TLW News

Last Spring, Milwaukee County circuit court Judge Janet Protasiewicz easily won election to the open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Her election swung the balance of the court to a 4-3 liberal majority setting in motion the rewriting of Wisconsin’s legislative districts.
Shortly after her swearing in to the Court the new liberal majority granted writ to a case seeking to rewrite all state legislative districts. In December, in a 4-3 ruling, the State Supreme Court ruled Wisconsin’s legislative districts were unconstitutional and required new maps to be in place by the 2024 election. The Court set a deadline of March 15th for new maps to be in place. They provided alternative options to establish new maps and if the Legislature and Governor could not agree on new maps the Court would establish new districts.
On February 19, 2024, Governor Evers signed legislation he introduced rewriting Wisconsin’s legislative districts thereby bringing an end to the long legal battle to create new legislative districts.
Republicans currently hold sizable majorities in both houses. In the State Senate Republicans have a 22-11 advantage and, in the Assembly, hold a 64-35 majority. Without question the Democrats will gain seats in both houses as a result of the new maps but Republicans should be able to retain majorities in both houses. All 99 Assembly seats are up for election in 2024 while the even numbered seats of the State Senate will face election.
The new maps create 43 paired legislators, 7 open seats in the Senate and 15 open seats in the Assembly. The pairing of 43 legislators means at least 22 legislators will not be coming back in districts they are currently representing. Some may move to run in open seats. For the first time in nearly 20 years legislative Democrats will have a chance to make significant gains in the Legislature but not likely to take control in either house.
Paired Legislators (new maps put these legislators in the same district)
Paired Republican Senators:
John Jagler – Joan Ballweg
Julian Bradley – Van Wanggaard
Rob Cowles – Eric Wimberger – Andre Jacque
Dan Knold – Duey Stroebel
Paired Democrat Senators:
Melissa Agard – Kelda Roys
Paired R/D Senators
Jesse James (R) – Jeff Smith (D)
Paired Republican Representatives:
John Macco – Shae Sortwell
Amy Binsfeld – Paul Tittl
Ty Bodden – Ron Tusler
Tyler August – Amanda Nedewski
Elijah Behnke – David Steffen
William Penterman – Jon Plumber
Nate Gustafson – Mike Schraa
James Edming – Rob Summerfield
Nik Rettinger – Chuck Wichgers
Donna Rozar – John Spiros
Cindi Duchow – Scott Johnson
Paired Democrats
Mike Bare – Alex Joers
Paired R/D Representatives
Bob Donovan (R) – Dan Reimer (D)
Karen Hurd (R) – Jodi Emerson (D)