Senate Republican Escalating Calls to Oust Nonpartisan Official Overseeing Administration of Wisconsin's Elections

Sunday, October 8th, 2023 -- 6:19 AM

(By Sarah Lehr, Wisconsin Public Radio) -A top-ranking Senate Republican is escalating calls for state lawmakers to oust the nonpartisan official overseeing the administration of Wisconsin's elections. 

State Senate President Chris Kapenga of Delafield sent a letter Wednesday to Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, urging the GOP-controlled Assembly to start the process for impeaching Wisconsin Elections Administrator Meagan Wolfe. But, on Thursday, Vos told a reporter with WKOW-TV he doesn't plan to pursue impeachment while a lawsuit over Wolfe's position is still pending. Wolfe has been a target of debunked claims from deniers of Democratic President Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election. She has remained in her position amid ongoing litigation, despite attempts from Wisconsin Republicans to remove and replace her. In his letter to Vos, Kapenga claims Wolfe's refusal to vacate her seat violates state law and could "rise to the level of corrupt conduct in office." Under Wisconsin's Constitution, civil officers of the state can be impeached for "corrupt conduct in office, or for crimes and misdemeanors."

Last month, the GOP-controlled state Senate voted in an attempt to fire Wolfe. Immediately after the vote, Wisconsin's Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, sued in Dane County Circuit Court, asking a judge to rule that the Senate's vote had no legal effect, and that Wolfe can remain in office.  Wolfe did not respond Thursday to a request for comment about Kapenga's letter. She's said previously that, unless a majority of Wisconsin's bipartisan elections commission votes to remove her, she'll remain in her position until Wisconsin's courts decide the issue.

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