On April 4th, 2023, Wisconsin held a highly contested election for a seat on the state’s Supreme Court. The race pitted incumbent Justice Rebecca Dallet against challenger Paul Protasiewicz, with Dallet seeking reelection and Protasiewicz hoping to become the first Republican to win a Supreme Court race in Wisconsin since 2016. In the end, Protasiewicz emerged victorious, winning the election with 52% of the vote to Dallet’s 48%.
The election has significant implications for the future of abortion rights and voting access in Wisconsin. Both Dallet and Protasiewicz had very different views on these issues, and their election could have a profound impact on the state’s legal landscape.
One of the main issues at stake in the election was abortion rights. Dallet was a strong advocate for reproductive rights and had a record of supporting abortion access in her rulings. In contrast, Protasiewicz was endorsed by several anti-abortion groups, including Wisconsin Right to Life, and had stated that he believed in overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that established the constitutional right to abortion.
With Protasiewicz now on the Supreme Court, it is possible that Wisconsin could see a rollback of abortion rights. Protasiewicz has indicated that he believes the issue of abortion should be left up to the states, which could open the door for Wisconsin to enact more restrictive abortion laws. It is also possible that the Supreme Court could take up a case challenging the constitutionality of Roe v. Wade, and Protasiewicz’s presence on the bench could tip the scales in favor of overturning the decision.
Another issue at stake in the election was voting access. Dallet was a vocal supporter of voting rights and had issued rulings that struck down laws aimed at restricting access to the ballot box. Protasiewicz, on the other hand, had expressed support for voter ID laws and had been critical of efforts to expand early voting.
With Protasiewicz on the Supreme Court, it is possible that Wisconsin could see more restrictive voting laws. Protasiewicz has indicated that he believes voter ID laws are necessary to prevent voter fraud, despite the lack of evidence that voter fraud is a significant problem in Wisconsin. It is also possible that the Supreme Court could take up a case challenging the constitutionality of voting rights laws, and Protasiewicz’s presence on the bench could influence the outcome of such a case.
The election results are also notable because of the role of outside money in the race. According to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, outside groups spent more than $4 million on the election, with the vast majority of that money going to support Protasiewicz. The groups that backed Protasiewicz included the Wisconsin Club for Growth, which has ties to the Koch brothers, and the Bradley Foundation, a conservative organization based in Milwaukee.
The influx of outside money has raised concerns about the influence of special interests in Wisconsin’s judicial elections. Critics argue that the involvement of outside groups undermines the integrity of the judiciary and could lead to judges being beholden to the interests of their donors rather than the people of Wisconsin.
Overall, the Wisconsin Supreme Court election results have significant implications for the future of abortion rights and voting access in the state. With Protasiewicz now on the bench, it is possible that Wisconsin could see a rollback of reproductive rights and the enactment of more restrictive voting laws. The role of outside money in the election also raises concerns about the influence of special interests in Wisconsin’s judicial system. As the state moves forward, it will be important to monitor the actions of the Supreme Court and advocate for policies that protect the rights of all Wisconsinites.
