Thomas Jefferson Cunningham (March 17, 1852 – April 28, 1941) was an American newspaper publisher, historian, and politician.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, as a child he moved with his parents to New Haven, Connecticut, where he was educated in the common schools.

Cunningham was the co-owner and editor of the Chippewa Times and its successor, the daily Independent, through at least 1919—except for the years he served as Secretary of State.

[6] In the general election, Cunningham defeated Republican candidate Edwin D. Coe with 53% of the vote.

This was the first time the Democrats held such power in the state since before the American Civil War, and it occurred in a redistricting year.

Throughout the legislative process of developing the maps, Republicans expressed outrage at what they saw as a partisan gerrymander.

[10] The Court published its opinion on March 22, 1892, agreeing with the Republican position and striking down the redistricting act.

Justice Harlow S. Orton wrote for the majority that: (1) the maps did not properly account for the population of non-taxed Native Americans and members of the Army and Navy who were not currently located in the state; (2) the districts did not closely adhere to county lines; and that districts were not properly (3) contiguous, (4) compact, and (5) convenient.

[8] The principles articulated by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in these cases—adherence to county lines; contiguity; compactness; convenience; striving for population uniformity—collectively became known in the state as the "Cunningham Principles" for redistricting, and were closely considered for decades of subsequent redistricting measures.