BELOIT – Today, State Senator Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) reacted to the filing of Clarke v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, a newly-filed lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of partisan gerrymandering under the Wisconsin Constitution:
“Today, a lawsuit was filed that directly challenges the constitutionality of partisan gerrymandering in Wisconsin. Rigged maps have hurt our state for years, and it is past time for them to be banned in Wisconsin.
“Partisan gerrymandering is at the heart of the disconnect between Wisconsin voters and the lawmakers who serve in our Capitol.
“While Democratic candidates have repeatedly won statewide, Democratic legislative majorities have been far out of reach due to Republican gerrymandering. That defies the will of Wisconsin voters and violates the Wisconsin Constitution.
“We know that Wisconsinites support a broad range of critical priorities that will never even be debated with a gerrymandered legislature. For too long, when constituents contact me with common-sense ideas on issues that are supported by the vast majority of Wisconsinites, I have had to explain that these priorities will not pass the Wisconsin State Legislature, due to a political party that has entrenched itself into a rigged majority.
“Since my first campaign in 2014 and my first term in the State Assembly in 2015, I have been fighting to end partisan gerrymandering. While the gerrymandered Republican majorities have prevented that from happening, I am hopeful that the Wisconsin Supreme Court will step in to fix this issue.
“As I have repeatedly said, voters should choose their elected officials, not the other way around. Wisconsin should have had fair maps last year, but now we have a chance to have fair maps in 2024. Last November, I was elected to a four year term, and I will continue to work hard to represent the constituents who elected me until the next election.
However, it is only fair for the entire legislature – including the 15th Senate District – to be up for election next year, so that voters will have the opportunity to elect the legislators of their choice on fair maps. I welcome the opportunity to run on fair maps – it is what our Constitution demands and what Wisconsinites want.”
