On Tuesday, April 4th, Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly chose Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Janet Protasiewicz as the next justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. When she takes the bench on August 1st, the court, which currently has 4 conservative members and 3 progressive members, will have 4 progressive members and 3 conservatives. With this change, we have the opportunity to get a fair hearing on important issues, such as gerrymandering and the 1849 abortion ban. It could also have a critical impact on voting rights and the selection of electors in the 2024 presidential election.

For a good explanation of the importance of turning out the vote in Madison and Dane County, watch Steve Kornacki of MSNBC.

Why we do this work

In honor of Memorial Day 2023, Heather Cox Richardson wrote a sobering column about fascism. She focuses on the importance of recognizing it as a threat and the need to do everything possible to preserve our democracy as our best defense. That is what we did on April 4th and what Team Gold is dedicated to doing as we contemplate 2024. HERE is a link to her column. The work continues.

A big shout out to our amazing canvassers and support teams who made it possible for us to turn out the vote so effectively for Governor Evers, Attorney General Kaul, Assembly candidates Alex Joers and Lisa Subeck, State Senate Candidate Dianne Hesselbein, and Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett.

We are disappointed that we were unable to elect Mandela Barnes and defeat the worst sitting US Senator. Given the overtly racist ads run against Mandela and his late start on being able to respond effectively, we are proud at how close he came. However, the work continues. Moral victories, such as Mandela’s, simply aren’t enough.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving and year end holidays, whatever you may celebrate. It is time to relax and enjoy family and friends.

We will be back at it early next year as we work to elect a progressive candidate to the open Wisconsin Supreme Court seat. The primary is February 21st and the General Election is April 4th. Control of the court by either conservative justices or progressive justices will be on the ballot. This is likely to be the most expensive Supreme Court race in Wisconsin’s history.

If you are interested in learning more about Team Gold over the holidays, please let us know. You can reach out to us at teamgoldwi@gmail.com. We will explore with you what you would like to do so we can collaboratively determine how we can best put your talents and time to work.

You can also complete our short volunteer interest form and we will be in contact to find the right opportunity for you.

VOLUNTEER INTEREST FORM

When we are in the thick of things, it can sometimes be difficult to remember all of the good that has happened since Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were elected President and Vice President. Take two minutes to look back at a very successful first year by watching this video narrated by Tom Hanks. Then think about how much more we can do with more Democrats in the House and, especially, in the Senate and join us to help make that happen.

Here’s the link to the video: https://youtu.be/hZyaREUfnh0

On Friday, January 21, at Noon, Fair Courts End Gerrymandering rallies will be held at over 15 locations around Wisconsin. The goal is to let the Courts know that we, the people of Wisconsin, are watching and we expect them to act in a nonpartisan manner, in the best interest of the people, not politicians.

The Madison rally will be at Noon starting at the
bottom stairs of the State Street entrance to the Capitol.

Details:
Beginning at Noon come to the steps leading to the State Street entrance to the Capitol, near the Forward statue. Sign in. You can pick up a sign at the sign-in table or come with your own. Respectfully walk along the public sidewalk surrounding the square holding your sign.

At 12:25 begin congregating near the State Street entrance steps. At 12:30 a short program will be held. Speakers include Rabbi Bonnie Margulis, Executive Director of Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice, and Carlene Bechen, Organizing Director, Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition.

If you make your own sign, keep it positive with a focus on doing the right thing. We want to show the respect a fair and non-partisan court deserves.

Even though the rally will be outdoors we ask that you wear a mask. Stay safe while shining a light on the Court and championing Fair Maps.

Sign Up HERE

Learn more: fairmapswi.com/JanRally

George Jesien is the press contact for the Madison rally.
Mobile: (301) 509-2397; email: geojesien@gmail.com

Team Gold will be working hard in 2022 to re-elect Governor Evers, Attorney General Kaul and other Democratic candidates up and down the ballot. We will also be working hard to defeat Senator Johnson. Why? What is at stake?

One answer can be found by reading Laura Thornton’s recent column in The Washington Post.

Ms. Thorton is the director of the Alliance for Securing Democracy of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. In her column she lays out what American authoritarianism looks like and shows that it is already here. Focusing on Wisconsin, she deplores the statements of Senator Ron Johnson and Republican lawmakers who are openly demanding control over election management in the state.

“I spent more than two decades living and working overseas to advance democracy and credible elections—giving me plenty of opportunity to see the lengths to which autocrats will go to gain power,” Thornton writes. “Even so, the proposed Wisconsin power grab is shocking in its brazenness. If this occurred in any of the countries where the United States provides aid, it would immediately be called out as a threat to democracy. U.S. diplomats would be writing furious cables, and decision makers would be threatening to cut off the flow of assistance.”

Democracy matters first and foremost if we are to tackle that long list of other critically important issues: racism, women’s reproductive health, social justice inequities, climate change, poverty, gun violence, medicaid expansion — and on and on. If you believe in any of those issues and the need for change, then first you need to join the fight to save our democracy. There is only one party who wants to do that, the Democrats. Join us and join the Democratic Party of Wisconsin in this effort. This is the fight of our time and every volunteer is critical.

Come back in January as we lay out our next steps. No matter which holidays you observe at this time of year, may they be happy and safe. See you in 2022!