| Dear fellow Wisconsin Democrats,
This past weekend, we gathered for our first-ever hybrid party convention—the first time we’d gathered in person since 2019, and the first time ever that we included delegates and guests participating remotely. To all of the dozens of staff members and volunteers who worked with tremendous care to create and run the convention, and to the more than a thousand Wisconsinites who participated, hats off: you did a spectacular job.
In sharp contrast to the Republican convention, which was a circus of factionalism and extremism, our convention was a trumpet blast of clarity and unity—showcasing our party’s diverse coalition and our shared values, our determination to protect the rights and support the well-being of all Wisconsinites, and our energized focus on winning up and down the ballot in November.
This unity is necessary. But it’s not inevitable. It’s the result of Democrats throughout our state choosing to prioritize the urgent battles before us.
This is a perilous moment. The Supreme Court of the United States has declared war on progress—overturning Roe and setting its sights on contraception, same-sex marriage, and privacy for consenting adults; shredding the Environmental Protection Agency’s power to regulate greenhouse gasses, in a decision with an unthinkable probably death toll; and overriding states’ ability to pass common-sense gun laws.
Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, our state Supreme Court this week ruled that Scott Walker’s appointee as DNR board chair can stay in office, despite his term having expired—simply because the gerrymandered GOP-run state Senate has refused to confirm a replacement. There’s a term for this: “democratic backsliding.” It’s the slow erosion of democracy, and it has political scientists in a state of alarm.
But democracy still offers hope in every one of these fights. If we defeat Ron Johnson and, joining other states, expand the Democratic Senate majority, we can codify into law the rights and powers that the partisan U.S. Supreme Court is suddenly pretending do not exist. If we win the 2023 state Supreme Court race in Wisconsin, a court can preside that is dedicated to the rule of law rather than to GOP political agendas. And when we prevent GOP supermajorities and reelect Governor Evers and Attorney General Kaul, we will ensure that our state government continues to side with the people of Wisconsin, and not with radical extremists who see democracy as the problem instead of the solution.
All of these things are within our reach. We must simply choose each day to refuse to give in to despair.
Last weekend, as we chanted and cheered and recommitted ourselves to living out our values in the great fights of our time, reaffirmed my deep faith in the community of Democrats that will always choose hope.
In solidarity,
Ben
| Gov. Evers, Sen. Baldwin, AG Kaul and Wisconsin Democratic Leaders Rally for Abortion Access at WisDems Convention |
| Proceedings paused at State Convention last weekend for an emergency protest against the GOP’s attack on abortion and reproductive freedom. Governor Tony Evers, Senator Tammy Baldwin, Attorney General Josh Kaul, Democratic Assembly Leader Greta Neubauer, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley spoke out against the Supreme Court’s disastrous ruling and laid out the fight ahead.
Ahead of the rally Gov. Evers – who has already vetoed 9 separate bills restricting access to safe and legal abortion – committed to “fight this decision in every way we can with every power we have” and announced his intention to provide clemency to doctors convicted under Wisconsin’s archaic 1849 abortion ban.
In the days following the rally, Democratic leaders continued to step up. On Tuesday, Attorney General Josh Kaul – who had already announced no DOJ resources would be directed to investigating alleged violations of the 1849 ban – joined Gov. Evers in filing a lawsuit to block the state’s abortion ban altogether. |
| Gov. Tony Evers speaks to the WisDems rally for abortion access Saturday in La Crosse. |
| GOP Dumpster Fire Primary Hits the Debate Stage |
| On Tuesday, GOP candidates for governor gathered in Green Bay for the first debate of the Republican primary – or, almost all of them did: instead of appearing to face questions, Tim Michels instead hosted a “freedom rally” and tried out his Donald Trump impersonation.
Up on the debate stage – with an empty podium for Tim Michels – the GOP field competed to see who could pander more obsequiously to the far right, including doubling down on promises to enforce Wisconsin’s archaic 1849 aboriton ban and abolish Wisconsin’s elections commission. Asked if they believed the 2020 election was stolen, two of the candidates – Kleefisch and Nicholson – refused to give a straight yes or no answer.
Time and again, the GOP primary field in the race for governor has shown there is no low too low. |
| Gov. Evers addresses the 2022 WisDems State Convention. |
| Johnson’s Years-Long Campaign Against Roe |
| Ron Johnson’s official reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the deeply personal Constitutional right to reproductive freedom that Americans have depended on for 50 years was to celebrate – and to gallantly call for “democratic process to unfold in each state…” with debate “conducted with sincerity, compassion, and respect for the broad range of views that people hold.” This from the same person who said that if individuals don’t like the abortion laws in their state, they simply “can move.”
Ron Johnson has worked for years to undermine reproductive rights and egged on the overturning Roe v. Wade, with the Supreme Court having now made Johnson’s goal a reality. Johnson’s actions have made it so that Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban may now be enforceable, and doctors in our state could be put in jail for doing their jobs.
Just a few low-lights from Johnson’s long, anti-abortion career: |
| Clockwise, from top left: DNC Secretary Jason Rae, WisDems 1st Vice Chair Felesia Martin, Attorney General Josh Kaul, and Rep. Mark Pocan. |
| Thanks to all those who made our convention a success! |
| The Democratic Party of Wisconsin convention illustrated the full breadth of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, with candidates for statewide offices representing the most diverse primary field in the history of our state party; caucus meetings and trainings that lifted up the many communities that make up our coalition; and a profound sense of unity in the face of attacks on all of us. |
| Sen. Tammy Baldwin speaks at the 2022 WisDems State Convention in La Crosse. |
| Congratulations to Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson! |
| On Thursday, with Justice Breyer’s retirement official, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in as our newest associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Justice Jackson brings deep and varied experience to the Court, as well as an unwavering dedication to the rule of law – a much-needed addition to our highest court. Today’s historic swearing in moves the Supreme Court a step forward in reflecting the diversity of our country.
Justice Jackson’s swearing in was a moment made possible by all the Wisconsinites who voted to elect President Biden and Senator Tammy Baldwin. As the Court’s far-right majority imposes their extremist politics from the bench, it’s critical that we have justices like Justice Jackson who will stand up for the law and our Constitution. |
| Last Call for Founders Day 2022 in Milwaukee! |
| There’s just under two weeks until Founders Day 2022, and I wanted to let you know there’s a limited amount of tickets remaining.
Join us on Monday, July 11th at GATHER in Deer District in Milwaukee for Founders Day 2022. With under a month until the August Primaries, this will be the Democratic Party of Wisconsin’s final major event. Hear from a full slate of exciting speakers, and welcome our keynote speaker– Doug Jones.
Tickets are selling fast, and this is your last chance to purchase tickets! Click here to secure your spot today! |
| Help the WisDems Organizing Team Scale Up |
| As we pivot from convention to the sprint into the August primary, the WisDems organizing team is scaling up! We’re currently hiring Field Organizers to join our year-round organizing program.
WisDems Field Organizers build the local grassroots teams that will engage in voter contact, volunteer recruitment, and volunteer retention to elect Democrats up & down the ticket in the 2022 Elections. This is a great opportunity to build campaign experience while helping execute on our strategy to reach millions of voters before November!
Apply now or share our posting with your networks! |
| Join the WisDems Voter Protection Team! |
| Join the WisDems Voter Protection team to promote voting rights in Wisconsin! We’re focused on empowering Wisconsin voters and engaging our communities to protect voting rights in 2022. Check out how you can get involved:
Become a Poll Observer on August 9: Poll observers are the eyes and ears for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin’s Voter Protection Team inside polling locations across the state.
Phonebank for Wisconsin Poll Observers: Come make calls to Wisconsinites and get more people involved in the fight for voting rights! Right now, our focus is recruiting poll observers to be the eyes and ears of our team inside polling places on Election Day.
Wisconsin Voter Protection 101 Training: Join our Wisconsin Voter Protection 101 Training to learn the basics of Wisconsin election law so you can help people exercise their right to vote!
Digital Organizing Toolkit: Want to get your friends and family involved, but not sure where to start? Check out our Outreach Toolkit (wisdems.org/voprotoolkit) to find sample language to get your network involved in the fight for voting rights in Wisconsin!
Regional Voter Protection Action Teams: Join one of our Regional Action Team meetings to learn all you need to know about getting involved and advocating for voters in your community. These Zoom meetings are open to anyone in the region who’s interested in voting rights—bring your friends!
Find your region’s meeting below:
Madison/Central: Wisdems.org/madisonvopro
Milwaukee/Waukesha: Wisdems.org/milwaukeevopro
Southeast: Wisdems.org/southeastvopro
West: Wisdems.org/westernvopro
North: Wisdems.org/northernvopro
Chicago/Out of State: Wisdems.org/chicagovopro |
| Attorney General Josh Kaul addresses the 2022 WisDems State Convention. |
|
