MILWAUKEE, WI – The bipartisan Wisconsin business leaders who participated in a statewide six-figure digital ad supporting Janet Protasiewicz for state Supreme Court criticized her opponent Daniel Kelly today for campaigning with a far-right activist with ties to the January 6th insurrection.

“Daniel Kelly’s decision to stand with a flagrant election-denier who was at the Capitol on January 6th exposes a stunning failure of judgment, and a dangerous comfort with anti-democratic forces,” said lifelong Republican and Wisconsin automotive industry executive Anoop Prakash.  “Daniel Kelly continues to associate himself with those who attempted to sabotage our democracy and erode public faith in our elections and that — combined with his own deliberate actions to support the fake elector scheme — makes him unworthy of a seat on our Wisconsin Supreme Court.”

Last week, it was exposed that one of Daniel Kelly’s endorsers is an election denier who was at the US Capitol during the January 6th Insurrection. According to one report, “Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Daniel Kelly said Thursday he’s not bothered that one of his vocal supporters is connected to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Scott Presler, a Virginia native and conservative activist who planned several ‘stop the steal’ rallies that promoted false claims about the 2020 election and was on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, is backing Kelly and campaigning in Wisconsin on his behalf.”  Kelly and Presler appeared in a campaign video together.

Project Democracy PAC also announced today a new :15 version of its hard-hitting Supreme Court ad Enough, which can be viewed here.  The message builds off the significant reach and reaction to the original ad launched one week ago, which has been viewed 970,000 times times in just seven days, with an impressive 70.5% percent view completion rate.  The new :15 version will allow distribution to new additional audiences and channels, and again features three respected Wisconsin business leaders: Elizabeth Brenner, a prominent civic figure, community volunteer and former business executive; Tom Florsheim, Jr, a Democrat and footwear industry executive; and Anoop Prakash, an automotive industry executive, lifelong Republican, former political appointee in the George W. Bush administration, and United States Marine Corps veteran.

Project Democracy PAC is a bipartisan organization supporting candidates who promote and advance a strong democracy, is urging voters to elect Janet Protasiewicz to the Wisconsin Supreme Court on April 4, 2023.  Only Judge Protasiewicz responded to a judicial questionnaire from Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy asking the candidates to share their judicial philosophy and views on recent court rulings impacting democracy in Wisconsin. Protasiewicz replied in full, and in her response she made clear her prioritization of “protecting democracy and the right to vote.” 

Kelly refused to answer, or even acknowledge the inquiry. He has also embraced extreme election-denialism and attempts to overturn the legitimate 2020 presidential election.  In addition to accepting the endorsement of an election denier who was at the Capitol on January 6th, Kelly:

  • Participated in a GOP ‘Integrity Tour’ that Baselessly Questioned Legitimate Election Results:
  • “Supporters of Trump, who has repeatedly said the election was stolen but failed to produce any evidence, have pushed to overturn Biden’s win in Wisconsin, dismantle the state’s bipartisan elections commission and enact a host of election law changes…there has been no evidence found to date to overturn Biden’s win over Trump. That victory has withstood recounts in two counties, multiple state and federal lawsuits, a nonpartisan audit and a review by a conservative law firm…The upcoming roundtables are billed as a chance to join with the Republican National Committee, the Republican Party of Wisconsin, former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly and others…” (Wis St Jrl, 6.15.22)
  • Had ‘Pretty Extensive Conversations’ about Fake Elector Scheme:
  • “Former state Republican Party Chairman Andrew Hitt said in a deposition last year to the U.S. House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that he and Kelly had ‘pretty extensive conversations’ about the fake elector scheme. Kelly was serving as the party’s ‘special counsel’ at the time.” (MJS, 2.17.23)
  • Was Paid $120,000 to Counsel GOP on Election Issues, Including Fake Electors:
  • “One of the two conservative candidates for an open Wisconsin Supreme Court seat [Daniel Kelly] was paid by state and national Republicans to advise on election issues, including the plan to have fake GOP electors cast ballots for Donald Trump even though he lost the state..After Kelly left the court in August 2020, he went on to be paid nearly $120,000 by the Wisconsin Republican Party and the Republican National Committee to work on election issues.” (AP, 2.17.23)
  • Was a Trump Ally Who Advised Republicans on Efforts to Overturn 2020 Election:
  • “A Donald Trump ally who advised Republicans on legal efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential race has advanced to the Wisconsin Supreme Court general election…Daniel Kelly is a former state Supreme Court justice with connections to a plan hatched by the former president’s allies to reverse the 2020 election results in Wisconsin through the use of ‘fake electors.’” (NBC, 2.21.23)

The Project Democracy PAC campaign digitally targets specific audiences such as business executives and economic leaders throughout Wisconsin, and voters who identify as either moderate, centrist, independent, lean Democratic or lean Republican, or who identify respect of democracy and democratic institutions as an important issue.

The new Wisconsin Supreme Court ad comes on the heels of Project Democracy’s successful and widely-praised digital message in the 2022 Wisconsin Governor’s election.  The business leader coalition last November urged a vote for Gov. Evers over Tim Michels to defend democracy against false claims of voter fraud and baseless attacks against unbiased election administration.  That ad was viewed to completion nearly 5 million total times for a 71% completion rate during the ad’s five-week runtime, averaging 173,000 impressions per day.

Project Democracy PAC is a federal political action committee that supports pro-democracy candidates and incumbents from both sides of the aisle.  The organization believes our future economic and social success relies on the stability and vibrancy of our democracy. Its mission is to protect and renew democracy by supporting candidates and leaders who promote and advance an effective democracy for all Americans.

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