To the editor,

Political pundits across the country discuss Wisconsin’s April 4 Supreme Court election as “the most important election in the country,” as though the nation will implode if a certain outcome fails to materialize.  

What’s behind the concern and why? It could be that out-of-state special interest donors want their millions of campaign dollars and influence to matter? The facts that each of the last two presidential elections here was decided by under 30,000 votes out of millions cast is worrisome; and, except for Barack Obama, no presidential candidate in the last 30 years has won 50% of our votes. Wisconsin is as philosophically and politically divided as they come. 

The winning and losing sides have a lot to gain or lose, and the advantage will come with the number of supporters who get to the polls. It will tell odds makers which side is likely to win the 2024 presidential and Congressional elections; and which policies to push in the state for the next two years.

But we’re talking about the Supreme Court, so who cares? Apparently, not many Wisconsinites in past spring elections. Fewer than 20 of every 100 registered voters went to the polls, giving a minority of residents a lot of political power. The number rose to 21 out of 100 in February’s primary. Democrats are betting that more of their guys than conservatives will show up in April. They need to succeed in just 14 of 72 Wisconsin counties. Why? Their total voting population exceeds that of the remaining 58 counties.  

The Democrat prize this April is a majority of activist justices on the court. A Janet Protasiewicz win means giving four free-wheeling justices the power to interpret and make policy from the bench. Numerous existing laws unpopular on the political left will be challenged.  

How would that activist win play out? Gender, genetic sex, marriage, free speech, bearing arms, election fraud and tampering, illegal immigrants, rights for the unborn, healthcare privacy, executive incompetency, academic achievement, and equality will all have new legal definitions.

A Dan Kelly win simply means no remolding of policies made by lawmakers in Madison, and few challenges to existing laws.   

So it’s up to social and constitutional traditionalists to show up heavily on April 4 to support Dan Kelly and reject judicial activism. Stay home and get ready to live in New California.