The ongoing battle over Wisconsin’s elections leader has taken another turn as a judge ruled in favor of Meagan Wolfe, the state’s top elections official. The judge stated that Wolfe is legally holding her position and that the commission responsible for her appointment is not obligated to name a new leader. This ruling comes as yet another blow to Republicans who have been attempting to remove her from office.
A Deadlocked Commission and Political Maneuvers
The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission faced a deadlock in June when it came to the vote to reappoint Meagan Wolfe as the administrator of elections. While the three Republican commissioners voted in favor of her reappointment, the three Democrats abstained, effectively blocking the nomination from proceeding to the state Senate. This move was made to prevent Republicans in the Senate from firing her, as a four-vote majority is required for any actions by the commission.
Baseless Conspiracy Theories and Threats
Meagan Wolfe has been the target of conspiracy theories and threats from election skeptics who falsely claim she played a role in rigging the 2020 vote in favor of President Joe Biden. However, Biden’s victory in Wisconsin, with a margin of nearly 21,000 votes, has been upheld through multiple recounts, audits, and lawsuits. Despite the lack of evidence supporting these allegations, the controversy surrounding Wolfe has caused instability within the state’s elections agency, known as the WEC.
Stability and Legal Support
Dane County Circuit Judge Ann Peacock acknowledged the importance of stability in the elections system and ruled in favor of Wolfe, stating that she legally holds her position. The judge’s order aims to protect against further unsupported removal attempts and provide stability to the elections process. This ruling also confirms that the attempt by Senate Republicans to fire Wolfe in September had no legal effect. Furthermore, Judge Peacock ruled that the legislative leadership committee has no authority to appoint an interim administrator while Wolfe is still serving.
Upholding Fair and Impartial Elections
Meagan Wolfe expressed her hope that this ruling will put an end to partisan attempts to target nonpartisan election officials and disrupt Wisconsin elections. She emphasized the cruelty of the efforts made to undermine her, especially considering that the legislators themselves admitted in court that she remains the lawful administrator. Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul hailed the ruling as a victory for fair and impartial election administration and the rule of law.
This decision brings a temporary resolution to the ongoing battle for control of Wisconsin’s elections agency, ensuring that stable and lawful leadership will guide the state’s electoral process. For more information, you can read the source article from F5 Magazine.