Wisconsin

Wisconsin Republicans Look at Limiting Governor’s Power

November 9, 2018 at 9:26 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “The Republican plan to take power away from the incoming Democratic governor could include overhauling state boards and removing authority that Republican lawmakers handed to GOP Gov. Scott Walker (R) when he took office in 2011.”

“Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) said Thursday that Republicans are looking at giving incoming Gov. Tony Evers (D) less say in state rules that implement state laws. Eight years ago, Republicans handed Walker more power over those rules when he was first sworn in.”

Wisconsin Faces a Political Crossroads

August 12, 2018 at 12:34 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

New York Times: “Walker is still Wisconsin’s governor, still harboring national ambitions, and Wisconsin Democrats and Republicans have only grown more divided over Mr. Trump and the state’s place in national politics.”

“Those dynamics are now on display as Wisconsin prepares for a major primary election on Tuesday: Mr. Walker’s bid for a third term is at stake; Wisconsin Democrats’ desire to deal blows to Trump Republicanism is intense; Republicans are deeply concerned about their future hold on state government; and the very identity of the state, which swings between progressivism and conservatism, feels up for grabs.”

Walker Warns a ‘Blue Wave’ Is Coming

April 4, 2018 at 7:35 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Gov. Scott Walker (R) has warned that a “blue wave” may be coming for the midterm elections after a Democratic-backed candidate won a seat on Wisconsin’s supreme court, CNN reports.

Said Walker: “Tonight’s results show we are at risk of a blue wave in Wisconsin. The far left is driven by anger and hatred — we must counter it with optimism and organization. Let’s share our positive story with voters and win in November.”

Walker Reluctantly Calls Two Special Elections

March 29, 2018 at 4:15 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“After a three-month delay, a lightning-quick lawsuit and three orders from as many judges, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) called two special elections Thursday and GOP senators dropped legislation to block the contests,” the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

“Republican efforts collapsed following a Wednesday ruling by an appellate judge ordering the governor to call the May primary and June general elections. In less than a day, Walker abandoned a state Supreme Court appeal to overturn the ruling and lawmakers in both the Senate and Assembly canceled plans to vote to leave the seats vacant.”

Walker Tries to Buy Time to Cancel Special Elections

March 27, 2018 at 11:37 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Rushing to cancel a pair of court-ordered special elections, Gov. Scott Walker (R) has asked a judge to give him a week to approve legislation giving him broader powers to determine when to allow voters to fill vacancies in the Legislature,” the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports.

“The late-night filing was the latest move by Walker and his fellow Republicans in the Legislature to overturn a court order that he call special elections to fill the seats of two lawmakers who stepped down in December to join his administration.”

Judge Orders Walker to Call Special Elections

March 22, 2018 at 1:51 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Dealing a setback to Gov. Scott Walker and other Republicans, a judge ruled the governor must call special elections to fill two vacant seats in the Legislature,” the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

“Walker declined to call those elections after two GOP lawmakers stepped down to join his administration in December. His plan would have left the seats vacant for more than a year.”

Thousands of Milwaukee Voters Dropped from Rolls

March 21, 2018 at 9:35 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Thousands of Milwaukee voters have been dropped from voter rolls — including some erroneously — through the state’s registration system,” the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

“Some 44,000 voters were removed from city rolls after the state started using a new process in the Electronic Registration Information Center, they said. It’s unclear how many of those were dropped in error.”

Democrats Hold Enthusiasm Edge In Wisconsin

March 6, 2018 at 9:50 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new Marquette University Law School poll in Wisconsin finds 64% of Democrats said they felt “very enthusiastic” about voting in November, as compared to 54% of Republicans.

In 2014, it was Republicans who had the enthusiasm edge, 55% to 52%.

Walker Sued for Not Calling Special Elections

February 26, 2018 at 8:41 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“A group led by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder sued Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) over his refusal to call special elections to fill two open legislative seats,” the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports.

“Fresh off a victory in a Senate special election last month, Wisconsin Democrats have demanded that Walker call these two additional special elections and give their party an opportunity to notch more wins.”

“With Democrats seeing an opportunity — and Republicans seeing a threat — the controversy over the special election has taken on a strong political cast.”

Wisconsin Voters Find They Were Removed from Rolls

February 21, 2018 at 11:00 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Dozens of active Green Bay area voters went to cast their ballot in Tuesday’s primary election only to find they had been removed from voter rolls,” the Green Bay Press Gazette reports.

“Wisconsin Elections Commission spokesman Reid Magney attributed many problems voters experienced on Tuesday to a multistate electronic tracking system the state started using in 2016 to update its statewide voter rolls. He said the system sent postcards in November to close to 400,000 voters the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, identified as people who moved and would need to either confirm their details or register with updated information.”

Walker Refuses to Call New Special Elections

January 29, 2018 at 2:55 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) will not call special elections to fill seats in the Wisconsin legislature, following Democratic upsets in recent elections, The Nation reports.

A Blue Tsunami Is Forming

January 17, 2018 at 8:48 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

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Russian Facebook Ads Targeted Michigan and Wisconsin

October 3, 2017 at 9:41 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“A number of Russian-linked Facebook ads specifically targeted Michigan and Wisconsin, two states crucial to Donald Trump’s victory last November,” CNN reports.

“Some of the Russian ads appeared highly sophisticated in their targeting of key demographic groups in areas of the states that turned out to be pivotal… The ads employed a series of divisive messages aimed at breaking through the clutter of campaign ads online, including promoting anti-Muslim messages.”

“As part of their investigations, both special counsel Robert Mueller and congressional committees are seeking to determine whether the Russians received any help from Trump associates in where to target the ads.”

Will Rural Voters Swing Back?

January 23, 2017 at 9:47 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

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Wisconsin Recount Will Need to Move Quickly

November 25, 2016 at 5:53 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Wisconsin will hold its first-ever presidential recount in the coming weeks and the state could risk losing its ability to have its 10 electoral votes counted if it doesn’t meet key deadlines next month,” the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports.

“Hitting a Dec. 13 deadline could be particularly tricky if Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein is able to force the recount to be conducted by hand… A federal ‘safe harbor’ law requires states to complete presidential recounts within 35 days of the election to ensure their electoral votes are counted. This year, that’s Dec. 13.”

Wisconsin Redistricting Unfairly Favored GOP

November 22, 2016 at 7:59 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“A panel of three federal judges said on Monday that the Wisconsin Legislature’s 2011 redrawing of State Assembly districts to favor Republicans was an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander, the first such ruling in three decades of pitched legal battles over the issue,” the New York Times reports.

“Federal courts have struck down gerrymanders on racial grounds, but not on grounds that they unfairly give advantage to a political party — the more common form of gerrymandering. The case could now go directly to the Supreme Court, where its fate may rest with a single justice, Anthony M. Kennedy, who has expressed a willingness to strike down partisan gerrymanders but has yet to accept a rationale for it.”