Progressives Victorious in Key Midwest Races
Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Janet Protasiewicz won a hotly contested judicial race over Dan Kelly that will give progressives a majority on the state’s high court. The Wisconsin race cost a record 42 million in campaign spending and, though nominally nonpartisan, was dominated by partisan issues like abortion. State Democrats were invigorated by the unusually high turnout that carried Protasiewicz to a decisive win in a narrowly divided state. It also suggested that abortion will continue to be a salient political issue in upcoming elections.
How will the GOP still exert influence in Wisconsin state government?
Instructors: click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt and a debate question as well as other assessment questions.
Download: CQP_Lecture_Spark_PPT_Progressives Victorious in Midwest
Videos
News Articles
Democrats Win Big in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race, Chicago Mayoral Contest
US News and World Report
4/5/23
Progressives invigorated after wins in Chicago, Wisconsin
The Hill
4/7/23
Dems win two Midwest races with crime and abortion as key issues
Newsnation
4/5/23
https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/dems-win-with-crime-abortion-key-issues/
Democrat wins in Wisconsin, Chicago are a ‘five-alarm warning’ to GOP about 2024: WSJ
Fox News
4/6/23
https://www.foxnews.com/media/democrats-wins-wisconsin-chicago-five-alarm-warning-gop-about-2024-wsj
Progressives tout string of wins across US as template for Democrats
The Guardian
4/8/23
Abortion drives liberal’s win in Wisconsin court election
Associated Press
4/5/23
https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-150afe90d311e9fef2209128155ff1e4
By the numbers: How did Brandon Johnson win?
WBEZ Chicago
4/7/23
Judge Janet Protasiewicz Wins
Milwaukee Courier
4/8/23
https://milwaukeecourieronline.com/index.php/2023/04/08/judge-janet-protasiewicz-wins/
Assessment
Writing: Explain why progressives believe that abortion is such a winning issue for the Democratic party. Why might it be increasingly difficult to galvanize Democratic voters on that issue in future elections?
Debate: Should judicial and municipal elections be truly nonpartisan, or should candidates be permitted to campaign as Democrats or Republicans?
Poll: Will Mayor-Elect Brandon be able to reduce violent crime in Chicago?
Short Answer: Why do some analysts interpret the recent Democratic victories in the Midwest as not only a rejection of Republican policies but also a repudiation of President Biden?
News Quiz
True/False
Losing Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Dan Kelly referred to this race as ‘the most deeply deceitful, dishonorable, despicable campaign I have ever seen run for the court’ in his concession speech. (T/F)
Conservatives have controlled the Wisconsin Supreme Court for 15 years. (T/F)
The 42 million spent on the Wisconsin judicial race was nearly triple the previous record. (T/F)
Multiple Choice
How long is a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice’s term?
- 4 years
- 6 years
- 10 years
- lifetime
When was the law currently banning abortion in Wisconsin written?
- 1839
- 1973
- 2022
- 2023
An endorsement from which prominent politician boosted the candidacy of Brandon Johnson in Chicago?
- President Joe Biden
- Senator Bernie Sanders
- Vice President Kamala Harris
- former President Barack Obama
