Democracy is Up for Grabs in Wisconsin Again
I can already see some of you skipping this one because you know I'm going to ask you to phone bank.
My goal with this newsletter is to explore how politics and government shape our lives and how we can use our democracy to build a more just, equitable world where we can all thrive. Sometimes that means writing about marriage and book bans and even my various vacations. And sometimes that means a nitty-gritty, back to basics, brass tacks call to action.
It is once again time to roll up our sleeves and get to work.
Next week, on April 4, 2023, residents of Wisconsin will go to the polls to elect a new judge to the Wisconsin State Supreme Court and it is vital that Janet Protasiewicz win this seat. (TL;DR sign up to phone bank here or donate here)
With a Republican majority state legislature and a Democratic government, the Supreme Court in Wisconsin plays a critical role in Wisconsin politics, the arbiter of a government that is often at a standstill in the battle between reactionary and regressive laws and Tony Evers, Gandalf facing down the Balrog of bigotry with nothing but a veto pen (sorry not sorry).
The Wisconsin Supreme Court currently has a 4-3 conservative majority, but this election is a huge opportunity to flip the court in favor of a more progressive majority just in time to decide key issues like the future of abortion rights, district lines, and future potential election challenges.
As it turns out, I currently have no subscribers who live in Wisconsin. So why, you might ask, should you care about this election? Boy do I have an answer for you.
Off year elections like this drive conversation and momentum in politics. Because this will be some of the only election news in 2023, we’re going to hear a lot about the result and what it means and it would be great if that coverage talked about yet another victory for Democrats against Republican extremism instead of wondering if perhaps people like it when you take away their rights thus emboldening those who, you know, want to take away our rights.
We’ve already seen the damage Republicans can do when they refuse to concede in elections they’ve lost. And now Trump is using footage of the January 6 insurrection in a violent appeal for the revenge of fascism. When the 2024 presidential election rolls around we need people who believe in elections in charge of validating the results. Janet Protasiewicz’s opponent, Daniel Kelly, was a key adviser in Trump’s plan to overturn the 2020 election results and electing him to the Wisconsin Supreme Court will be incredibly dangerous for the sanctity of the 2024 elections and the peaceful transfer of power.
Most importantly, you might not live there, but other people do. People who need abortions live in Wisconsin, and they won’t be able to get them unless the Supreme Court rules in their favor in upcoming abortion rights cases. The Supreme Court in Wisconsin will also oversee redistricting, an incredibly important responsibility in a state that is routinely 50-50 in statewide elections, but where Republicans control the state legislature about 65% to 35%. The people of Wisconsin deserve to live in a state that honors their votes, protects their rights, and expands their democracy.
So what can you do about it? So glad you asked. You can donate to Wisconsin Democrats, or to the Janet Protasiewicz campaign.
But even more importantly than that, you can sign up to phone bank. In off year state elections like this, phone banking is vitally important. Often people don’t even know the election is happening, don’t know who the candidates are, or don’t remember the date. It also means that these are often some of the easiest and nicest phone banks, where the Democrats you reach are grateful for the information because they want to go vote in an election that will help make their state a more fair and just place to live.
You can sign up to phone bank with WisDems, or with NextGen to reach specifically young voters. I’ve done phone banks with both groups and they both provide great training and lots of encouragement. And if you are interested in phone banking but not sure what it looks like or how to get started, just let me know and I’ll be happy to walk you through it.