Today's election could weaken conservatives' long-held advantage in Wisconsin
NPR Online NewsNov 29, 2022
The Facts
Voters in Wisconsin on Tuesday headed to the polls to elect the newest members of the state Supreme Court, with the winner determining the balance of power on the court that’s currently split with three liberals and three conservatives. Conservative Justice Patience Roggensack is retiring.
Roughly $42.3M has been spent on the race, the most expensive court race in US history. Liberal candidate Judge Janet Protasiewicz has spent nearly $12M, while conservative challenger Justice Daniel Kelly has spent about $2.2M.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
If Kelly wins, abortion rights and labor unions could be decimated in Wisconsin. His support for loose gun laws and willingness to let fossil fuel companies pollute the state also makes him the lesser candidate. Even worse, tilting this court to the right could open the door for former Pres. Trump to succeed if he challenges election results in the state in 2024.
Republican narrative
The biggest issue in this race is Protasiewicz’s soft-on-crime track record. Wisconsin can’t reward her for all of the dangerously lenient sentences she’s handed out to violent criminals. If Wisconsin believes in law and order, this race will go for Kelly.
