Though he will not sit on the commission, Democratic state Senator Dave Hansen is happy to see his seven-year battle get a hearing. Governor Tony Evers created the commission earlier this year to address redistricting in the state, which made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court in 2019. The People’s Maps Commission will hold its first public hearing virtually on October 1st, the first of eight such events for people to discuss how legislative maps are drawn in the future. Recommendations could lead to a non-partisan review board to draw the maps for the legislature to approve. Opponents to the change say drawing district lines should be left to the legislature. Hansen says now is the time to let the legislature know where they stand on the issue.

Residents in counties like Door and Brown will have an additional opportunity to voice their thoughts on redistricting reform. Both counties have a referendum question on their ballot about whether or not a non-partisan review board should be used for drawing the maps, a process already being used in Iowa.  We will highlight the thoughts of Rep. Joel Kitchens and his Democratic opponent Kim Delorit Jensen on the topic on Friday.