How did Evers, Vos other politicians and organizations respond to the Wisconsin Supreme Court redistricting decision?

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ordered the Republican-controlled state Legislature to draw new legislative boundaries ahead of the 2024 election, arguing their GOP advantage is unconstitutional — delivering a long-sought win for Democrats who have stayed deep in the Legislature's minority for more than a decade.

The court in a 4-3 decision released Friday afternoon said it is also prepared to write the new maps itself if the Legislature and Democratic governor cannot agree on a new plan.

Many Democratic politicians and Democratic-aligned organizations praised the decision soon after it was released, while Republicans criticized the action.

Here are their reactions.

Gov. Tony Evers

Gov. Tony Evers released the following statement Friday afternoon:“It’s clear to me that a Republican-controlled Legislature that has consistently gerrymandered itself into comfortable, partisan majorities for more than a decade is incapable of preparing fair, nonpartisan maps deserving of the people of this state. I agree with the Court’s determination that these maps are unconstitutional because the districts lack contiguity. Wisconsin is a purple state, and I look forward to submitting maps to the Court to consider and review that reflect and represent the makeup of our state.  “And I remain as optimistic as ever that, at long last, the gerrymandered maps Wisconsinites have endured for years might soon be history.”

Attorney General Josh Kaul

Attorney General Josh Kaul released the following statement Friday afternoon regarding the ruling:

“Today is a great day for democracy in Wisconsin.”

“For over a decade, our state legislature has been elected in a fundamentally undemocratic manner due to partisan gerrymandering. And the consequences have been immense: policies with strong public support have been blocked by— and often haven’t even received a hearing from — the legislature.”

“Today’s decision marks a sea change. It means that our state legislature will once again be truly democratically elected. The power to determine what direction our legislature takes will again reside where it belongs — with Wisconsin voters. This is a landmark ruling for democracy in Wisconsin.”

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos

Robin Vos, R-Rochester, who is Wisconsin’s top Assembly Republican, said Friday:

"I said this was going to happen earlier this week. The case was pre-decided before it was even brought. Sad day for our state when the State Supreme Court just said last year that the existing lines are constitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court will have the last word."

Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming

Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming had this reaction to the ruling:

“Democrats have decided to try elections in the courtroom rather than actually earn voters’ trust at the ballot box. By throwing out these maps, left-wing jurists on the Wisconsin Supreme Court have usurped both their authority and the will of the majority of Wisconsinites who favor keeping existing districts.”

State Senator Melissa Agard

State Senator Melissa Agard, D-Madison, released the following statement Friday afternoon:

“We as elected officials must protect our democracy and uphold the will of the people. Voters should choose their elected officials, not the other way around. I am glad to see the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling in favor of the people – that the current gerrymandered maps are unconstitutional and should be overturned.

“The Legislature does not reflect the values and voices of Wisconsinites. I applaud the state Supreme Court’s decision and look forward to an election cycle where all Wisconsinites can rightly choose their representatives in the State Capitol.”

Representative Lisa Subeck

Representative Lisa Subeck, D-Madison, released the following statement Friday afternoon:

“Wisconsin’s unconstitutional and unfair legislative maps have failed the people of our state for more than a decade, diminishing the power of their voices, their votes, and their ability to choose their representatives. Today, the court affirmed what we have been saying for years: Wisconsin’s partisan, gerrymandered maps are unconstitutional and should be redrawn. The court’s order makes clear that Wisconsin must adopt or approve new maps that adhere to the constitution, putting an end to the practice of Republican politicians choosing their voters with the intent of consolidating their own partisan political power.”

Waukesha County judge Brad Schimel

Former Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel, who is now a judge in Waukesha County and is running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court against incumbent Justice Ann Walsh Bradley in 2025, said:

"Wisconsin's legislative maps were already reviewed and approved by both the Supreme Court of the United States and Supreme Court of Wisconsin. It's troubling that because the membership of a court changes, we can have a new outcome the following year. This should come as a surprise to no one. This is the super-legislature that was promised by this liberal majority. If there's any question as to why I'm in this race, this is why. This kind of judicial activism will do long-term damage to our state and to respect for our courts. No one should expect that this case will be the last."

A Better Wisconsin Together

A Better Wisconsin Together, "a state-based research and communications hub for progressives," released a statement Friday afternoon where Executive Director Chris Walloch called the decision "a significant milestone in pursuit of a truly representative government that ensures every vote holds equal weight, and that popular policies have a fair shot at becoming law."

“This ruling affirms that the current gerrymandered legislative maps do not meet the constitutional standards required to guarantee an accurate and representative reflection of the diverse voices across Wisconsin,” Walloch said.

According to an analysis from legal experts at UW-Madison, Wisconsin’s current Republican-drawn legislative maps are some of the most gerrymandered in the nation.

“Voters should pick our leaders, not the other way around,” Walloch continued. “Wisconsin’s current maps do not reflect that, and were drawn up by right-wing politicians in a way that only benefits their own political agenda. This means that Wisconsin’s partisan gerrymander is causing real and tangible harm to our communities.”

A Better Together pointed to polling that shows 68% of Wisconsinites support safe and legal abortion access, 81% support common sense gun safety laws, and 64% support marijuana legalization – and criticized the Republican-controlled legislature it says "has blocked action on these popular policies at every turn, thanks to the partisan maps they rigged for themselves."

“These unconstitutional maps reflect a long history of partisan map drawing that enables right-wing politicians to rig the rules for their own benefit, while the issues Wisconsin voters care about have gone unaddressed,” Walloch said. “We are appreciative of the court majority’s willingness to give fair maps a fair shot in Wisconsin.”

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee released a statement Friday afternoon applauding the decision and saying it "reaffirms our commitment to the fight for democracy in Wisconsin as we lay the groundwork for critical 2024 elections."

DLCC President Heather Williams said, "Wisconsin is one of the worst gerrymandered states in the country, and Republicans have robbed voters of true representation for far too long. We applaud the Wisconsin Supreme Court for finding these maps unconstitutional and urge that the next set of maps fairly reflect communities across the state. Make no mistake: this decision is a game-changer.

“Wisconsin is a competitive state at every other ballot level, and with these gerrymandered maps thrown out, it can finally be reflective of the state's composition as a whole. Wisconsin remains a top priority for the DLCC in 2024, and we’re already hard at work building the campaigns that will break Republicans’ supermajority and win back power for Democrats next fall. The time for fair representation in Wisconsin is long overdue and starts now.”

Committee to Protect Health Care

Physicians with the Committee applauded the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision to strike down what it called "the state’s hyper-partisan legislative maps," adding the decision "could allow Wisconsinites' voices to be better reflected on issues that matter most to them, including expanding BadgerCare."

“For too long, our unfair state maps have allowed elected officials to ignore the will of Wisconsinites on key issues like Medicaid expansion,” saidDr. Ann Helms, a neurologist in Milwaukee and Wisconsin Lead for the Committee. “Seven in ten Wisconsinites support fully expanding Badgercare, a policy which would make a world of difference in the health of tens of thousands of residents. Physicians hope that this ruling will make our elected officials more responsive to their constituents and to patients like mine on critical health issues.”

Jenner & Block Partner Sam Hirsch

Jenner & Block Partner Sam Hirsch, who argued the case on behalf of some intervenor-petitioners applauded the Wisconsin Supreme Court's decision to take down the state's legislative maps, which he argued have shown to be partisan.

“We’re gratified that the Court agreed that the Senate and Assembly maps violate the Wisconsin Constitution. We look forward to working through the remedial process to ensure that Wisconsinites can have fair representation in the State Legislature for the first time in more than a decade," Hirsch said in a released statement.

Eric H. Holder

Eric H. Holder, the 82nd Attorney General of the United States and Chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, voiced support for the Wisconsin Supreme Court's decision to strike down the state's gerrymandered legislative maps.

Holder said in a statement, “It is way past time to end illegitimate minority rule in Wisconsin, and this decision is a powerful step toward fair representation."

“For more than a decade, Wisconsinites have been forced to live under unpopular policies enacted by artificial Republican legislative majorities, despite the fact that Democrats saw increasing — and sometimes majority — statewide support. Yet, Wisconsinites never gave up. They organized. They voted. They demonstrated that in order to protect democracy, we must DO democracy.

“And that tenacity is forging a new chapter for the state, moving out from the shadow of Scott Walker’s and Robin Vos’ anti-democratic legacy of voter suppression and onto the path toward a truly representative democracy. Make no mistake: We’ve got a long way to go. But Wisconsin proves that when the people participate, over time, states that may seem unreachable in the fight for fairness today, could indeed become beacons of justice in the years to come. Wisconsin is now on that path.”

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, others respond to redistricting decision