Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Julian Englis

(2,309 posts)
Tue Apr 3, 2018, 10:00 PM Apr 2018

Liberals just won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court by a huge margin

Source: Vox

Liberal candidate Rebecca Dallet has won election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, according to Decision Desk. Dallet defeated her conservative opponent for the open seat, Michael Screnock easily, and her victory will cut the conservative majority on the court from 5-2 to just 4-3.

Dallets win is yet another example of liberal voter enthusiasm in state and local elections held during the age of Trump. And in Wisconsin specifically, its a rare victory for a Democratic Party thats been beaten again and again in recent years. (The race was technically nonpartisan, but Dallet was the Democrat-backed candidate, and Screnock the conservative-backed one.)

However, the court will remain in conservative hands for the near future. The next conservative-held seat wont be up for election until 2020, and before that, liberals will have to defend one of their own seats next year.

Once elected, Wisconsin Supreme Court justices serve out 10-year terms. However, if a seat should become vacant in the middle of a term, the governor can appoint a replacement justice. A new election is then scheduled for that seat in the first year when theres no other supreme court election on the ballot (that is, two seats cant go up for election in the same year). Tuesdays election is for an open seat held by a conservative justice who chose to retire.

Read more: https://www.vox.com/2018/4/3/17195062/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-results



Live updates:
https://decisiondeskhq.com/news/wisconsin-supreme-court-election/

Here's the start of Madison.com's story Rebecca Dallet wins 10-year term on Wisconsin Supreme Court

Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly picked Milwaukee County Judge Rebecca Dallet to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court for the next 10 years.

Dallet crushed Sauk County Judge Michael Screnock 57 percent to 42 percent and is the first candidate backed by liberals to win an open seat on the state's highest court since 1995.

She replaces Justice Michael Gableman, whose decision in 2015 to not step away from a case involving the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, which had spent millions to help elect Gableman, was a big reason Dallet decided to seek a seat on the court.

Dallet, a judge for the last 10 years, campaigned largely on changing the rules that govern when judges and Supreme Court justices should recuse themselves from cases involving top campaign donors and repeatedly criticized Gableman and the court controlled by conservatives for "doing bidding" for special interests.

With Dallet's election, the court remains controlled by conservative justices but by a smaller margin.
52 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Liberals just won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court by a huge margin (Original Post) Julian Englis Apr 2018 OP
YES!!!! snacker Apr 2018 #1
well done dems in WI nt msongs Apr 2018 #2
I can't accept all the credit Liberalhammer Apr 2018 #40
Turnout TheRealNorth Apr 2018 #3
Someone in Waukesha must have lost about 10 bags of "late" ballots. n/t Julian Englis Apr 2018 #19
Kathy Nickolaus, Waukesha County Clerk, has lost her magic laptop. Still In Wisconsin Apr 2018 #21
Your neighbor to the south... 3catwoman3 Apr 2018 #29
Too bad.......... MyOwnPeace Apr 2018 #37
It's still early TheRealNorth Apr 2018 #48
welcome to DU gopiscrap Apr 2018 #47
Yay! herding cats Apr 2018 #4
Congratulations Judge Dallet!!!! Heartstrings Apr 2018 #5
omg - this is great! I think she succeeded in conveying her message which was to say yes I have Kashkakat v.2.0 Apr 2018 #6
Her ads popped up on a game I play. AllyCat Apr 2018 #41
Thats great - in sharp contrast to the 2016 senat election when I kept seeing Ron Johnson ads all Kashkakat v.2.0 Apr 2018 #50
Internet ads. And free games that run by ads. AllyCat Apr 2018 #52
Wisconsin becomes closer to sane Angry Dragon Apr 2018 #7
Wisconsin has always been sane. elocs Apr 2018 #17
THIS. calimary Apr 2018 #24
Our message should be that "every election is important" FakeNoose Apr 2018 #39
Yes!!!! old guy Apr 2018 #8
MilwJournal: Rebecca Dallet beats Michael Screnock in race for Wisconsin Supreme Court 🌊🌊🌊 riversedge Apr 2018 #9
Thank you, Wisconsin progressives!! BlueWI Apr 2018 #10
Welcome to DU, BlueWI! calimary Apr 2018 #25
It's time. BlueWI Apr 2018 #46
This is a big f-cking deal, isn't it. Hassin Bin Sober Apr 2018 #11
YES!! (See comment #21 above) aeromanKC Apr 2018 #26
Suck on it #Trump!! Great news from Former Trump Country!! 🌊🌊🌊 riversedge Apr 2018 #12
I'll bet Walker is crapping himself tonight too... Still In Wisconsin Apr 2018 #31
There was a state supreme court justice race on our ballot here 2 years ago elocs Apr 2018 #13
OMG! I have not been this happy with our elections in years! AllyCat Apr 2018 #14
Seriously? You're in the winners' circle too? calimary Apr 2018 #27
Thank you! AllyCat Apr 2018 #34
Congratulations! Tatiana Apr 2018 #30
Thank you! AllyCat Apr 2018 #35
K&R ismnotwasm Apr 2018 #15
Am I right . . . Sam McGee Apr 2018 #16
WI and MN, neighbors to the west, BLUE ALL THE WAY! truthisfreedom Apr 2018 #18
MORE good news!!! BobTheSubgenius Apr 2018 #20
Maybe we actually have a chance to throw off the stupid and bounce Walker in November. Still In Wisconsin Apr 2018 #22
Justice. n/t slumcamper Apr 2018 #23
#Blue wave The vile #NRABloodmoney endored Repug LOST. #flipitblue riversedge Apr 2018 #28
One more win for us - yay! iluvtennis Apr 2018 #32
GO Wisconsin dems!!!!!!!!!!!!!! workinclasszero Apr 2018 #33
Great pic! AllyCat Apr 2018 #36
I love it too! workinclasszero Apr 2018 #44
Dems 57: For a judicial election bone-crushing numbers bucolic_frolic Apr 2018 #38
So when cannabis_flower Apr 2018 #42
this November. mercuryblues Apr 2018 #45
The real prize TheRealNorth Apr 2018 #49
I voted for her. Jimbo S Apr 2018 #43
Excellent! Nitram Apr 2018 #51

TheRealNorth

(9,481 posts)
3. Turnout
Tue Apr 3, 2018, 10:12 PM
Apr 2018

When you see the Republicans only pulling 65% in Waukesha County (typically 70-75% and their largest source of votes), you know they are in trouble.

 

Still In Wisconsin

(4,450 posts)
21. Kathy Nickolaus, Waukesha County Clerk, has lost her magic laptop.
Tue Apr 3, 2018, 11:28 PM
Apr 2018

You know, the one on which she "found" 14,000 votes for David Prosser in 2011.

MyOwnPeace

(16,928 posts)
37. Too bad..........
Wed Apr 4, 2018, 06:28 AM
Apr 2018

we don't have people in government that care about these kinds of things, you know, like stolen elections (see history: Bush v. Gore, Clinton v. Tru..... sorry, can't even spell out the name of this evil pile of s**t!!!!).

Kashkakat v.2.0

(1,752 posts)
6. omg - this is great! I think she succeeded in conveying her message which was to say yes I have
Tue Apr 3, 2018, 10:26 PM
Apr 2018

bias, values and beliefs BUT my job as judge is to rule based on letter of the law. She cited cases where she as circuit judge did exactly that.

Of course Repubs tried to spin that admission of as "liberal activist judge".

She also used the word "corruption" and kept hammering at the fact that her opponent was funded largely by corporate donors and that he would not, like her, vow to recuse himself if a case came up involving his donors. In other words she has vowed to not even give the APPEARANCE of being bought. How refreshing is THAT?

Other things I noticed - her ads were on local radio including the RW talk channel and very numerous the last few days, and in them she explicitly stated that her opponents ads LIED in their attempting to smear her.

This was very different from Feingold and the Dem gov candidates who took in all this money, but seemed oddly missing in action throughout their campaigns - I did not hear ANY ads from them on our local radio .... and I listen to a lot of radio.

AllyCat

(16,192 posts)
41. Her ads popped up on a game I play.
Wed Apr 4, 2018, 09:56 AM
Apr 2018

It was the banner ad from the end of February through yesterday. Hard to miss.

Kashkakat v.2.0

(1,752 posts)
50. Thats great - in sharp contrast to the 2016 senat election when I kept seeing Ron Johnson ads all
Thu Apr 5, 2018, 08:56 AM
Apr 2018

over the internet - INCLUDING DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND I MIGHT ADD!!!!!!!!!!!!

But where was Russ? No sign of a Russ Feingold ad - anywhere.

I think having an effective ad presence is more essential than some might want to admit. Of course it shouldnt have to be that way, but that's the reality at this moment in time.

elocs

(22,582 posts)
17. Wisconsin has always been sane.
Tue Apr 3, 2018, 11:08 PM
Apr 2018

But when voters on the Left choose not to vote, like in 2010 when the state flipped from Democratic control to Republican control, electing Walker and defeating Feingold, bad things happen. What is not sane is abdicating our duty to vote and leaving it to the Republicans who will eagerly fill that void.

calimary

(81,322 posts)
24. THIS.
Tue Apr 3, 2018, 11:41 PM
Apr 2018

We win when we vote! Because there are more of us on the blue team than there are in the red team. Do NOT sit out ANY Election Day.

FakeNoose

(32,645 posts)
39. Our message should be that "every election is important"
Wed Apr 4, 2018, 08:40 AM
Apr 2018

Somehow that gets lost and people disappear for 4 years. The voters need to pay attention always, and never sit out an election. For Democrats there are no "off" years. I think those lazy occasional voters have had their eyes opened after 2016.

riversedge

(70,243 posts)
9. MilwJournal: Rebecca Dallet beats Michael Screnock in race for Wisconsin Supreme Court 🌊🌊🌊
Tue Apr 3, 2018, 10:31 PM
Apr 2018



🌊🌊🌊 #FlipItBlue #BlueWave2018

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2018/04/03/rebecca-dallet-beats-michael-screnock-race-wisconsin-supreme-court/477978002/


Rebecca Dallet beats Michael Screnock in race for Wisconsin Supreme Court
Patrick Marley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Published 9:01 p.m. CT April 3, 2018 | Updated 9:20 p.m. CT April 3, 2018
MJS-supreme04_DalletBuy Photo

(Photo: Rick Wood / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
CONNECTTWEETLINKEDIN 10 COMMENTEMAILMORE

MADISON - Rebecca Dallet trounced Michael Screnock Tuesday for a seat on the state Supreme Court, shrinking the court's conservative majority and giving Democrats a jolt of energy heading into the fall election.

It marked the first time in 23 years that a liberal candidate who wasn't an incumbent won a seat on the high court.

“I attribute it to Wisconsin voters standing up to special interests," said Dallet, a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge. "I think they're ready to have fair and independent courts.

"I’m the candidate with the most experience, really standing up for the rights of Wisconsinites every day and I think people saw that and spoke out today and I’m quite excited by it, by the results.”

Dallet won big in Dane and Milwaukee counties. Screnock, a Sauk County judge who campaigned with the backing of the state Republican Party, did well in Waukesha County and other GOP strongholds but did not get enough votes elsewhere to offset Dallet's massive success in metropolitan areas.



LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: Get the latest Journal Sentinel news in your feed

The election swung conservative control of the court from a comfortable 5-2 to a narrow 4-3. Dallet — to be seated in August for a 10-year term — will replace conservative Justice Michael Gableman, who did not seek re-election.

BlueWI

(1,736 posts)
10. Thank you, Wisconsin progressives!!
Tue Apr 3, 2018, 10:33 PM
Apr 2018

We are winning across Eau Claire County too. Young progressive candidates are winning big!! So excited for blue voters across the state. Scott Walker is next. Congrats to everyone who worked for this win!!

calimary

(81,322 posts)
25. Welcome to DU, BlueWI!
Tue Apr 3, 2018, 11:43 PM
Apr 2018

PLEEEEEEEZE send Scott Walker to the unemployment line! He's a member of their "bench strength" - who flatters himself, thinking he's worthy of the Presidency. He wants to run for the big job, and badly, I suspect.

BlueWI

(1,736 posts)
46. It's time.
Wed Apr 4, 2018, 03:51 PM
Apr 2018

Walker is vulnerable, and 8 years is more than enough. What a glorious day awaits us in November!!

Hassin Bin Sober

(26,330 posts)
11. This is a big f-cking deal, isn't it.
Tue Apr 3, 2018, 10:40 PM
Apr 2018

Last Supreme Court election I remember following, the Democrats really made a push and we came up short. Wasn't that around the time of the attempted recall of Walker??

This is a really good sign!!

riversedge

(70,243 posts)
12. Suck on it #Trump!! Great news from Former Trump Country!! 🌊🌊🌊
Tue Apr 3, 2018, 10:46 PM
Apr 2018



Great news from Former Trump Country!! 🌊🌊🌊 #FlipItBlue #BlueWave2018

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2018/04/03/rebecca-dallet-beats-michael-screnock-race-wisconsin-supreme-court/477978002/


Rebecca Dallet [Progressive] beats Gov Walker lacky Michael Screnock in race for Wisconsin Supreme Court Suck on it #Trump!!
 

Still In Wisconsin

(4,450 posts)
31. I'll bet Walker is crapping himself tonight too...
Wed Apr 4, 2018, 12:43 AM
Apr 2018

how different this feels from the night seven years ago when David "the Supreme Court Strangler" Prosser was re-elected.

elocs

(22,582 posts)
13. There was a state supreme court justice race on our ballot here 2 years ago
Tue Apr 3, 2018, 10:59 PM
Apr 2018

with the Wisconsin presidential primary. It's too bad the Liberal candidate could not have won then because we would now have liberal control of our supreme court here. That was a primary election easily won by Bernie Sanders, but it was found afterwards that 12% of the Sanders voters were so excited about voting for him that they didn't even bother to vote in the state supreme court justice race even though the ballot was right in front of them.
Voting is the secret power of the Left that is feared by Republicans, otherwise they would not be so desperate to try and limit it. But like so many Republicans, we need to learn to treat voting as our duty with the understanding up front that we will seldom have the perfect and exciting candidates but that we should vote whether we are motivated or not. Because by and large the Republicans will show up.

AllyCat

(16,192 posts)
14. OMG! I have not been this happy with our elections in years!
Tue Apr 3, 2018, 11:00 PM
Apr 2018

All my progressive friends won their City Alder races and Mayor in my town. I have won another 3 year term on School Board. It’s a great night!

And we defeated an amendment to get rid of the State Treasurer position!!

Next stop: Defeating Walker!!

calimary

(81,322 posts)
27. Seriously? You're in the winners' circle too?
Tue Apr 3, 2018, 11:51 PM
Apr 2018

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

It's great that voters have starting getting interested in local and state races. THAT'S where it all starts, and where power bases are built for future advancement. We've ignored that part of it for way too long.

One of the biggest villains of the 70s and 80s was the "Christian Coalition's" babyfaced ruthless schemer Ralph Reed. He did a lot of damage in his heyday and was a darling of the evangelicals and the Reagan hoards, as well as Reagan himself. One of his signature efforts was pushing the idea of CONservatives running for the local school board. Mainly because from there, you could climb higher, building a power base and lots of valuable connections and maybe then trying for City Council. Or County Supervisor. Or the State Senate or Assembly. And from there, you could well rise up to Congress, the Senate, the governor's mansion, or higher. But for him, it all started with the local school board.

Glad YOU are there instead of one of his little flying monkeys!

AllyCat

(16,192 posts)
34. Thank you!
Wed Apr 4, 2018, 02:30 AM
Apr 2018

I don’t know if I would run for other offices, but not ruling anything out. I’m so thrilled about Dallet and the thwarting of Walker’s plan to get rid of our Democratic Treasurer I could shout in the snowy streets right now.

Tatiana

(14,167 posts)
30. Congratulations!
Wed Apr 4, 2018, 12:22 AM
Apr 2018

Thanks for doing your part to help make Wisconsin great again. Walker's time is running out.

 

Sam McGee

(347 posts)
16. Am I right . . .
Tue Apr 3, 2018, 11:01 PM
Apr 2018

. . . in recalling that Eric Holder and President Obama supported her? I think Holder went to Wisconsin at least once to campaign for her.

BobTheSubgenius

(11,564 posts)
20. MORE good news!!!
Tue Apr 3, 2018, 11:25 PM
Apr 2018

Call me crazy, but all these state and local races being won by Democrats might be the silver lining to this dark, dark cloud that envelops DC.

 

Still In Wisconsin

(4,450 posts)
22. Maybe we actually have a chance to throw off the stupid and bounce Walker in November.
Tue Apr 3, 2018, 11:31 PM
Apr 2018

Nothing would make me happier. I only wish the coming Blue Wave would have swept Russ Feingold back into office... alas he was running in 2016 when our state collectively shit the bed.

cannabis_flower

(3,764 posts)
42. So when
Wed Apr 4, 2018, 10:40 AM
Apr 2018

is the Governor up for election? If Democrats can take the Governor's office and a conservative seat becomes open and then we would be able to appointment a liberal.

TheRealNorth

(9,481 posts)
49. The real prize
Wed Apr 4, 2018, 11:17 PM
Apr 2018

If a Dem gets elected governor in November, they should be able to get fairer State Senate and Assembly districts drawn after the 2020 census (unless the US Supreme Court forces them to be redrawn sooner)

Jimbo S

(2,958 posts)
43. I voted for her.
Wed Apr 4, 2018, 10:47 AM
Apr 2018

It's been a rough eight years here. I'm happy to get a victory like this. Hopefully, more to come.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Liberals just won a seat ...