Big Victories on Election Day!

Due to Local 212 efforts, COPE-endorsed Tony Evers will remain governor, Josh Kaul will continue as Attorney General, and Sarah Rodriguez will become Lieutenant Governor. This means the administrative branch of state government will protect technical colleges, public schools and public employees’ pensions against the gerrymandered legislature’s likely attacks.

Naturally, we’re disappointed that Local 212’s good friend Mandela Barnes lost an extremely close race for U.S. Senate in the face of the truly disgusting and deceitful TV ads against him.

However, when we look around the country there are some results that we in Wisconsin can take heart and example from. Voters in Illinois embedded union rights in their state constitution, making laws like ACT 10 and so-called Right to Work legislation illegal, Massachusetts rejected its flat income tax rate and passed a 4% surcharge on millionaires, most significantly, Michigan flipped both houses of its legislature to pro-public education and pro-union majorities. This was accomplished only after its Supreme Court ruled in favor of a ballot initiative that called for getting rid of partisan gerrymandering, like we have in Wisconsin, and established an independent, non-partisan commission to determine fair legislative districts.

This points us towards our next huge challenge, the Spring 2023 Supreme Court of Wisconsin race. Election of a justice who will establish a majority that could rule similarly, and ensure Wisconsin’s legislative districts are drawn fairly, and without partisan bias will be key.

Elections matter, so our political action work continues. If you would like to be part of Local 212’s endorsement decision-making and political advocacy and aren’t already a member of Local 212’s Committee on Political Education (COPE), please join here: https://www.local212.org/political-action-1.