MADISON, Wis. — While the far-right candidates in the race for Wisconsin Supreme Court have been careful about getting too specific on the issues, new reporting this month provided some clarity into how the two Republican-backed candidates might come down on critical issues before the Court, including Wisconsin’s 1849 criminal abortion ban and common sense gun safety reforms.
Both Jennifer Dorow and Dan Kelly are unabashed in their allegiances to the extreme right. On her judicial application to Scott Walker in 2011, Dorow boasted of her “strong conservative values” and named Lawrence v. Texas, the United State Supreme Court decision that decriminalized LGBTQ+ relationships, as one of the worst court decisions of the last thirty years. Kelly is similarly unapologetic in his positions, heaping praise upon Justice Antonin Scalia’s dissent in Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark decision which recognized marriage equality for all Americans, and equating affirmative action to slavery.
See last week’s news about Jennifer Dorow and Dan Kelly’s unmistakable right-wing ties:
- Dorow was endorsed by Wisconsin Right to Life, an extreme anti-abortion group that “endorses candidates who have pledged to champion pro-life values and stand with Wisconsin Right to Life’s legislative strategy.” The group announced their support for Kelly earlier this month. Wisconsin Right to Life opposes abortion in nearly all cases—including cases of rape or incest. Both Dorow and Kelly touted their endorsements, with Kelly boasting he had been endorsed by “all three” major anti-abortion groups in the state and Dorow endorsing the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade [21:13] and end safe and legal access to abortion for millions of Americans.
- New reporting last week highlighted plans by Jennifer Dorow and her husband to open an indoor gun range that would not only sell firearms and accessories, but serve alcohol and host weddings.
- Finally, a PAC funded by billionaire GOP donor Dick Uihlein made a six-figure ad buy last week in support of Dan Kelly. The radio ad claims “Wisconsin needs conservative Justice Dan Kelly” to prevent a liberal takeover of the state Supreme Court.
“It’s no secret that Dan Kelly is a tried-and-true right-wing activist, and has been in both his personal and professional capacity for years, but Jennifer Dorow’s ties to GOP special interests are lesser known,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Haley McCoy. “From what we’ve learned just this month, it’s clear that Jennifer Dorow is yet another right-wing judge who would serve as a rubber stamp for the Republican Party on the Supreme Court, proving either conservative candidate would be a disaster for Wisconsin.”
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