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Why Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race is the most expensive election of its kind ever

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Why Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race is the most expensive election of its kind ever


Wisconsin voters head to the polls Tuesday to elect their subsequent state Supreme Court docket justice in what could possibly be essentially the most consequential race of 2023. The race has already garnered nationwide consideration, with potential implications for an array of points, together with abortion and voting rights, in addition to the 2024 presidential election. And the high-stakes race is the costliest state Supreme Court docket race ever.

Whereas the Wisconsin Supreme Court docket is technically nonpartisan, the outcomes of the election will decide whether or not the court docket, which might weigh in on politically charged points within the battleground state, may have a conservative- or liberal-leaning 4-3 majority.

“We’re dwelling in a nationwide atmosphere by which state supreme courts are being given the chance by the U.S. Supreme Court docket to rule on these terribly essential and consequential points,” stated Howard Schweber, political science and regulation professor on the College of Wisconsin.

dan-kelly.png
File: Former Wisconsin state Supreme Court docket Justice Daniel Kelly 

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Dan Kelly’s Fb marketing campaign account


Conservative candidate and former Justice Daniel Kelly is operating in opposition to liberal Choose Janet Protasiewicz to fill the seat being vacated by conservative Persistence Roggensack, who shouldn’t be in search of reelection. Her retirement opens a chance for the steadiness of the state’s highest court docket to shift after conservatives held the bulk for 15 years. The election will resolve the make-up of the court docket for at the least the subsequent two years. Wisconsin state Supreme Court docket justices are elected for 10-year phrases.

Live Taping Of Pod Save America, Hosted By WisDems At The Barrymore Theater In Madison, Wisconsin
File: Choose Janet Protasiewicz onstage in the course of the dwell taping of “Pod Save America,” hosted by WisDems on the Barrymore Theater on March 18, 2023 in Madison, Wisconsin.

Photograph by Jeff Schear/Getty Pictures for WisDems


“To name these elections nonpartisan is solely absurd,” stated Schweber. “They’re very a lot partisan pushed, they’re very a lot social gathering pushed, and it’s totally a lot that these two sides will attempt to promote candidates that they assume will promote their agendas.”

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Greater than $27 million has been spent on adverts within the basic election alone because the Feb. 21 major. Protasiewicz and teams supporting her have spent over $15 million, whereas Kelly and teams supporting him have poured over $12 million into the race. Protasiewicz and her supporters have been outspending Kelly and his backers on adverts for weeks, however that pattern reversed within the final week of March.

In complete, spending on the Wisconsin Supreme Court docket race is near $45 million, in response to a assessment by WisPolitics.com, which drew from monetary information that included the first election. The sum shattered the earlier report for a single supreme court docket race, $15.2 million in Illinois in 2004, in response to information from the Brennan Heart for Justice. 

Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Social gathering of Wisconsin, famous this election might “form the principles that may have an effect on the 2024 presidential race, the struggle for the Home majority, and the struggle for the Senate majority.” 

The state Democratic social gathering is each operating a significant “get out the vote” operation throughout the state in addition to elevating hundreds of thousands for Protasiewicz. The Wisconsin GOP has additionally been holding occasions throughout the state and actively selling his candidacy.  

“What I inform individuals is all of the reforms we have had within the final 25 years going again to [Republican] Gov. Tommy Thompson I feel are beneath risk if the liberals take over the court docket,” stated Wisconsin Republican Social gathering Chairman Brian Schimming. 

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Protasiewicz at the moment serves as a Milwaukee County Circuit Court docket decide. Earlier than she was first elected in 2014, she served as a Milwaukee assistant district legal professional for greater than 25 years.

Kelly beforehand served on the Wisconsin Supreme Court docket from 2016 to 2020 having been appointed by former Republican Gov. Scott Walker. He misplaced the 2020 Supreme Court docket election to now-Justice Jill Korofsky. Since then he has returned to non-public observe, a stint that included serving as authorized counsel to the Wisconsin Republican social gathering.

Each candidates have been going head-to-head over abortion rights, a problem  might find yourself earlier than the court docket in Wisconsin. Protasiewicz has been operating adverts in opposition to Kelly, claiming he would uphold the state’s pro-Roe 1849 abortion ban which went into impact after the Supreme Court docket overturned Roe v. Wade. It doesn’t embrace exemptions for rape or incest. 

Kelly, who’s endorsed by a number of anti-abortion teams together with Wisconsin Proper to Life, has pushed again saying he’ll resolve the difficulty based mostly on the regulation. He is criticized Protasiewicz for brazenly saying she believes girls ought to have entry to abortion. Kelly accused Protasiewicz of getting already made up her thoughts on how she would rule if a case got here earlier than the court docket.

Redistricting has additionally emerged as a prime situation within the race. Final 12 months, the Wisconsin Supreme Court docket authorised the Republican-drawn maps much like the 2011 plan, when Republicans held a state-government trifecta in the course of the redistricting course of. The maps primarily lock in Republican management of the Meeting and Senate, however that might instantly change with a shift within the make-up of the state Supreme Court docket. Protasiewicz has referred to as the maps unfair and rigged. 

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And the court docket is prone to have a say in voting rights instances forward of the 2024 election the place the state is a essential battleground within the presidential race. Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat, can be up for reelection. 

Republicans, who management each chambers of the state legislature, have moved to move a sequence of various voter legal guidelines through the years starting from voter ID necessities to absentee voting restrictions. The Wisconsin Supreme Court docket dominated final 12 months that absentee poll drop containers are unlawful within the state. 

“There are simply quite a few alternatives for the courts to both uphold guidelines designed to suppress voter turnout or to create them on their very own accord,” Schweber stated. 

Democrats have hit Kelly laborious on voting legal guidelines. The conservative former justice is an ally of former President Trump, who beforehand backed him in his failed 2020 bid. He served as “particular counsel” for the state Republican social gathering concerning a plan for faux Republican electors within the 2020 election, in response to testimony by the previous social gathering chair earlier than the Jan. 6 Home choose committee. Kelly has downplayed his function, however he has been backed by a conservative activist, Scott Presler, who has organized “cease the steal” occasions, and was on Capitol grounds on January 6, 2021. Presler has been touring the state campaigning for Kelly who posted a video of them collectively earlier this month. 

On the identical time, Republicans and outdoors teams have attacked Protasiewicz as mushy on crime and say she has allowed criminals to stroll, operating a sequence of adverts highlighting instances over which she’s presided. She says  the examples have been  cherry-picked out of 1000’s of instances and lack context. 

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It is a problem that always is used to mobilize voters – an essential issue for both candidate to win. 

Each social gathering and political consultants stated it is laborious to find out what turnout within the election might appear to be. However turnout in off-year elections, even in these when it’s greater than typical, continues to be significantly decrease than basically elections. The earlier report for a spring election within the state was about 34%, whereas the turnout for the 2020 basic election was over 72%. However operatives on either side consider points like redistricting, abortion, faculty selection and crime might assist end up voters in an off 12 months. 

In-person early absentee voting has already been underway since March 21. Polls can be open from 7 a.m. to 8p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday. 

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin football alums disgusted with ‘sad state of affairs’ of Badgers program after loss to Minnesota

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Wisconsin football alums disgusted with ‘sad state of affairs’ of Badgers program after loss to Minnesota


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Wisconsin football’s season is sunk.

And it’s a program that’s facing uncharted waters after Friday’s dreadful showing in its 24-7 loss to Minnesota in the regular-season finale.

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No bowl game. A losing season. Questions about the coaching staff. Questions about the roster.

The season has actually been sinking for some time, but the Badgers still had a chance to salvage whatever was left of it with a win over Minnesota.

It was a rivalry game. It was at home. And it was for a chance to play in a bowl game, something that every Wisconsin team has played in for the last 22 years.

Instead, the Badgers lost for the fifth straight time behind an offense that is no longer recognizable to players from the past. Wisconsin also suffered its third consecutive defeat at Camp Randall Stadium and fourth this season.

Former Wisconsin football players have been following the season closely and speaking out in disgust on social media as the losses have piled up. Like the fans at Camp Randall Stadium on Friday, they again let their feelings be known about the direction of the program as Wisconsin finished the 2024 season 5-7.

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Here’s a sample of the reactions from the likes of Brian Calhoun, Braelon Allen, Sojourn Shelton and others:



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Where to watch Wisconsin vs Minnesota football streaming free today; TV channel, spread, game odds

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Where to watch Wisconsin vs Minnesota football streaming free today; TV channel, spread, game odds


Two plucky Big Ten teams square off when the Wisconsin Badgers take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in what should make for an interesting matchup during Week 14 of the 2024 college football season. This game kicks off at 9 a.m. PT/12:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. CT) on Friday, November 29 with a live broadcast on CBS, and streaming live on demand for free.

WATCH: Minnesota vs. Wisconsin football live for free with Fubo (free trial), or see it streaming free on Paramount+ (free trial), or see even more streaming options below.

What TV channel is the Wisconsin vs. Minnesota football game on today?

When: Kickoff takes place at 9 a.m. PT/12:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. CT) on Friday, November 29.

Where: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI

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TV Channel: CBS, or streaming on demand with Paramount Plus.

How to watch streaming live: The best way to watch this game for free is by streaming it on Paramount+ (free trial, then only $7.99/month) which will have massive Big Ten football games streaming each week. If you don’t have cable, you can still watch this game live for FREE with Fubo (free trial) or with DirecTV Stream (free trial). If you already have cable, you can also watch this game live on CBS Sports with your cable or satellite provider login information.

You can find out more about which channel CBS is on in your area by using the channel finders here: Comcast Xfinity, DIRECTV, Dish, Verizon Fios, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice.

Wisconsin vs. Minnesota spread, betting odds

Point spread: WIS: -2 | MIN: +2

Over/Under: 43.5

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“Factory enhanced” snow causes crashes and spinouts in Wisconsin

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“Factory enhanced” snow causes crashes and spinouts in Wisconsin


Western Wisconsin got hit with “factory enhanced” snow Thursday afternoon

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Western Wisconsin got hit with “factory enhanced” snow Thursday afternoon

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Menomonie, Wis. — A murky day for turkey day. In this part of western Wisconsin, “murky” is an understatement.

A narrow band of snow quickly dropped three inches on drivers — even sending a semi sliding into a ditch.

The National Weather Service says it’s likely because of a glass manufacturing company near Menomonie.

“That steam rises into the deck of clouds that are above it, and the steam acts as little particles that the water droplets can latch onto and create snow crystals” said Meteorologist Caleb Grunzke of the National Weather Service. “Everything came together perfectly for several inches of snow and major traffic problems.”

The Wisconsin State Patrol reported 16 crashes in a 5 hour span, including a six-car pile-up.

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“We kind of drove in and out of the snow very dramatically” said Dave Erickson, who was making the trip back to the Twin Cities from Milwaukee.

“Drive safe, happy Thanksgiving” Erickson added.



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