This Tuesday, Wisconsin voters cast ballots in one of the nation's most consequential non-Presidential elections. What is at stake is the control of the seven member Wisconsin Supreme Court, which for years has been in right-wing Republican hands, and has been ruling against women's reproductive rights, voting rights / fair redistricting, and more. The open seat on the Court occurred with the retirement of right-wing judge Patience Roggensack, creating the current 3 - 3 tie.
Progressive candidate Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz is facing off against right-wing zealot Daniel Kelly, a former Supreme Court justice in the most expensive race for a judicial seat in American history at roughly $30 million. From The Hill's report:
"Protasiewicz has been outspoken on several issues, including her support for abortion rights, and notably called the state’s legislative maps 'rigged.' She’s also received support from Democratic names and groups like Hillary Clinton, NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation and Emily’s List.
Kelly has been less clear during the race about how he’d rule on some issues like abortion, though he has been backed by several prominent anti-abortion groups in the state. The Associated Press reported Kelly has done some work for Wisconsin Right to Life, though the group has said he was not on their payroll. Past clients of his have also included the state GOP." (our emphasis)
Kelly is obviously aware of the lessons of the 2022 mid-term elections, where Republicans supporting anti-reproductive choice positions and the overruling of Roe v. Wade were mostly defeated nationwide, and won't deal honestly with the issue. Wisconsin has a 139 year old abortion ban on its books, which Wisconsin's Dem Attorney General Josh Kaul has filed suit to block from implementation. That suit will be decided after the judicial election. Also, any challenges to the state's legislative maps, which now tilt decisively in favor of Republicans, would be heard by the new Court.
Finally, Wisconsin is expected to be a swing state in 2024, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court could be asked to alter the outcome of a close election, something that the MAGA cult will do if on the losing end. So the results of this election on Tuesday go beyond Wisconsin's borders, and will move democracy forward, or move toward right-wing autocracy.
