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☆ Fierce Races Loom With Wisconsin’s New Political Maps
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Julie Bosman | Jamie Kelter Davis | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

From a north central county known for ginseng farming and downhill skiing, he has served on the local school board, the Marathon County Board and the village board of trustees in Weston, population 15,000. In February, new legislative maps in Wisconsin were signed into law after more than a decade of partisan wrangling and legal battles. The new maps undid the gerrymander that had helped Republicans keep control of both state legislative chambers since 2012. The 85th Assembly District in Marathon County, where Mr. Xiong lives, is no longer a Republican-leaning seat: It is a tossup. “This idea came to reality when the maps changed,” Mr. Xiong said in an interview last month.

Persons: Yee Leng Xiong, Xiong, ” Mr, Patrick Snyder Organizations: Marathon County Board, Democrat, Legislature, Republican, District, State Assembly Locations: Wisconsin, Marathon, Weston, Marathon County

☆ Voting rule changes: Republicans push ballot measures in key battleground states
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Republican lawmakers and activists in several presidential battlegrounds are pushing ballot measures to change how elections are run in their states. And in Arizona, a so-called ballot referral moving through the Republican-controlled Legislature would upend the state’s widely used, no-excuse vote-by-mail system. Constitutional amendments in Wisconsin and ballot referenda in Arizona are not subject to the approval of governors in those states. “Wisconsin’s status as a swing state makes election integrity measures important locally, nationally and internationally.”If approved, the Wisconsin measures would be in effect for this year’s elections. Katie Hobbs has vetoed a raft of legislation – ranging from efforts to get rid of red-light cameras to prohibiting ranked-choice voting in the state’s elections.

Persons: ”, Jay Heck, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Sen, Eric Wimberger, Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan, Zuckerberg, Tony Evers, Will Flanders, –, who’s, Debra Cronmiller, Katie Hobbs, Hobbs ’, Alex Gulotta, “, Wendy Rogers, Rogers, Wisconsin’s, noncitizens Organizations: CNN, Republican, GOP, Silver State, Tuesday ., White House, Center for Tech, Republicans, Democratic, National Conference of State Legislatures, Wisconsin Institute of Law and Liberty, Badger State, League of Women Voters of, Phoenix New Times, Phoenix, Clark County Republican Party, Wisconsin, New, New York City Locations: Wisconsin, Nevada, Silver, Arizona, Tuesday . Arizona, League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Maricopa County, ” Arizona, Clark, New York City, York, New York

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The attorney for a former Milwaukee elections official charged with fraudulently ordering three military absentee ballots under fake names and sending them to a Republican lawmaker who embraced election conspiracy theories argued Monday in opening statements that she was a whistleblower and not a criminal. Kimberly Zapata, the former deputy director of the Milwaukee Election Commission, is on trial for misconduct in public office, a felony, and three misdemeanor counts of making a false statement to obtain an absentee ballot. In Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Zapata's defense attorney Daniel Adams told the jury that she committed no crime, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Milwaukee, home to the largest number of Democrats in Wisconsin, has been a target for complaints from Trump and his backers. Brandtjen has advocated for decertifying Biden’s 2020 win in Wisconsin for the past two years and has espoused conspiracy theories supporting her position.

Persons: Kimberly Zapata, Daniel Adams, Adams, Zapata, ”, Matthew Westphal, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, Trump, Janel, Brandtjen, decertifying, ” Zapata, Robin Vos Organizations: MILWAUKEE, Republican, Milwaukee Election, Circuit, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin’s, Brandtjen, Trump, GOP, Journal Sentinel Locations: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, MyVote Wisconsin, Menomonee Falls

☆ Emails show how a right-wing group steers GOP leaders on major policy issues
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Bob Ortega | Daniel Medina | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft speaks with reporters on Jan. 23 in Jefferson City, Missouri. In Wyoming, a GOP state senator forwarded an FGA draft bill to Secretary of State Chuck Gray that would prohibit sending out unsolicited absentee ballot request forms. Emails show the group strategized with the secretary of state’s office for weeks leading up to Ashcroft proposing his own such rule last January. FGA notches wins with weakened child labor lawsFGA’s lobbying group, The Opportunity Solutions Project, spearheads its efforts at the state level. Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesFGA also continues its push at the state level across the country to enact its policy priorities.

Persons: State Jay Ashcroft, “, Ashcroft, Kacen Bayless, FGA, –, Chuck Gray, ” Gray, Gray, ”, Joe Biden’s, Jay, Daniel Garrett, Garrett, “ It’s, Missouri’s, Scott Fitzpatrick, BlackRock, ” Fitzpatrick, Mark Felix, Fitzpatrick, ALEC, Andy Puzder, Carls Jr, ” Puzder, Kristina Shelton, Puzder, ” Kristina Shelton, they’ve, Tarren Bragdon, Rebecca Burkes, It’s, Tyson, ’, Bragdon, Sarah Bryner, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Paul Renner, Donald Trump, Chip Somodevilla, Shelton, ” Shelton Organizations: CNN, State, Republican, Foundation, Government, Missouri, Kansas City Star, Tribune, Service, GOP, Ashcroft, Conservative, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, National, University of Pennsylvania, Brookings Institution, Exxon, BlackRock, ” BlackRock, Energy, ExxonMobil, Washington Post, American Legislative Exchange Council, Heritage Foundation, Heritage, Boston, Wisconsin Democratic, FGA, Solutions, Tyson Foods Inc, George’s Inc, US Department of Labor, Solutions Project, Daily, The Heritage Foundation, Alliance, Trump, Florida Governor, Bragdon, Florida House, House, FBI, Justice Department, Department of Education, Center, Pleaides Locations: Missouri, Texas, Jefferson City , Missouri, Wyoming, Kansas , Indiana, BlackRock, Florida, ExxonMobil Baytown, Baytown , Texas, Washington, ” Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Iowa, Park City , Utah, DeSantis, Rome , Georgia

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin voters are set to decide next month whether to make it unconstitutional to accept private grant money to help administer state elections, one of two Republican-backed ballot measures that Democrats say are meant to make it harder to conduct elections in the presidential battleground state. The Wisconsin measures are supported by Republicans and conservative groups and opposed by an array of government watchdog and liberal groups including the American Civil Liberties Union, Common Cause Wisconsin, Wisconsin Conservation Voters and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin. Three courts and the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission rejected complaints challenging the legality of the grant money. It’s unclear how adoption of the amendment would change current practice, other than place requirements currently in state law into the constitution. Federal law already requires U.S. citizenship to vote in national elections and no state constitutions explicitly allow noncitizens to vote in state or local elections.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Sen, Eric Wimberger, ”, Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan, Biden, Zuckerbucks ”, ” Kyle Koenen, Zuckerberg, Chan, Tony Evers, Evers, noncitizens Organizations: —, Republicans, American Civil Liberties Union, Wisconsin Conservation Voters, League of Women Voters of, Democratic, Center for Tech, Facebook, “, Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, Democratic Gov, Wisconsin, Bureau Locations: MADISON, Wis, — Wisconsin, Wisconsin, League of Women Voters of Wisconsin

It is up to the six-member elections commission, evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, to decide whether there are sufficient signatures to trigger the recall election. Recall organizers said they submitted nearly 11,000 signatures to the Wisconsin Elections Commission on Monday. But after an initial review of those signatures, commission staff said there were 9,053 potentially valid signatures. Only 3,364 signatures collected are in the new Assembly district that Vos resides in, which would also fall short of the total needed. If a petition is determined to be sufficient, a recall election must be called for six weeks later.

Persons: Donald Trump, Wisconsin's, Robin Vos, Circulators, Vos, Joe Biden's, Tony Evers, Evers, Matthew Snorek, Snorek, Trump, Meagan Wolfe Organizations: —, Republican, Republicans, Trump, Wisconsin Supreme, Democratic Gov, Assembly District, District, GOP Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s Racine, Burlington

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Backers of an effort to oust Wisconsin Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos from office over his opposition to former President Donald Trump announced Sunday that they’ve collected enough signatures to force a recall vote. Supporters of the recall campaign plan to present signatures Monday to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, saying they have more than the required 6,850 signatures from voters in Vos' southeast Wisconsin district. Vos has dismissed the recall attempt as a waste of time and resources, which he reiterated in a statement Sunday. That includes how Vos refused attempts from Trump and his supporters to decertify Biden’s win and how he didn’t move forward with impeaching Wisconsin’s top elections official. Trump narrowly won Wisconsin in 2016 but lost to President Joe Biden by a similar margin of about 21,000 votes in 2020.

Persons: Robin Vos, Donald Trump, Vos, they’ve, ” Matt Snorek, Trump’s, Trump, decertify, impeaching, Joe Biden, Tony Evers, Snorek Organizations: Wisconsin Republican, Wisconsin, Democratic Gov Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin, Vos ', Wisconsin district, “

☆ Text messages shed new light on scope of fake electors plot after 2020 election
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Marshall Cohen | Zachary Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

This undercuts his recent testimony to state prosecutors in which he said the fake electors were contingent on winning the litigation. Chesebro told Troupis in late 2020 that it was “really not necessary” to link the GOP electors to ongoing litigation. “I have sent it to the White House this afternoon. The real decision makers,” Troupis responded, though he didn’t identify who at the White House received the memo. In the December 6, 2020, memo, Chesebro laid out the plan to put forth slates of Republican electors in seven key swing states that Trump lost, including Wisconsin.

Persons: Kenneth Chesebro, Donald Trump, Jim Troupis, Wisconsin’s, Chesebro, Trump, Troupis, ” Chesebro, Weeks, Alex Jones, Jones, “, ” Memo, Jim, Justin Clark, ” Troupis, Reince Priebus, Wisconsinites, The Trump, CNN’s Katelyn Polantz Organizations: CNN, Trump, Michigan, “, Capitol, White, White House Locations: Wisconsin, Georgia

☆ Why readers are falling for romantasy stories
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

But when it comes to the literary flavor that’s dominating readers’ attention in 2024, it’s clear: “Romantasy” reigns supreme. When romantasy protagonists (such as dragon-riders, fairies and fallen angels) aren’t busy saving their worlds, they’re falling deeply in love — often with someone they formerly considered an adversary (the “enemies-to-lovers” trope does big numbers with romantasy readers). Romantasy is breaking through among readers who previously didn’t browse the fantasy aisle — and delighting readers who’ve loved it for years. We talk to authors, experts, longtime fans and recent converts about why readers are flocking to romantasy stories, in which treacherous quests are punctuated by steamy trysts. It’s what bookseller and romantasy fan Gideon Ariel calls “Swiss Army lit” — a subgenre that all readers can enjoy, from longtime fantasy nerds to newcomers.

Persons: Romantasy, aren’t, —, ”, Sarah J, Maas, Rebecca Yarros ’, who’ve, steamy trysts, Taylor Su, CNN Romantasy, Frankie Diane Mallis, Yarros ’, Violet Sorrengail, Gideon Ariel, “, Ariel, romantasy, Diana Gabaldon, Nalini Singh, who’s, couldn’t, Stephanie Meyer’s, ’, Jennifer L, Armentrout, Mallis, TikTok, Patti McConville, I’ve, Gemma Todd, Jayashree Kamblé, ” Kamblé, ” Ariel, Beth Gabriel, ” Mallis, Yarros, Todd, “ Harry Potter ”, ” Todd, Gabriel, She’s, Tracy Deonn, ” Sarah J, ” Rebecca Yarros, ” Travis, ” Silvia Moreno, Garcia, ” Scarlett St, Clair, ” Jennifer L, Ash, ” Rebecca Ross, ” Tracy Deonn, ” Frankie Diane Mallis, ” Nalini Singh Organizations: CNN, New York Times, Arcadia University, Army, Guardian, Bloomsbury, LaGuardia Community College, International Association for, Milwaukee Public Library Locations: bibliophiles, Madison , Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Crescent, Yarros, Wisconsin

But it wasn’t until control of the state Supreme Court flipped in August after the election of liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz that Democrats found a winning formula. The court accepted maps from the governor, Democratic and Republican lawmakers, as well as three other parties to the redistricting lawsuit. Facing a mid-March deadline from the state elections commission for new maps to be in place, the Legislature on Tuesday passed the Evers maps. “Republicans were not stuck between a rock and hard place,” Republican state Sen. Van Wanggaard said in a statement. The Wisconsin Supreme Court also has been asked by Democrats to take up a challenge to the state’s congressional district lines.

Persons: Tony Evers, Janet Protasiewicz, Protasiewicz, Evers, ”, Robin Vos, Sen, Van Wanggaard Organizations: — Wisconsin Democratic Gov, Republicans, Democrats, Republican, GOP, Democratic, Consultants, Legislature, Gov, Senate, . House, Wisconsin Supreme Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin

☆ GOP Rep. Mike Gallagher won’t seek reelection
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Melanie Zanona | Kaanita Iyer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Wisconsin GOP Rep. Mike Gallagher said Saturday he will not seek reelection, making him the latest Republican to announce an exit from Congress as the House GOP looks to save its shrinking majority in November. The House is expected to hold another vote on impeaching Mayorkas as soon as next week, when Majority Leader Steve Scalise returns from receiving cancer treatments. Former President Donald Trump carried the solidly Republican district over Joe Biden by about 15 points in the 2020 presidential election. Over a dozen House Republicans have stated that they will leave Congress at the end of their term. House Republicans currently control 219 seats to Democrats’ 212, with four vacancies.

Persons: Mike Gallagher, Gallagher, Alejandro Mayorkas, ” Gallagher, ”, impeaching Mayorkas, Steve Scalise, Wisconsin’s, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, George Santos ’, CNN’s Simone Pathe, Molly English Annie Grayer, Manu Raju Organizations: CNN, Wisconsin GOP, GOP, impeaching Homeland, Wisconsin Republican, Congressional, Republican, House Energy, Washington, Republicans, House Republicans, ’ Locations: Green, China, New York, Tuesday’s

The commission voted 5-1 Thursday, with Republican Commissioner Bob Spindell opposed, to adopt the new guidance for absentee ballot envelopes with a “missing” address, the Wisconsin State Journal reported. Under previous guidance, clerks were required to reach out to voters to correct absentee ballot envelopes that had “incomplete or insufficient” witness address information before those ballots could be accepted. Every vote is critical in Wisconsin, where each of the last two presidential elections in Wisconsin was decided by fewer than 23,000 votes. Ever since Trump’s defeat in Wisconsin in 2020, Republicans have been fighting in court to tighten the rules to limit how many absentee ballots can be accepted. State law requires absentee ballots to be submitted with a witness’s signature and address on the outside envelope that contains the ballot.

Persons: Bob Spindell, Spindell, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Dane County, Ryan Nilsestuen, Nilsestuen, ”, ” “ Organizations: Republican, Wisconsin State, Democratic, USA, The Marquette University Law, Rise Inc, League of Women Voters, Wisconsin Supreme, Legislative Locations: MADISON, Wis, The Wisconsin, Wisconsin

From 1999 to 2020, Black women were on average six times more likely than white women to be a victim of homicide, according to a new study, with researchers pointing to structural social inequities as fueling their higher risk. In 2020, the homicide rate for Black women was 11.6 homicides per 100,000 women, compared to a relatively static rate of 3 per 100,000 among white women in the same age group. Wisconsin, in particular, saw the largest disparity of any state overall, with the homicide rate among Black women more than 20 times that of white women from 2019 through 2020. Study authors said this marks a “disturbing increase” from the period between 1999 and 2003, when the homicide rate among Black women was six times that of white women. “Structural racism might provide insight as to why Black women, regardless of their ethnicity, face disproportionately high rates of homicide,” the study stated.

Persons: “, ”, Bernadine Waller, ” Waller, they’re Organizations: National Institute of Mental Health, Columbia University Irving Medical, D.C, U.S . News, Wisconsin Locations: Midwest, South, West, Virginia, Alabama, Florida . Wisconsin, In Wisconsin , Missouri, Arizona, Oklahoma, Washington

Wisconsin’s top prison official wrote to the governor in 2015 with a dire warning: The state prisons were dangerously understaffed, imperiling both guards and inmates. Five years later, two men escaped from a maximum-security Wisconsin prison that once held Jeffrey Dahmer, fleeing early one morning when four of the facility’s five watchtowers were unmanned. Today, two of the state’s prisons have been in lockdown for months. Prison officials who initially blamed the restrictions on violent outbursts have since conceded that a shortage of guards has kept the lockdowns in place. By the time the crisis began, the state had known for years that it was losing guards faster than it could replace them, an examination by The New York Times and Wisconsin Watch has found.

Persons: Jeffrey Dahmer Organizations: Wisconsin, New York Times, Wisconsin Watch

The new lawsuit says that decision warrants replacing the congressional district maps that were drawn under the “least change” requirement. In 2010, the year before Republicans redrew the maps, Democrats held five seats compared with three for Republicans. “Wisconsin is a purple state, but our current congressional district maps don’t reflect that,” he posted. Doing that “will fulfill this Court’s constitutional duty to independently adjudicate the validity of Wisconsin’s congressional maps,” the lawsuit states. Tony Evers and approved by the state Supreme Court.

Persons: Abha Khanna, Derrick Van Orden, Ron Kind, Bryan Steil, Mark Pocan, ”, “, Brian Schimming, Mike Marinella, Tony Evers, Marc Elias, Elias, John Kerry's, Hillary Clinton's, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump Organizations: Elias Law Group, Democratic, . House, Wisconsin Supreme, Wisconsin, Republicans, Western, Republican U.S . Rep, Republican Rep, Democrats, Democratic U.S . Rep, ” Wisconsin Republican, GOP, Supreme, Wisconsin Supreme Court, National Republican Congressional, Wisconsin Democrats can’t, Democratic Gov, U.S, Elias Law, Democratic National Committee Locations: MADISON, Wis, Washington, Wisconsin, Western Wisconsin's, Wisconsin's, Madison, ”, U.S

The court ordered new maps with contiguous districts, but also said the maps must not favor one party over another. Following Friday's map submissions, a pair of consultants hired by the Supreme Court will analyze the proposals and issue a report by Feb. 1. The consultants could choose to ignore all of the maps submitted last week and put forward their own plan. The 50-49 Republican majority map was submitted by Law Forward, the Madison-based law firm representing Democratic voters that brought the lawsuit. Republicans have indicated that they plan an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court arguing due process violations, but it's not clear when that would occur.

Persons: Tony Evers, Evers, “, ” Evers, “ I’ve, I’d, John D, Johnson, Robin Vos, Janet Protasiewicz Organizations: Court, GOP, Gov, Democratic, Senate, Republican, ” Marquette University Law School, Law, Republicans, Senate Democrats, U.S, Supreme Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin, Madison, Evers

☆ Wisconsin’s Act 10 Is in Jeopardy
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-06 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Journal Editorial Report: The week's best and worst from Bill McGurn, Kyle Peterson, Allysia Finley, Dan Henninger & Paul Gigot. Images: Getty Images/AP/ Composite: Mark KellyWisconsin progressives went for a judicial abuse trifecta last week, filing a lawsuit to overturn Act 10, the landmark 2011 law that limited the ability of public unions to bargain collectively. The case is part of the Democratic campaign to use the new liberal majority on the state Supreme Court to redraw the state’s legislative district maps and end school choice. Scott Walker , has saved the Badger State from turning into Illinois or New York, where public unions essentially run the state government for their own benefit. According to the MacIver Institute, Act 10 has saved Wisconsin taxpayers $16.8 billion since it was passed in 2011, making public finances more manageable at every level of government.

Persons: Bill McGurn, Kyle Peterson, Allysia Finley, Dan Henninger, Paul Gigot, Mark Kelly Wisconsin, Scott Walker Organizations: Democratic, Gov, Badger, MacIver Institute Locations: Illinois, New York, Wisconsin

A challenge to that ban is expected to come to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, though Planned Parenthood has been offering abortions since September based on a circuit court judge's interpretation of the law. As Wisconsin's attorney general, Schimel supported laws in Indiana and Ohio that limited abortion access. He also defended Republican-drawn legislative maps that are being challenged before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Before being elected attorney general, Schimel spent 25 years as a Waukesha County prosecutor. Bradley, 73, was first elected to the Supreme Court in 1995 and is the longest-serving justice on the court.

Persons: —, Brad Schimel, Ann Walsh Bradley, Bradley, Schimel, ”, Janet Protasiewicz, Donald Trump, Josh Kaul, Scott Walker, Protasiewicz's, ” Schimel, “ Organizations: Republican, Wisconsin Supreme, University of Wisconsin, Republicans Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin, Waukesha, Waukesha County, Indiana, Ohio

☆ Bipartisan infrastructure law: 5 projects that got money
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Katie Lobosco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Washington CNN —More than 40,000 projects have received federal funding from the $1.2 trillion infrastructure law signed by President Joe Biden two yeas ago. Replacing an aging bridge over the Wisconsin RiverThe I-39/90/94 bridge, which crosses the Wisconsin River, is set to be replaced. Earlier this year, the project received $25 million from the infrastructure law. The Susquehanna River Bridge in Maryland and the Connecticut River Bridge – both of which are more than 100 years old – will also be replaced. The infrastructure law allocated $22 billion to Amtrak directly, some of which is being used to replace its fleet of more than 1,000 railcars and locomotives.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Joe Biden, hasn’t, Biden, –, Bauer, Griffin, Michael M, Sandy, Washington’s Howard, Hanson, Howard, Dean Rutz, it’s, Alexander L, Bullock Organizations: Washington CNN, Boston Logan International, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Wisconsin DOT, Park City , Utah Park City, Historic District, AaronP, Getty, Amtrak, Maryland Area, Seattle Times, US Army Corps of Engineers, Tacoma, Puget Sound Locations: Ohio, Wisconsin, Columbia County, Milwaukee, Chicago, Madison, Park City , Utah, Park City, Utah, Kimball, Hudson, New York City, Boston, Washington, New Jersey, Manhattan, Maryland, Baltimore, Potomac, Susquehanna, Connecticut, Hanson, East King County , Washington, Columbia, Washington and Oregon, Howard, Seattle

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments Tuesday in a redistricting case that Democrats hope will result in new, more favorable legislative maps for elections in 2024 that will help them chip away at the large Republican majority. The Wisconsin Supreme Court is controlled 4-3 by liberal justices, following the April election victory by Justice Janet Protasiewicz. Democrats want the court to strike down the legislative maps, draw new ones, and order elections under those maps for all 132 state lawmakers in 2024. If the court were to rule that way, the case would certainly be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court and it's unclear whether there would be a ruling in time for the 2024 election. Those seeking new maps contend that the Supreme Court violated the separation of powers doctrine when it adopted the Republican-drawn map that Democratic Gov.

Persons: unsalvageable, Janet Protasiewicz, Robin Vos, Tony Evers, “, they’ve, Evers, Protasiewicz, David Lieb, Harm Organizations: Republican, Republicans, Democratic, Legislature, U.S, Supreme, . House, Democrats, Democratic Gov, Associated, Associated Press Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Wisconsin’s, Associated Press, Jefferson City , Missouri, Madison

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin judge on Friday ordered the former chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court to produce records related to her work advising the Republican Assembly speaker on whether to impeach a current justice. Former Chief Justice Patience Roggensack was one of three former Supreme Court justices asked by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to give him advice on pursuing impeachment. The liberal watchdog group American Oversight filed a lawsuit seeking records from Vos and the three former justices. Wilcox told The Associated Press he did not produce a report, but verbally told Vos impeachment was not warranted. On Friday, Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington issued an order giving Roggensack 30 days to produce any records she has.

Persons: Patience Roggensack, Robin Vos, Vos, Janet Protasiewicz, David Prosser, Jon Wilcox, Prosser, Ben Sparks, Wilcox, Sparks, Frank Remington, Remington, ”, Robert Shumaker, Protasiewicz, ” Protasiewicz Organizations: Republican, American, Associated Press, Dane, Senate, Republicans Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin, “ Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s

Some Republicans have been trying to oust state elections administrator Meagan Wolfe, who was in her position during the 2020 election narrowly lost by Trump in Wisconsin. The Senate voted last month to fire Wolfe but later admitted the vote was symbolic and had no legal effect. The Republican president of the Senate has also called on Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to proceed with impeachment. The Assembly can only vote to impeach state officials for corrupt conduct in office or for committing a crime or misdemeanor. “We need to move forward and talk about the issues that matter to most Wisconsinites and that is not, for most Wisconsinites, obsessing about Meagan Wolfe,” Vos said.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Meagan Wolfe, Wolfe, Robin Vos, Vos, Trump, Janel Brandtjen, ” Vos, Joe Biden Organizations: Republican, Republicans, Trump, Five, GOP lawmaker's Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin

☆ A tide of election worker resignations raises alarms ahead of 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —A wave of departures by election officials in key states risks adding new stress to the nation’s election system ahead of next year’s presidential contest, voting rights groups and several state election chiefs warn. The growing alarm over the resignations and retirements comes as officials say election workers continue to face a barrage of threats and harassment and partisan interference in their duties, first ignited by false claims of a stolen White House election in 2020. In King County, Washington – which includes Seattle – Julie Wise, the county election director, recalled receiving a letter over the summer with a rant about elections. Election watchdogs say more action is needed – including boosting federal funding and extending a federal law that criminalizes the release of restricted personal information about federal workers to cover election officials. Brinson Bell began tracking the departures when she became the state’s election chief that year.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Adrian Fontes, Pennsylvania –, Republican Al Schmidt, “, Nick Penniman, Schmidt, Donald Trump’s, ” Schmidt, Seattle – Julie Wise, Wise, ’, ” Penniman, Meagan Wolfe, Trump, Wolfe, there’s, Roy Cooper, Critics, Karen Brinson Bell, Brinson Bell, Kathy Holland, Holland, –, Brinson, ” Adam Byrnes, he’s, ” Byrnes, Fontes, ” Fontes, that’s Organizations: CNN, Democrat, Republican, US Justice Department, National Conference of State Legislatures, Committee, ” Workers, GOP, supermajorities, Gov, North Carolina State Board, Emory University, “ Locations: Arizona, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, King County , Washington, Seattle, In Wisconsin, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Alamance County, Swain County, Georgia

“No, absolutely not,” Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said when asked at a news conference if impeachment of Justice Janet Protasiewicz was off the table. Impeachment has drawn bipartisan opposition and two former conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court justices, asked by Vos to investigate the possibility, told him in the past week it was not warranted. Protasiewicz refused to recuse from the redistricting lawsuit last week and sided with the liberal majority in accepting the lawsuit. Protasiewicz last week rejected those arguments, noting that other justices have accepted campaign cash and not recused from cases. Oral arguments before the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the redistricting challenge are set for Nov. 21.

Persons: —, Robin Vos, Janet Protasiewicz, ” Vos, Protasiewicz, Vos, haven’t Organizations: Republican, U.S, Supreme, Wisconsin Supreme, Wisconsin Democratic Party, Senate, Republicans, Associated Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s, Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Senate was set to vote Thursday on firing the battleground state's top elections official — a move that was denounced by Democrats as illegitimate and is expected to draw a legal battle. Nonpartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe has been the subject of conspiracy theories and threats from election skeptics who falsely claim she was part of a plan to rig the 2020 vote in Wisconsin. The bipartisan elections commission deadlocked in June on a vote to nominate Wolfe for a second four-year term. In addition to carrying out the decisions of the elections commission, Wolfe helps guide Wisconsin’s more than 1,800 local clerks who actually run elections. Since the 2020 election, some Republicans have floated the idea of abolishing or overhauling the elections commission.

Persons: Meagan Wolfe, Wolfe, Devin LeMahieu, Josh Kaul, Kaul, Michael Haas, Scott Walker's, ERIC Organizations: Republican, Wisconsin Senate, GOP, Democratic, Biden, Trump, Republicans, Government, Board, Republican Gov, National Association of State, Registration, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin

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