Liberals gain control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court for the first time in 15 years
Janet Protasiewicz, a judge on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, has defeated conservative justice Dan Kelly in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Protasiewicz’s victory carries a significant political impact, giving liberals their first majority on the state's highest court in 15 years. Protasiewicz emphasized her pro choice position on abortion rights throughout her campaign, a strategy used by many Democratic candidates in the recent midterm elections. Protasiewicz’s electoral success suggests that this Democratic strategy will continue to pay off and will likely be a
Chicago mayoral race: Brandon Johnson wins runoff, Paul Vallas concedes
Brandon Johnson, a former public school teacher, has won Chicago’s mayoral election. Johnson defeated Paul Vallas, former Chicago Public Schools CEO, in a tight race winning approximately 51% of the vote to Vallas’ 49%. Johnson made it clear in his victory speech that he wants to govern for all citizens of Chicago saying, "To the Chicagoans who did not vote for me, here's what I want you to know: That I care about you, I value you, and I want to hear from you.
Swipe, like, vote: the organizers using dating apps to boost turnout
Krisiti Johnson, the national press secretary for NextGen, an organization working to increase youth voter turnout, has begun using a new method to contact potential voters: online dating apps. Earlier this year, Johnson created a Hinge profile with prompts like “the key to my heart is being pro-choice” and “together we could vote on April 4th and get drinks after.” The goal behind Johnson's efforts was to match with men on dating apps, and when they messaged her she would ensure that they were
Far-right influencer convicted in 2016 voter suppression scheme
Douglass Mackey, a right-wing influencer from West Palm Beach, Florida, was convicted last week on charges that he allegedly conspired to deprive citizens of their right to vote in the 2016 presidential election. Mackey, along with several other internet influencers, spread fraudulent messages to Hillary Clinton supporters encouraging them to vote via text message or on social media, knowing that these votes would not count in the election. Mackey even edited his social media posts to mirror real advertisements and posts put out by
Voters with disabilities often overlooked in voting battles
Many voters with disabilities face barriers at the polls that politicians and the public at large rarely consider. A missing ramp or doorknob can turn into a significant struggle for disabled voters, and a lack of empathy or assistance from poll workers can compound these issues. Since 2016, the Department of Justice has entered over 30 agreements or settlements to force better access for disabled voters in cities and counties across the country under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Visit Associated Press to learn moreImage