Latest news with #WisconsinStateSupremeCourt
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
I was union leader and Democratic delegate. Party needs to hear these truths.
With a decisive win in the Wisconsin State Supreme Court race and Donald Trump's polling cratering, Democrats in Wisconsin and nationwide appear to be full of themselves in thinking they may have turned the tide in winning over working class voters. But as bad as Trump is doing, Democrats are doing even worse. In March, the Democratic Party hit an all-time polling low. Their low poll numbers come, despite Trump wrecking the economy, arresting sitting Judges, and helping his billionaire funders, like Elon Musk. Ironically, the reasons behind the Supreme Court victory, should give Democrats a wakeup call. Just take a look at the Supreme Court race. What were the issues that drove voters to the polls, besides contempt for Elon Musk? They were all issues having to do with combatting the other side's agenda and what Republicans took away: Abortion and the freedom to make your own medical decisions Gerrymandering and the right to have fair elections Union rights and the right of employees to have a voice in the workplace through Act 10 and right to work laws. The Democrats were right to fight all the Republican attacks on our freedoms, but working people want more than just opposing the other side. They want policies that will actually make their life better, and on that, Democrats have failed. Opinion: Former Gov. Tommy Thompson omits real reason for rough Supreme Court race Working people don't want to go back to the pre-Trump era, as Democrats seem to think. The very reason Trump became popular was because those times weren't good for mainstream Americans. Just look at Milwaukee. When I was a young man, I was offered employment at three manufacturing sites in the same week: AO Smith, American Motors and Allis-Chalmers. Three companies that paid a living wage, good retirement benefits and good health insurance. Those companies are long gone, along with so many others, including Cutler Hammer, Ladish, Harnishfeger, Allen Bradley and the list goes on. What they all had in common were family supporting jobs and strong unions that made a good life possible. Where did that work go? Thanks to NAFTA, and other 'free' trade agreements, supported by Democrats (thanks Bill Clinton) and Republicans, those companies fled or fell to the way-side trying to compete with cheap and in many cases, slave labor, abroad. Opinion: We asked readers about arrest of Milwaukee Judge Dugan. Here's what you said. And now who is talking about bringing back American jobs? It's Donald Trump, not the Democrats. His plan is unserious and has no chance for success, but he realizes, unlike most Democrats, what is bothering working families. Democrats, while certainly less onerous than Republicans, have failed miserably to fight for an agenda that would attract working people. What would a bold agenda look like that would move Trump voters? Let's start with just four issues: Revitalizing the economy, centering on attracting jobs that have a legitimate chance of growing in the United States. That plan would include passing the PRO Act, a bill that has stalled in congress and would make it easier for workers to join unions and have a real voice on the job and earn a living wage. It's no coincidence that when wealth in this country was more evenly divided, unions were strong. Make medical care affordable and accessible by expanding Medicare to everyone. Reform our tax system, so the wealthy pay their fair share, rather having a society where one man makes more than 50% of the population. Develop "fair" rather than "free" trade agreements, that emphasize what's in the interest of the American worker. This agenda is popular among the vast majority of people, but you will find few Democrats willing to purse this. Even now, the only thing you hear from members in Congress and at the local and state level, is Trump bashing. Letters: Of course Sen. Ron Johnson wants to cut Medicaid. He's rich and doesn't need it. Democrats spent four years criticizing Trump's first term and then, when they took office, they offered a few decent, but certainly not bold, alternatives to Trump. They lost office, once again, because their agenda was weak and did not meet the moment. Next time a Democrat runs for office in your area, ask them what their agenda is, rather than just what they're against. Maybe it's time for a third party that actually has a popular agenda. Frank Shansky worked at the Allis Chalmers Corporation in the 1970s and 80s and was chairman of the UAW Local 248 bargaining committee. He also served as the Director of the American Federation of Teachers Local 212 at Milwaukee Area Technical College for 30 years and was an elected delegate to the Democratic Party convention twice. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here's how Democratic Party can win back working people | Opinion
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kamala Harris Praises ‘Hands Off!' Protestors for Standing Up to Trump
Following fiery protests across the country this weekend, former vice president Kamala Harris took to X to thank protestors for standing up to the Trump administration. The Hands Off! demonstrations took place in more than 1,200 locations across all 50 states, and were organized by a coalition that included more than 150 organizations, including civil rights groups, LGBTQIA+ rights organizations, veterans, environmental groups, and labor unions. Protestors voiced their frustrations at countless acts Trump has carried out since assuming office, including deporting immigrants, firing thousands of federal employees, closing Social Security offices, cutting health funding, scaling back protections for transgender people, and ongoing American support for Israel in its war on Gaza. Satellite protests were also planned around the world, in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, Mexico, and American territories like Puerto Rico and American Samoa. Late Saturday afternoon, Harris tweeted, 'Today in every state across our nation, Americans are standing up to the administration as they implement Project 2025 at full speed.' The tweet continued, 'Thank you for using your voices and the power of protest to stand for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid; for the Department of Education and programs like Head Start; for clean air and water; for the right to make decisions about your own body without government interference.' She closed with, 'The voices of working people will always be louder than the unelected billionaires.' When asked about the protests, the White House responded, 'President Trump's position is clear: he will always protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for eligible beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the Democrats' stance is giving Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to illegal aliens, which will bankrupt these programs and crush American seniors.' Harris had maintained a relatively low public profile since Trump's inauguration, making just a select few appearances at public events since January, including at the NAACP Awards, where she received the NAACP Chairman's Award. She will also be heading to Australia next month to headline a real estate conference. Despite keeping public appearances to a minimum, she has continued to post to social media, including words of encouragement for Senator Cory Booker following his record-breaking 25-hour-long speech on the senate floor earlier this week, thanking him for his leadership. She also tweeted about Susan Crawford's victory in the Wisconsin State Supreme Court election against her Musk-backed opponent, Brad Schimel, calling her win a 'victory for working people in Wisconsin.'
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Seth Meyers Reveals the One Thing Elon Musk Can't Afford
For all of Elon Musk's billions, he couldn't buy himself a state Supreme Court seat thanks to the voters of swing state Wisconsin. That news has Late Night host Seth Meyers feeling joy for the first time in weeks—all because liberal judge Susan Crawford won an election Tuesday in a race that normally would have barely made national news. 'The richest man in the world tried to buy a seat on the Wisconsin State Supreme Court,' Meyers said at the start of his show Wednesday. He continued, 'Voters told [Musk], and I believe this is a local Wisconsin idiom dating back to the earliest French settlers who arrived in Green Bay in the 1600s, to 'eat cheese!'' What made Meyers so happy, he explained, was what the election revealed about the limits of Musk's influence. 'So it turns out democracy still has a pulse,' Meyers said. 'The richest man in the world can't even buy an election.' He concluded, 'Even if he hands out game show-size million dollar checks to voters, people are getting up off the mat and saying no to oligarchy. Elon can go to Wisconsin and eat all the cheese he wants, but all he'll get out of it is some gas.' Meyers played some news clips covering Crawford's win, detailing how voters saw the race as a referendum on Musk's increasingly unpopular presence in the Trump administration. 'Sorry, what is that feeling?' Meyers asked, feigning bewilderment. 'It's like I'm not grinding my teeth anymore. The air is fresh. The light's warm. I can see colors again.' Meyers took a sip from his coffee mug and declared, 'I can taste my tea again. Oh, my God, this is... This must be how it feels when the news is good.' 'Let me see if it works with alcohol,' he said, taking a sip from the same mug. 'It was never tea,' he admitted. 'I'm just joking, it hasn't been tea since November.' 'And, yeah, I know it's just a state judicial race, but I'll take good news wherever I can get it,' Meyers explained. 'I mean, I genuinely feel like my body is just a tiny bit lighter today.'
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Turnout in Wisconsin's Supreme Court race was remarkable for an off-year election
The liberal prevailed in a technically nonpartisan Wisconsin State Supreme Court race that took on national importance as a proxy fight between Democrats and Republicans supporting President Donald Trump. Turnout in the race was remarkable for an off-year election in which state supreme court judge was the highest ranking office on the ballot — an indication that Americans remain deeply engaged in the electoral process. There were 1.8 million votes cast in the state's last supreme court race in 2023. More than 2.3 million people voted in Tuesday's contest. Compared with that 2023 race, turnout is higher in every single county. While that turnout was still low compared to a presidential election (more than 3.4 million people voted in Wisconsin last year) it was much closer to the roughly 2.7 million people who voted for governor in the 2018 and 2022 midterms. The win by Susan Crawford maintains a liberal majority on Wisconsin's highest court as they gear up to decide issues ranging from whether the state should adhere to an 1849 abortion law, whether it should redraw congressional maps that favor Republicans and whether Tesla should be able to sell vehicles from its own showrooms. But the race is also being viewed as a temperature check for the policies of Trump and his chief ally in downsizing government, Elon Musk, who poured tens of millions of dollars into supporting conservative Brad Schimel. Crawford got 55% of the vote compared to Schimel's 45%, a solid victory for the liberal Tuesday night. Comparing a presidential election to a state supreme court race is a fraught and complicated exercise, but there are some interesting contrasts to make. The liberal judge won in 10 counties carried by Trump last November, which will please Democrats looking to this race for hope. It also continues a trend in American politics, where Democrats, motivated by their opposition to Trump, perform better in lower turnout races outside of the general election. Among the Trump counties that turned to Crawford is Brown County, a population center which includes Green Bay, although Brown County was also won by the liberal in the 2023 race, Justice Janet Protasiewicz. Musk campaigned in Brown County, wearing a cheesehead hat and handing out $1 million checks in a test of election law. Crawford actually under-performed Protasiewicz in all but two of the counties she won, but crucially overperformed both former Vice President Kamala Harris and Protasiewicz in Milwaukee, Wisconsin's most-populated county. Turnout in Milwaukee County increased from 45% to 55% of registered voters since the last 2023 court race, a 10-point jump. Racine County, south of Milwaukee, is the only county that went for the conservative in 2023 and Trump in 2024, but switched to the liberal Tuesday. For Trump supporters looking for a silver lining, Schimel, the conservative, won in five counties — Dunn, Grant, Jackson, Lafayette and Pierce — carried by the liberal in the 2023 state supreme court race, although Trump also won those counties in the presidential race. More voters took part in Tuesday's contest than the state supreme court contest two years ago. Turnout was nearly 70% in the Democratic stronghold of Dane County — an improvement over the county's 62% turnout in 2023. Turnout approached two-thirds in Washington County and approached 70% in Waukesha and Ozaukee counties. All are hotly contested vote centers around Milwaukee. Turnout appeared to increase the most in the Northwestern part of the state, where Schimel made inroads in counties won by Trump, but not nearly enough to win Tuesday's race.
CNN
02-04-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Turnout in Wisconsin's Supreme Court race was remarkable for an off-year election
The liberal prevailed in a technically nonpartisan Wisconsin State Supreme Court race that took on national importance as a proxy fight between Democrats and Republicans supporting President Donald Trump. Turnout in the race was remarkable for an off-year election in which state supreme court judge was the highest ranking office on the ballot — an indication that Americans remain deeply engaged in the electoral process. There were 1.8 million votes cast in the state's last supreme court race in 2023. More than 2.3 million people voted in Tuesday's contest. Compared with that 2023 race, turnout is higher in every single county. While that turnout was still low compared to a presidential election (more than 3.4 million people voted in Wisconsin last year) it was much closer to the roughly 2.7 million people who voted for governor in the 2018 and 2022 midterms. The win by Susan Crawford maintains a liberal majority on Wisconsin's highest court as they gear up to decide issues ranging from whether the state should adhere to an 1849 abortion law, whether it should redraw congressional maps that favor Republicans and whether Tesla should be able to sell vehicles from its own showrooms. But the race is also being viewed as a temperature check for the policies of Trump and his chief ally in downsizing government, Elon Musk, who poured tens of millions of dollars into supporting conservative Brad Schimel. Crawford got 55% of the vote compared to Schimel's 45%, a solid victory for the liberal Tuesday night. Comparing a presidential election to a state supreme court race is a fraught and complicated exercise, but there are some interesting contrasts to make. The liberal judge won in 10 counties carried by Trump last November, which will please Democrats looking to this race for hope. It also continues a trend in American politics, where Democrats, motivated by their opposition to Trump, perform better in lower turnout races outside of the general election. Among the Trump counties that turned to Crawford is Brown County, a population center which includes Green Bay, although Brown County was also won by the liberal in the 2023 race, Justice Janet Protasiewicz. Musk campaigned in Brown County, wearing a cheesehead hat and handing out $1 million checks in a test of election law. Crawford actually under-performed Protasiewicz in all but two of the counties she won, but crucially overperformed both former Vice President Kamala Harris and Protasiewicz in Milwaukee, Wisconsin's most-populated county. Turnout in Milwaukee County increased from 45% to 55% of registered voters since the last 2023 court race, a 10-point jump. Racine County, south of Milwaukee, is the only county that went for the conservative in 2023 and Trump in 2024, but switched to the liberal Tuesday. For Trump supporters looking for a silver lining, Schimel, the conservative, won in five counties — Dunn, Grant, Jackson, Lafayette and Pierce — carried by the liberal in the 2023 state supreme court race, although Trump also won those counties in the presidential race. More voters took part in Tuesday's contest than the state supreme court contest two years ago. Turnout was nearly 70% in the Democratic stronghold of Dane County — an improvement over the county's 62% turnout in 2023. Turnout approached two-thirds in Washington County and approached 70% in Waukesha and Ozaukee counties. All are hotly contested vote centers around Milwaukee. Turnout appeared to increase the most in the Northwestern part of the state, where Schimel made inroads in counties won by Trump, but not nearly enough to win Tuesday's race.
