LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan must redraw dozens of congressional and legislative districts for the 2020
election because Republicans configured them to unconstitutionally guarantee their political dominance
and dilute the power of Democratic voters, federal judges ruled Thursday.
In a 3-0 ruling — which will be appealed — the panel gave the GOP-led Legislature and Democratic Gov.
Gretchen Whitmer until Aug. 1 to enact new maps for nine of 14 congressional seats and 25 of 148
legislative districts. The number of newly cast seats would be higher, though, because of the impact on
adjacent districts.
The judges also ordered that special state Senate elections be held in 2020, halfway through senators’
normal four-year terms. The panel said it would draw its own maps if new ones are not submitted or if
those that are proposed do not comply with constitutional requirements.
The decision was the latest development in a series of lawsuits alleging unconstitutional gerrymandering
in a dozen states. The U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether to set limits on partisan mapmaking.

Judge Eric Clay of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. District Judge Denise Page Hood of
Michigan’s Eastern District and U.S. District Judge Gordon Quist of Michigan’s Western District said
mapmakers, political consultants and lawmakers involved in the Republican-controlled 2011 redistricting
effort elevated "partisan considerations" at every step.
"Their primary goal was to draw maps that advantaged Republicans, disadvantaged Democrats and
ensured that Republicans could enjoy durable majorities in Michigan’s congressional delegation and in
both chambers of the Michigan legislature for the entire decade," they wrote.
GOP legislators vowed to appeal to the Supreme Court.
"We will prepare to comply with this most recent ruling while we await the outcome of the
appeal," Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey said in a statement.
The Michigan suit was filed by the League of Women Voters of Michigan and Democratic voters who claimed
districts were shaped by Republican operatives to ensure the party’s supremacy in the state Capitol
after the 2010 census. They said constitutional rights were violated when Democratic areas were packed
in certain districts or diluted elsewhere.
The court agreed, ruling that oddly shaped seats — such as the Democratic-held 9th Congressional District
in suburban Detroit — were drawn to strategically wrap around and exclude, "in a snakelike
fashion," Republican areas, contributing to the packing of Democratic votes.
Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson attempted to settle the case by redrawing 11 of 110 state
House seats, but the panel rejected her proposal and held a trial in February.
"The court’s ruling confirms that these Michigan state House and Senate and U.S. congressional
districts are unconstitutional," Benson said in a statement. "I respect that decision, as
should we all. As the state’s chief election officer, I’m committed to working with the Legislature,
citizens and the court to ensure the new districts comply with our U.S. Constitution."
The suit pertains only to 2020. Michigan voters in November approved a constitutional amendment creating
an independent commission to handle the typically once-a-decade redistricting process after the 2020
census, which will affect the 2022 election and beyond.
Michigan is among five states where Republicans retained control of the state House even though
Democratic candidates won more votes statewide last fall, an analysis by The Associated Press found.
"Today is a great victory for the voters of Michigan and for our democracy," Judy Karandjeff,
president of the League of Women Voters of Michigan, said in a statement. "The state will now draw
new district lines before the next federal election, which now will better reflect the makeup of the
voters — not the interests of the politicians."
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