The Wisconsin Senate’s elections committee convened on Monday to cast a crucial vote regarding the fate of the state’s top elections official, Meagan Wolfe, setting the stage for a full Senate vote, which is under Republican control, to potentially remove her from her position as early as Thursday.
This contentious move has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, who assert that GOP leaders are rushing through the confirmation process for Meagan Wolfe, the nonpartisan administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission. The controversy stems from a deadlock within the commission, composed of three Republicans and three Democrats, during a reappointment vote in June.
Despite objections from the state’s Democratic attorney general and advice from nonpartisan legislative attorneys, who have stated that a majority vote by the commission is necessary for Wolfe’s reappointment, the Senate proceeded with its consideration of her confirmation. In the absence of a majority commission vote, a recent Supreme Court ruling appears to permit Wolfe to remain in office indefinitely as a holdover. This legal maneuver has been exploited by conservatives to maintain control of crucial policy boards. If the Senate rejects Wolfe’s confirmation, an outcome that would typically result in her dismissal, it is likely that the matter will be resolved through legal action.
Notably, Meagan Wolfe did not attend a public hearing conducted by the Senate elections committee last month to discuss her reappointment. This hearing attracted numerous election skeptics who propagated baseless claims about the 2020 election and called for Wolfe’s removal or even her arrest.
Conspiracy theories falsely accuse Wolfe of involvement in a scheme to manipulate the 2020 election in favor of President Joe Biden. Some Senate Republicans have pledged to oust her before the 2024 presidential election. It’s essential to emphasize that Biden won Wisconsin by nearly 21,000 votes, a result that has withstood multiple partial recounts, a nonpartisan audit, a review by a conservative law firm, and numerous state and federal lawsuits.
Election observers and officials have expressed concerns that the removal of Meagan Wolfe or continued disputes over her position leading up to the 2024 election could further embolden election skeptics who have previously harassed and threatened election officials over the 2020 election.
COMMENTS