The next visitor publish was written for Each day Kos by Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Get together of Wisconsin. This publish doesn’t symbolize an official endorsement by Each day Kos.
This week, Wisconsin’s Supreme Court docket election beat the document—a document set simply two years in the past in Wisconsin. It’s now the costliest judicial election in American historical past.
On one facet is Brad Schimel—now referred to as “Elon Schimel” due to Elon Musk’s eight-figure funding in placing him on the courtroom. He’s probably the most excessive, pro-Trump MAGA candidate we’ve ever seen. He even dressed as Donald Trump in a rubbish truck drive costume for Halloween.
On the opposite facet is Decide Susan Crawford, the form of common sense decide any defendant would need behind the bench.
On Wednesday evening, Schimel and Crawford confronted off for the state Supreme Court docket’s one debate. Try a number of the highlights (or can watch the total debate right here).
Schimel repeatedly defended the state’s 1849 abortion ban as “valid.”
Requested whether or not the case by which the Wisconsin Supreme Court docket declined Trump’s try and overturn the 2020 presidential election was accurately determined, Schimel answered, “I don’t know.”
Requested if he embraces Musk’s endorsement, Schimel hemmed and hawed.
“It’s costly and it is tough to get your message out,” he stated—a veiled thank-you to the richest man on the earth, who occurs to be shredding the Social Safety Administration, the Veterans Administration, and our Structure, all whereas his personal courtroom case affecting his backside line strikes by way of the Wisconsin courtroom system.
Associated | This is the election Elon Musk is attempting to purchase subsequent
Crawford, in the meantime, reminded us why she’s precisely the proper individual to serve on the Supreme Court docket: clear solutions, Wisconsin values, and nice care to clarify that she wouldn’t prejudge circumstances that may come earlier than her.
She gained the controversy strolling away. However solely a tiny variety of voters watched the controversy, and practically all of them already knew who they have been supporting earlier than the primary query was requested. To win this election, it’s on all of us to achieve the a whole bunch of hundreds of dedicated Democrats—and mates of freedom and democracy—who didn’t watch it.
And Musk’s thousands and thousands are standing in the way in which.
Musk’s technique is two-fold. First, spend thousands and thousands of {dollars}, by way of numerous teams and PACs he’s funding, on relentless adverts attempting to suppress assist for Crawford by mendacity about her document as a decide. Second, launch an enormous mail-and-door-hangers marketing campaign focusing on Republicans with a easy promise: “BRAD SCHIMEL WILL SUPPORT PRESIDENT TRUMP’S AGENDA!”
Right here’s one in all their mailers:
Is it working?
Effectively, a right-wing dark-money group posted its ballot saying the race is tied 47-47. If Democrats and Republicans vote in equal numbers, that may the truth is be the case.
However the Democrats’ job is to out-organize and out-communicate the Republicans—and clear Schimel’s clock by driving up turnout for Crawford. That’s why anti-Schimel billboards went up this week round Wisconsin.
And that’s why Wisconsin Democrats can be out in each neighborhood within the state this weekend, knocking on doorways, calling telephones, and spreading the phrase to mates—{that a} vote for Crawford is a vote for freedom, democracy, and the rule of regulation, and a vote for Schimel is a vote for abortion bans and Elon Musk.
For those who haven’t signed up for a volunteer shift but, do it now, proper right here.
No one has a dependable approach to measure prematurely which facet could have extra vitality on this race or who will finally vote. However in particular elections to this point this yr, margins have swung towards Democrats by a mean of just about 10 factors. And all it takes is a intestine test to know that Democrats are livid about what Musk, Trump, and the GOP are doing to this nation. If we channel that outrage into electoral vitality, we’ll win this race.
And the entire world will see that no quantity of Musk spending is sufficient to deter us from defending the nation that we love.
Let’s get on the market. Simply 18 days to go.
Wisconsin Democrats want all arms on deck to defeat Brad Schimel and defuse Elon Musk’s cash bomb. Electing Decide Susan Crawford will take assets to achieve voters throughout Wisconsin. Assist gas WisDems efforts. Chip in right here.
