The Sconi

Earlier this summer, Common Cause in Wisconsin (CC/WI) contacted every Republican, Democratic, and Independent candidate for the Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly on the ballot for the August 13th partisan primary election. The organization invited candidates to inform CC/WI of their support for nonpartisan redistricting reform and to have their names listed publicly on its website.

Two days after sending the email to candidates, on July 10th, CC/WI released a public statement encouraging citizens to urge state legislative candidates in their area to support ending partisan gerrymandering. The release also invited citizens to contact CC/WI if they supported nonpartisan redistricting reform and the fair voting maps pledge endorsed by various state organizations within the Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition.

The pledge states: "I support passing legislation during the 2025 legislative session and enacting into law the requirement that Wisconsin adopt an independent nonpartisan redistricting process to ensure that no political party can create state legislative or congressional voting districts to favor their own political party nor be able to gerrymander Wisconsin’s voting maps in the future."

As of today, CC/WI has been contacted by 11 State Senate candidates and 61 Assembly candidates who advanced beyond the August 13th primary election and are on the ballot for the November 5th general election. Voters who encouraged their candidates to contact CC/WI about supporting this pledge were thanked.

Jay Heck, Executive Director of CC/WI stated: "Any statewide or state legislative candidate (or their authorized proxy) who supports the fair voting maps pledge and would like to see their name listed on our site should contact CC/WI by phone at (608) 512-9363 (leave a message), or preferably, by email: jheck@commoncause.org." He added that citizens should urge candidates to support non-partisan redistricting reform and request that they contact CC/WI.

Candidates must proactively reach out to have their names appear on this list. Even incumbent legislators running for re-election who co-sponsored redistricting reform legislation in previous sessions must contact CC/WI. This ensures they remain attentive and supportive of this issue while informing voters about where they stand on ending partisan gerrymandering in Wisconsin.

The list of supportive candidates will continue to be updated regularly until the November 5th general election on Common Cause Wisconsin's dedicated webpage. This initiative aims to keep voters informed about which candidates back nonpartisan redistricting reform as they make decisions in this pivotal election.

Heck emphasized that redistricting reform is essential for returning functionality and reducing political polarization within Wisconsin's legislature. He noted: "There is no question that an overwhelming majority of Wisconsinites want and support non-partisan redistricting reform. Now, let’s find out which candidates of all political parties for the Wisconsin Legislature are willing to stand up and pledge support for it."

Jay Heck concluded with a call-to-action: "On Wisconsin!"