Evers calls special session to ban gerrymandering, but top Dems won't say if they support it
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Governor Tony Evers announced Tuesday he is calling lawmakers back to the Capitol next month for a special session aimed at ending the practice of drawing district lines in a way that benefits the party in power.
Evers seeks to ensure a nonpartisan redistricting process by changing the state constitution. In order for that to happen in Wisconsin, the Legislature must approve an amendment in two consecutive legislative sessions, then the question would go before voters in a statewide referendum.
The special session is set for April 14, although Republicans in control of the Legislature have gaveled out of Evers' past special sessions without debating or voting on the governor's proposals, which have previously covered subjects ranging from abortion and gun rights to aid for farmers.
The amendment Evers wants to put before lawmakers would ban partisan gerrymandering by ensuring the redistricting process "prohibits districts from providing a disproportionate advantage or disadvantage to any political party."
"Wisconsin is as purple as ever," Evers said at a ceremony Tuesday at the Capitol. "But we've shown time and time again that fair maps help force lawmakers to put politics aside, work together and find common ground to get good things done for our state."
However, Evers' proposed amendment did not receive a warm reception from legislative leaders in either party.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said he was willing to "negotiate" but added the proposed amendment was too vague as currently drafted.
“This one-sentence constitutional amendment provides no details as to how this would actually work," Vos said in a statement. "But we’re supportive of the governor’s concept and we would be more than happy to negotiate with him."
Democratic legislative leaders issued statements Tuesday that did not specify whether they supported Evers' proposed amendment.
"Many of us as Legislative Democrats served under Republicans’ gerrymandered maps for years," Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) said. "We deeply understand the importance of competitive maps and remain committed to supporting a redistricting process where the voters’ voices are heard."
Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein also voiced support for a nonpartisan redistricting process, but her statement did not mention Evers' special session.
"I am a fighter and my commitment is to make sure the people of Wisconsin have a strong voice in their democracy," Hesselbein said. "And that Democrats have the resources and tools to fully participate in whatever redistricting processes may occur in the future."
Neither Neubauer nor Hesselbein responded to follow-up questions from CBS 58 asking whether they specifically supported Evers' proposed amendment.
A group of Democrats from the Joint Finance Committee, which also met Tuesday, stood with Evers for his announcement at the Capitol. State Rep. Deb Andraca (D-Whitefish Bay) said she fully supports Evers' efforts to ban gerrymandering via constitutional amendment.
"I believe the governor is putting a line in the sand, saying, 'We need to make sure we have maps that are competitive, that reflect the will of the voters, not any political party,'" Andraca said.
Andraca added she did not believe any Democratic leaders were opposed to Evers' idea.
"I spoke with my colleagues. I spoke with Representative Neubauer," Andraca said. "We were in alignment that a number of us would stand behind the governor because this is something we support."
The proposed amendment does not define "gerrymandering," as it doesn't specify what constitutes a disproportionate advantage for a party.
Rob Yablon, a political law professor at UW-Madison, said the open-ended nature of the proposed amendment would almost certainly invite lawsuits should it be adopted.
"The reality is that a lot of this is gonna end up in court in the future," Yablon said. "If lawmakers have a view this does leave them some wiggle room, that will get litigated."
Yablon said the wording of the amendment also makes it unclear whether the amendment would ban gerrymandering congressional maps.
The governor's office said that language is due to the state constitution only discussing reapportionment of seats as it relates to the Legislature, and it added the intent and wording of the amendment should be interpreted as applying to congressional maps, too.
Yablon said he could see compelling arguments both for and against applying Evers' amendment to congressional maps.
It's a hot topic, since President Donald Trump has pressured Republican states to rig their congressional maps and create more GOP House seats. Democratic states have responded by doing the same.
Lawmakers redraw the state's voting maps at the start of every decade using new U.S. Census data. In 2024, Evers signed new legislative maps into law after the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down maps the GOP-controlled Legislature drew in 2020.
Nonpartisan experts found those maps, based on 2010 Republican-authored maps, gave the GOP a disproportionate advantage. Republicans were just shy of a legislative supermajority with two-thirds of the Legislature's seats, even though most statewide elections in Wisconsin end up being decided by a percentage point or two.
In order to amend the Wisconsin constitution, lawmakers must approve the amendment in two consecutive legislative sessions. That would mean votes this year, and another one next year at the soonest.
From there, voters would have the final say on adopting the amendment in a statewide referendum.