Wisconsin Republicans have a tough election on Tuesday. Janet Protasiewicz, a Democrat-backed liberal, lose Dan Kelly, a conservative with deep GOP ties, is in the race for the state’s highest court seat. The new liberal majority is expected to attack down a state-level abortion bans that date 1849 and entertain a new challenge to the GOP-gerrymandered legislative and congressional map of the state is drawn up.
There is one positive result for Wisconsin Republicans that could have far-reaching implications. Wisconsin state Assemblyman Dan Knodl (R) defeated Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin, an attorney, by a landslide less than 2 percentage points at special state Senate election in the suburbs of Milwaukee.
Knodl’s victory sent Republicans to a two-thirds supermajority in the Wisconsin state Senate. Republicans are still two votes shy of a two-thirds supermajority in the state Assembly, so Knodel’s win does not empower them to overcome Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ vetoes.
But the result allowed Republicans to impeach and oust elected officials by party vote. A simple majority in the state Assembly is required to impeach elected officials. A two-thirds majority is required to impeach the official in court in the state Senate.
Before the election, Knodl said he could not anticipate impeachment proceedings against Evers. However, he said he wants to prosecute prosecutors and judges who he believes are “not following the law.” He also said he would “must consider” impeaching Protasiewicz if he wins a seat on the high court.
After a narrow victory, Knodl sounded a conciliatory note.
“This campaign has always focused on issues, such as rising prices, crime, and education, and I am very grateful to the voters of the 8th Senate District for trusting me to represent them in the Wisconsin State Senate,” Knodl said in a statement Wednesday published by the Associated Press. Press. “Whether you vote for me or my opponent, I intend to firmly and faithfully represent all my constituents.”
Based on those comments, Joe Zepecki, a Democratic strategist in the Milwaukee area, hopes that highly partisan impeachment is off the table.
“I am cautiously optimistic that the Republicans will listen to one of the lessons of the night and of the 17 elections held across the country since 2016,” said Zepecki, noting that Democrats or liberals have won 14 of those races. “And that is that he needs to step back, from this extremist politics that does things like threaten to impeach a candidate before they can take office.”
Republicans likely will have a more challenging time winning a special state Senate election if right-wing state Assemblywoman Janel Brandtjen (R) defeats Knodl in the GOP primary. Calculating that he would be an easier opponent, even a Democrat spend money for the help of Brandtjen, which former President Donald Trump has approved, beat Knodl.
It remains to be seen whether Knodl follows through on a lighter tone or whether other Republicans in charge of the legislature share Knodl’s perspective.
Regardless, his comments after Election Day were in stark contrast to what Kelly said Tuesday night after losing to Protasiewicz.
Although he conceded that he lost, Kelly was furious at what he called Protasiewicz’s lie to him and lamented what he claimed would be the danger that his victory would lead to “the rule of law” in the Badger State.
“I don’t like to say this: I wish that in a situation like this, I could recognize a worthy opponent,” said Kelly. “But I have no enemy worthy of me.”