antithetical to virtually every principle necessary to sustain a representative democracy,” the suit alleges. “It impermissibly disadvantages voters based on their political views and partisan affiliation, systematically disfavoring Democrats because they are Democrats.”
The suit asks the court to issue a “lawful” map to replace the current map. Wisconsin currently has eight congressional seats, made up of six Republicans and two Democrats. The Elias Law Group was founded by Marc Elias, a Democrat super lawyer who has a history of challenging election integrity laws.
“This congressional map directly discriminates against Petitioners, who support Democratic candidates in Wisconsin and—because of that affiliation—are effectively silenced and shut out from casting a meaningful congressional vote,” the suit claims. “Wisconsin’s Constitution prohibits this injustice several times over. This Court should grant this original action and replace the adopted congressional map with a lawful alternative.”
Wisconsin GOP Chair Brian Schimming said the suit was a desperate attempt to gain power.
“No one is surprised that liberal Mark Elias is challenging Wisconsin’s Congressional maps,” he said in a statement. “This politically motivated lawsuit is a desperate attempt by far-left Democrats who have shown time and time again that they can’t win without rigged maps.”
The challenge comes after a contentious Supreme Court election in April that pitted conservative candidate Brad Schimel against liberal Judge Susan Crawford. After what became the most expensive judicial race in American history, Crawford one with 55% of the vote.
One of the key issues during the race was that of congressional maps as both Republicans and Democrats believed that the results of the election would determine the future of the maps. In a media appearance before the election, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) suggested that Democrats could get more favorable maps if Crawford won the race.
“There are gerrymandered congressional lines right now in Wisconsin,” Jeffries said. “As soon as possible, we need to be able to revisit that and have fair lines. The only way for that to be even a significant possibility is if you have an enlightened Supreme Court.”
During a rally in support of Schimel, Elon Musk said that the outcome would determine the future of the country.
“What’s happening on Tuesday is a vote for which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives. That is why it is so significant. And whichever party controls the House, to a significant degree controls the country, which then steers the course of Western Civilization,” Musk said, adding that he thought the “entire destiny of humanity” could be impacted by the race.
