Why does the April 1st election matter so much? Why is so much money coming in from out-of-state? Who cares that much about Wisconsin?
There are three parts of Wisconsin government — Legislative, Executive and Judicial — offering an important Constitutional system of checks and balances. The Legislative branch makes laws. The Executive branch executes or implements laws. The Judicial branch interprets laws and assures that the Constitution is followed.
Every few years we, the voters, elect partisan legislators to the Wisconsin Senate and Assembly to enact laws. We also elect non-partisan judges to oversee the constitutionality of these laws and to settle legal conflicts at the local, state, and federal levels. It is highly unethical and very undemocratic for a judge to apply any type of partisanship into his/her job. Legislators are elected to create laws and judges are elected to constitutionally interpret those laws.
Judge Susan Crawford, who is running in the April 1st Wisconsin Supreme Court race against Judge Brad Schimel, was caught in a fund-raising effort soliciting changes to Wisconsin’s congressional maps in exchange for financial support. Her event invitation to a group of liberal-leaning billionaires blatantly stated, “Winning this race could also result in Democrats being able to win two additional U.S. House seats, half the seats needed to win control of the House in 2026.”
Susan Crawford is indicating to potential donors and voters that if elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, she would seek to influence the U.S. congressional maps in Wisconsin. However, by law it is the responsibility of the Wisconsin State Legislature, based on established criteria, to approve redistricting, not the Wisconsin Supreme Court!
If Judge Crawford intends to unlawfully gerrymander (manipulate the boundaries so as to favor one party) our congressional districts, as indicated in her fund-raising invitation, it would alter the legally approved geographical voter balance in Wisconsin, even affecting our U.S. Congressional races. This political manipulation would upset the intent of the people’s vote.
No one, regardless of political views, who cherishes our rights and freedoms should want activist judges like Crawford!
If you voted in November because of the importance of the presidential elections, then you must vote again on April 1st, because not only are many important Wisconsin issues at stake, but also the U.S. Congressional elections in 2026 and the future ideological direction of our state and country!