WILL Fights Last-Minute Congressional Map Power Grab

WILL is once again defending Wisconsin’s congressional maps, filing briefs in opposition to an overtly political, nonsensical, and last-minute attempt to redraw Wisconsin’s maps on the eve of the midterm election. The lawsuits, filed by Law Forward and Marc Elias’s legal group, both claim Wisconsin’s congressional map is an illegal gerrymander.

WILL’s briefs raise three major problems for the lawsuits. First, they inappropriately ask a lower court in Madison to overrule the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Second, the lawsuits are far too late, going back 14 years to maps passed in 2011 that have since been replaced. Finally, the claims themselves are meritless. Marc Elias's theory of partisan gerrymandering has been rejected by multiple high courts and the new Law Forward's theory of "anti-competitive gerrymandering" has never been recognized anywhere and would mean the WI state legislative maps are also unconstitutional. 

Redistricting battles have become an annual tradition in Wisconsin since the 2020 census. The Court has already denied two attempts to challenge the Congressional maps that were adopted in 2022. These cases are their third attempt, this time filed in Dane County.

WILL Deputy Counsel, Luke Berg, stated, “At some point the redistricting merry-go-round has to stop, to give Wisconsin’s voters, candidates, and parties some stability—and faith in the rule of law. These cases are a fig leaf to hide a naked grab at political power. We hope the Wisconsin Supreme Court does the right thing and promptly dismisses them.”

WILL Testifies to Turn Wisconsin From One of Most Regulated States, to Least

WILL Deputy Counsel Lucas Vebber and Policy Director Kyle Koenen testified in support of bills aiming to restore the separation of powers in Wisconsin.

Unelected bureaucrats have amassed too much power to write rules, and recent court decisions have further eroded the legislature’s ability to hold them accountable. This package of bills—dubbed a "Red Tape Reset"—introduces critical reforms like regulatory budgeting and a seven-year sunset review for all administrative rules, creating a necessary check on agency authority and reducing hidden costs on families and small businesses.

Regulations Cost Families, WILL Calls for Solutions Now

Also last week, WILL and the Pacific Legal Foundation recently hosted an educational session at the State Capitol focusing on Wisconsin’s burgeoning administrative state. 

The event, featuring experts like Stanford University's Patrick McLaughlin as well as WILL's Lucas Vebber and Kyle Koenen, highlighted how excessive agency rulemaking impacts the Legislature's constitutional role and imposes significant economic costs on Wisconsin families and businesses. Attendees left with a clearer understanding of the regulatory burden and the opportunities lawmakers have to reassert oversight and accountability. Watch the event HERE.

October 8 Webinar: Take Back Control of Your Child's Education

Are you ready to take control of your child's education?

WILL is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, October 8 at 11AM following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor which affirmed that parents have a constitutional right to opt their children out of classroom instruction that conflicts with their religious beliefs. With parents in over 25 states exercising this new right, WILL is holding a webinar that will discuss how districts are practically handling opt-out requests, ensuring your school honors the law while supporting strong communication.

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