Why you should care about the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election
The 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election is arguably the most important race this year, and I’m here to tell you the details and why you should cast your vote in both the primaries and the general election this Spring.
The primary elections for the race are a mere two weeks from now on Feb. 21, while the general elections will be held on April 4. The winner of these elections will be replacing Justice Patience D. Roggensack, who is retiring after 20 years in the state supreme court.
There are currently four candidates in the running for the seat, with two on either side of the ideological divide. On the right, we have former state Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly and Waukesha County circuit district court judge Jennifer Dorow. On the left, we have Dane County circuit court judge Everett Mitchell and Milwaukee County circuit court judge Janet Protasiewicz.
These elections are heating up to be the most expensive judicial state race, with The New York Times predicting it could even double the current most expensive race. Advertisements have been pouring out from all 4 articles and various political figures have started endorsing each of the candidates in hopes of establishing their legitimacy.
So why should you care about this off-year election and head to the polls to vote on Feb. 21 and April 4?
First of all, a more liberal-leaning judge can tip the balance of the court. The state supreme court in Wisconsin currently has a 4-3 conservative majority, and this control has led to decisions that assist the Republican agenda, including upholding limits to unions, expanding gun rights, banning absentee drop boxes and establishing political districts through gerrymandering that skews support towards the right. The election of Mitchell or Protasiewicz can lead to a liberal majority that can help with the creation of a more fair congressional map ahead of the 2024 elections.
Second, a key issue that is front and center in this race is abortion rights. An 1849 ban on nearly all abortions went into effect after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and Governor Tony Evers are currently suing to overturn this archaic state law, and the decision is likely going to reach the Wisconsin Supreme Court after the new justice is sworn in. Both liberal judges Mitchell and Protasiewicz have been outspoken in their support for abortion rights, and the election of either one of these candidates can surely be a huge step for our basic human rights.
These elections can certainly be the determining factor in the fate of our rights.
“The 2023 Wisconsin state Supreme Court race is the most important election that nobody’s ever heard of,” Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler said to Politico. “It has implications that will affect national politics for years to come, really at every level of government.”
Voting in the primary matters as much as the general elections because of the nonpartisan nature of these elections. The top two finishers in the Feb. 21 primary will go on to the April 4 general election, regardless of their political party. This raises the possibility that both Conservatives, or both Liberals, could advance to the general election. While this is unlikely to occur, the slim chance that 2 Republican candidates will move forward is very real, and something we should be aware of before deciding not to vote in the primary.
So know that stakes for these elections are extremely high, and your vote matters in deciding how our future looks like. For more information on how to vote in the Spring 2023 Primary, you can visit the BadgersVote website, which has resources and details on how, when and where to vote.