MADISON – Today, Republicans on the Senate Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections, and Consumer Protection held a sham hearing on a nomination for Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe that is not before the Committee. Attorneys from the Wisconsin Department of Justice and the nonpartisan Wisconsin Legislative Council have both concluded that statute requires four votes to nominate an administrator for the Commission, which the nomination did not receive.
Administrator Wolfe was previously unanimously nominated by the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission and confirmed by the Wisconsin State Senate. She continues to lawfully serve as the Administrator under precedent from the Wisconsin State Supreme Court, and unless she is removed from her position, she does not need to be renominated. It is clear from recent votes and public comment that Administrator Wolfe still has bipartisan support on the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
Senator Mark Spreitzer (D – Beloit), the ranking Democratic committee member, and Senator Jeff Smith (D – Eau Claire) released the following statement after the committee hearing:
“Today, Senate Republicans pushed forward with an illegitimate hearing featuring stale conspiracy theories that have been debunked time and time again while attacking qualified, hard-working election administrators.
“We have full confidence in Administrator Wolfe and the work that she has done for our state. It is concerning that Senate Republicans are on a path that will drag her into court and waste more taxpayer money while creating more controversy around our elections as we head into the 2024 cycle.
“Today’s hearing was yet another rehash of the 2020 election. Republicans continue to lose elections. Instead of appealing to voters through popular policies, they are continuing to go after the people who oversee our elections. Rather than continuing down this path, Republicans should stop the circus and refocus on the issues that the people of Wisconsin care about.
“Our time today would have been better spent discussing pressing issues like making child care affordable, supporting middle-class families, or strengthening our communities. Republicans will continue to lose until they finally do what voters sent them here to do.
“We look forward to continuing to work with our Democratic colleagues to serve the people of Wisconsin, not catering to those who undermine democracy in our state.”
