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Follow this newsletter to keep current on the events shaping our state and the work our party is doing to win in 2020 and beyond. |
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| Dear Fellow Wisconsin Democrats,
For many of us, the past few days have been anxiety-inducing. COVID-19 continues to spread throughout our communities, Gov. Evers has declared a public health emergency, and on top of it all, we’re 25 days out from a crucial election for Wisconsin Supreme Court.
The senior leadership team at DPW has been preparing contingency plans for several weeks, with accelerating urgency. On Thursday, we made the decision to shift our operation fully.
Effective immediately, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin is ending all in-person canvassing and postponing in-person events. We are shifting to a fully virtual organizing operation ahead of the April 7 election. This comes following guidance from local health officials to practice social distancing and postpone gatherings of more than 250 individuals.
This means we will be conducting virtual trainings for county parties and neighborhood action teams about our revamped digital organizing strategy and tactics. If you are interested in getting involved but are not yet locally plugged in, please sign up at wisdems.org/volunteer.
The health and safety of Wisconsinites–and of people everywhere–is our top priority. We believe in science, and the science tells us that this crisis will get worse, but that our actions at this crucial moment can lessen the damage.
It’s time to act. Wash your hands. Stay home if you’re sick. Practice social distancing when possible. We’re all in this together, and we’ll get through this.
–Ben |
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FIGHT on the Issues
& FIGHT to Win
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| Wisconsinites’ #1 Issue in 2020: Health Care |
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| Last weekend, Chair Ben Wikler went on Capital City Sunday to break down the results of a new study that found that health care is going to be the number one issue for voters heading into the November elections. According to the study, four in five Wisconsinites were worried about affording health care costs in the coming year—and this was before Coronavirus.
This news should put the GOP on high alert. Republican politicians in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. have actively undermined Democratic efforts to reduce health care costs—including the cost of precription drugs. Republicans have broken promise after promise on health care, and voters won’t forget it. |
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| Trump has been fighting in court to gut the Affordable Care Act and kick millions of people off their health insurance. Meanwhile, Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature have refused Governor Evers’ proposal to expand Medicaid which would have brought health care to more than 80,000 Wisconsinites and lowered costs for Wisconsinites across the board.
On health care, as on so many issues, the public is on our side. We’re going to keep fighting on our issues, year-round—and when we’ve won office, we’ll keep our promises to do everything within our power to bring down costs and ensure that health care is a right, not a privilege. |
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| Supreme Court Race Heating Up |
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| Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race is now 25 days away. On April 7, we face a stark choice between Trump-endorsed Dan Kelly and pro-justice Jill Karofsky—a contrast made even more stark by developments over the last week.
On Wednesday, a dozen victim assistance professionals endorsed Jill Karofsky. They made this decision after working with her from her time as Director of the Office of Crime Victim Services to her current tenure on the Dane County Circuit Court. They know that Jill’s been fighting for victims and survivors of crime for her entire career. On top of that, Pod Save America co-host and former Obama staffer Dan Pfieffer recorded this video to endorse Jill Karofsky on Monday. |
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| Meanwhile, after saying that he would recuse himself from ruling on the voter purge case — a case that has the potential to knock about 200,000 off the voter rolls — Dan Kelly went back on his word and signaled that he’d green-light the purge after the election.
epublicans aren’t even hiding it anymore: Donald Trump and the GOP intend to rig the election and suppress the vote to win in November. The best way we can stop them is by making sure Dan Kelly isn’t elected to the Supreme Court on April 7th.
In that spirit, if you’re not sure that you can get to your local polling place on April 7th, we’re highly encouraging you to request an absentee ballot online immediately: Additionally, Madison has extended its early voting hours to accommodate students who will be leaving for spring break—and however long the Coronavirus cessation ends—this weekend. |
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| Vice Chair Lee Snodgrass attended meetings of the Appleton City Council and the Outagamie County Board of Supervisors this week to voice her support for resolutions opposing the Trump administration’s cruel and unlawful plan to deport Hmong immigrants. |
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| Hmong Wisconsinites would be sent back to Laos, the same country they fled after their lives were put in danger because of their support of the U.S. in the Vietnam War. It’s absolutely unconscionable that Trump would turn his back on our allies, people who sacrificed their lives to help protect our troops and our country.
These resolutions are a great first step. We’ll continue to work to make sure that Hmong Wisconsinites feel safe here and fight for them in this frightening time. |
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| Coronavirus is changing the way we organize. Fortunately, we’ve been building our our tools and trainings on digital organizing for months—so we’re ready to switch gears and move full steam ahead. In coming weeks, we’ll be training county party members, neighborhood teams, and other volunteers and activists on organizing tactics you can do from home, even if you’re self-quarantined. Full steam ahead! |
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