Court Shuts Down Redistricting Fight In Key Swing State — Here’s What It Means

It didn't drawback galore nationalist headlines, but nan determination by nan Wisconsin Supreme Court not to perceive 2 lawsuits aiming to redraw nan battleground state's 8 congressional districts whitethorn person a sizable effect connected nan 2026 midterm elections.

The liberal-majority tribunal precocious past month, without explanation, refused to perceive challenges brought by Democrats seeking to change nan existent maps, which could person put 2 of nan state's six legislature districts presently held by Republicans successful play.

The move by Wisconsin's highest tribunal appears to use Republicans, arsenic they purpose to take sides their vulnerable House mostly successful adjacent year's elections.

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The Wisconsin authorities capitol, successful Madison, Wisconsin, connected April 1, 2025. The authorities Supreme Court is located wrong nan authorities capitol building. (Fox News - Paul Steinhauser)

That's because Republican Reps. Derrick Van Orden successful Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District and Bryan Steil successful nan 1st CD — nan state's astir competitory House seats — are apt safer without redrawing nan maps.

"Every spot matters successful nan conflict for the House of Representatives when each it takes is simply a three-seat summation to flip control, and a caller representation successful Wisconsin could person helped Democrats successful astatine slightest 2 seats, nan 1st and 3rd Districts," Jacob Rubashkin of nan non-partisan governmental handicapper Inside Elections told Fox News.

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Rubashkin noted that "it’s a setback for Democrats, but surely not an insurmountable one, arsenic nan statement has plentifulness of violative opportunities astir nan state and moreover successful Wisconsin, wherever we still spot nan 3rd District arsenic 1 of nan astir competitory districts. Depending connected nan governmental situation and campaigner quality, nan 1st mightiness beryllium competitory arsenic well, moreover nether nan existent lines."

Democrats are convinced they tin still prime up some seats.

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"It’s already clear that Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil are moving frightened because they cannot take sides their records — whether it’s their votes to trim Medicaid while giving taxation breaks to billionaires, aliases their 100% support for sweeping tariffs that are raising costs connected Wisconsin families. Wisconsin voters spot that Van Orden and Steil sold them out, and they’ll occurrence them adjacent year," Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) spokesperson Katie Smith told Fox News.

Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden represents Wisconsin's competitory 3rd Congressional District, which covers overmuch of nan southwestern and occidental parts of nan battleground state. (Provided by nan agency of Congressman Derrick Van Orden)

But nan rival National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) disagrees.

"The bipartisan rejection of nan extremist Democrats’ hopeless and politically motivated effort to redraw nan representation successful their favour offers a beardown preview of really Wisconsin voters will cull nan Democrats’ out-of-touch and extremist schedule adjacent twelvemonth astatine nan ballot box," NRCC spokesperson Zach Bannon said successful a connection to Fox News.

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Rubashkin noted that while Wisconsin isn't changing its maps, nan legislature territory lines whitethorn beryllium altered successful different states up of nan 2026 midterms.

"Ultimately, while we expect a fewer redistricting changes successful Ohio, Utah and perchance a fewer different states, nan wide image remains unchanged: Republicans are looking to subordinate history successful an costly and nationwide slog for 218 seats," he added.