Wisconsin Court Dismisses Democratic Attempt to Redraw Congressional Maps

Ruling upholds Republican-friendly district boundaries ahead of 2026 midterm elections

Mar. 31, 2026 at 6:05pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A serene, photorealistic painting of the Wisconsin state capitol building, its grand architecture and dome illuminated by warm, angled sunlight casting deep shadows across the structure, conveying a sense of political tension and uncertainty.The Wisconsin state capitol stands as a symbol of the ongoing political battle over congressional redistricting in the battleground state.Madison Today

A three-judge panel in Wisconsin has dismissed a lawsuit brought by Democratic voters that sought to redraw the battleground state's Republican-friendly congressional boundary lines before the November 2026 midterm election. The decision can be appealed to the state's liberal-controlled Supreme Court, but it's unclear if a ruling could come in time to affect this year's elections.

Why it matters

The ruling is a significant victory for Republicans, who have been engaged in a national redistricting battle to preserve their slim House majority. Democrats had argued the current maps discriminate against them by packing a substantial number of Democrats into two districts while breaking up other Democratic areas into six Republican-favorable districts.

The details

The three-judge panel said it had 'no basis to find the current congressional map invalid,' noting that only the Wisconsin Supreme Court can determine whether the maps should be redrawn. However, the panel made clear it was 'not endorsing the current congressional map.' Republicans praised the ruling as a 'significant win' that will keep the district lines in place for the 2026 elections, giving the party a strong position to retain and grow its House majority.

  • The lawsuit was dismissed on March 31, 2026.
  • A second lawsuit seeking to redraw the congressional districts is not slated to go to trial until April 2027.

The players

Wisconsin Supreme Court

The state's highest court, which ordered the redistricting cases to be first heard by the three-judge panel over objections from Republicans.

Zach Bannon

Spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, who praised the ruling as a 'significant win' for Republicans.

Derrick Van Orden

Republican U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District, a vocal Trump supporter who won reelection in 2024.

Bryan Steil

Republican U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District, who has held the seat since 2019.

Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy

A bipartisan coalition of business leaders who have filed a separate lawsuit arguing that Wisconsin's congressional maps are unconstitutional because they are an anti-competitive gerrymander.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is a significant win for Republicans and a yet another blow to desperate Democrats who wanted to reshape the electoral landscape. By keeping Wisconsin's current district lines in place for 2026, Republicans are in a strong position to build on our momentum to retain and grow our House majority.”

— Zach Bannon, Spokesperson, National Republican Congressional Committee

What’s next

The decision can be appealed to the liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court, but it's unclear whether it could rule in time to affect the election this year. There is a second lawsuit pending that also seeks to redraw the state's congressional districts, but it isn't slated to go to trial until April 2027.

The takeaway

This ruling is a major victory for Republicans in the ongoing national redistricting battle, as it preserves the party's current congressional map advantage in the battleground state of Wisconsin ahead of the critical 2026 midterm elections. However, the fight over Wisconsin's district boundaries is far from over, with a separate lawsuit still pending that could potentially lead to redrawn maps in the future.