MADISON, Wis. — Hundreds gathered on the steps of the State Capitol Monday afternoon to demand fair legislative maps as Wisconsin gets ready to draw new boundaries.

The rally was more of a celebration as Democrats rolled out fair maps legislation again.

What You Need To Know

  • The Fair Maps Coalition held a rally at the State Capitol Monday

  • Democrats announced they will re-introduce fair maps legislation

  • The proposal is based on neighboring Iowa's model of nonpartisan redistricting

  • So far, two Republicans are in support of the idea

From music to dancing, the crowd wasn't shy about making sure they were heard.

Don Leake and his wife Ann made the nearly four-hour drive from River Falls to show their support for the maps being created by the nonpartisan People's Maps Commission right now.

“This is about the first time people can get together in person to support fair maps,” Don Leake said. “We're just disappointed in the unresponsiveness of the current legislature. If they would just talk about this issue, which is nonpartisan.”

The legislation Democrats planned to bring back Monday is based on neighboring Iowa's model of nonpartisan redistricting.

“I am one of only three members of the Wisconsin Assembly that have flipped an Assembly District from one party to another,” State Rep. Deb Andraca (D-Whitefish Bay) said. “Three out of 99 in a decade.”

Andraca said the proposal isn't about party, rather leveling the playing field.

“So the legislation would basically enshrine into law that we, every single 10 years, would have a nonpartisan commission led by the nonpartisan legislative research bureau, and they would be the ones that draw the maps,” Andraca said. “It wouldn't be the politicians who decide. It wouldn't be leadership who decides.”

Right now, two Republicans are supporting the legislation—State Rep. Travis Tranel from Cuba City and State Rep. Todd Novak of Dodgeville. However, Andraca hopes to pick up some more support from across the aisle.

As for the Leakes, they don't want to live another decade in the dark.

“Doing this in secret was so dishonest, so unethical, it can't happen again, and the only way we keep it from happening again is to make people aware of the situation,” Ann Leake said.

The couple hopes Monday's sunshine is a sign of things to come with a process being carried out in the light of day.