Wisconsin Supreme Court to Decide Fate of Elections Chief Amid Political Controversy
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court is set to hear pivotal arguments on Monday regarding the future of Meagan Wolfe, the state’s Elections Commission Administrator, who has faced intense scrutiny from Republican lawmakers. Wolfe, who has been the target of unfounded conspiracy theories related to the 2020 presidential election, was controversially voted to be removed by Republican senators in September 2023, leading the commission to file a lawsuit to keep her in her role.
Wolfe has served as the nonpartisan elections chief since her initial appointment in 2018. Following the contentious 2020 election, which saw President Joe Biden win Wisconsin by nearly 21,000 votes, she became a focal point for those alleging election fraud. Despite the lack of evidence supporting these claims, Wolfe has received threats and backlash from election skeptics.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission, which is bipartisan and evenly divided, supported Wolfe during a reappointment attempt in 2023; however, the vote resulted in a tie, preventing her appointment from advancing to the Senate. This situation motivated GOP senators to assert that Wolfe could not continue as a holdover without a confirmation vote.
Dane County Circuit Court Judge Ann Peacock ruled that Wolfe could remain in her position as a holdover, claiming the Senate’s previous attempt to remove her lacked legal standing. The Republican leadership appealed this ruling, with the Supreme Court’s decision expected in the coming weeks or months.
As political dynamics shift with the upcoming legislative session, Wolfe expressed her commitment to ensuring the integrity of upcoming elections, though she remains cautious about her long-term future in the role.
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