Republicans Say Too Late to Redraw Redistricting Maps; Trial Continues

An attorney representing top state Republicans told three federal judges Tuesday night they were willing to revisit district maps but they didn't believe they had the power to do so.

Republican lawmakers were asked earlier Tuesday to consider redrawing the new legislative and congressional district boundary maps, with challenges from Democrats and Latinos in mind, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

However, the attorney, Dan Kelly, said he believed a 1954 opinion by the state Supreme Court wouldn't allow for any changes, arguing lawmakers were only allowed to make changes to maps once a decade, the newspaper reports.

Those challenging the state over the maps say they disagree and believe the new boundaries can be changed.

Legislators are constitutionally required to redistrict every 10 years based on new census population figures and demographic changes. With legal challenges aside, the maps go into effect later this year.

Here in the 21st Senate, 62nd and 63rd Assembly districts, things could change rather dramatically if the maps stand up to court scrutiny. In the Senate, the new 21st District would roughly encompass the Cities of Racine and Kenosha with bits of Mount Pleasant and Somers as well while the new 22nd District would shoehorn around the cities for most of the suburban and rural areas of both Racine and Kenosha Counties, creating one each predominantly Democratic and Republican district.

In the Assembly, the districts would essentially flip, creating a more conservative district on the northern area of the county currently and carving out a mixed Democratic/Republican area through the southern and parts of the western edge of the County.

The 21st District is currently represented by State Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine). New maps would move him into the 22nd District while State Sen. Bob Wirch (D-Kenosha) would have to either move or not run to retain his seat in the new 21st District.

In the Assembly, the 62nd District is represented by Rep. Cory Mason (D-Racine) while Rep. Robin Vos (R-Rochester) represents the 63rd District. If the maps hold, each Representative would continue to hold office in their new district but they would also have to meet and depend on new groups of constituents for re-election.

The State Legislature has voted that any redistricting maps will not go into affect until after November 2012. Wanggaard almost certainly faces a recall election sometime later this spring or summer, but that election will take place in the current 21st District. Former Sen. John Lehman, whom Wanggaard defeated in Nov. 2010, has announced he will run against Wanggaard again.