The Sconi

In July, Common Cause in Wisconsin (CC/WI) reached out to all registered candidates for the Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly. The organization invited these candidates to declare their support for nonpartisan redistricting reform and express their willingness to have their names publicly listed on CC/WI's website.

Following this initial contact, CC/WI released a statement encouraging citizens to urge local legislative candidates to back efforts to end partisan gerrymandering. They were also asked to inform CC/WI of their support so that their names could be included in a public list of supporters.

The statement includes a pledge: "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."

After the August primary elections, CC/WI issued another release inviting state legislative candidates to make known their stance on nonpartisan redistricting reform. The current release is the third and final invitation for candidates to publicly endorse this initiative ahead of potential legislation in 2025.

To date, 13 State Senate candidates and 70 Assembly candidates have contacted CC/WI expressing their support. An updated list of these supportive candidates is available on the organization's website.

CC/WI has maintained such lists since 2014, aiming to provide voters and media with clear information about which candidates endorse nonpartisan redistricting reform. Candidates who wish to appear on this list are encouraged to proactively reach out via phone or email.

Candidates must take initiative by contacting CC/WI if they want their support for redistricting reform recognized publicly. This applies even if they have previously supported similar measures. Demonstrating ongoing commitment is vital as it shows attentiveness and continued backing for critical issues like ending partisan gerrymandering.

According to Jay Heck, Executive Director of Common Cause Wisconsin, "Redistricting reform in Wisconsin is critical and necessary if we are ever to return to having a functional, less politically polarized state legislature that is responsive to the citizens of this state rather than political bosses interested primarily in holding onto power."

With widespread public backing for nonpartisan redistricting reform among Wisconsinites, attention now turns towards which legislative candidates will commit themselves before Election Day on November 5th.

"Forward!" concludes Jay Heck's statement on behalf of Common Cause Wisconsin.