An indictment and a Wisconsin Supreme Court race put democracy back in the spotlight

Dear All,

Democracy is back at the forefront this week. Needless to say, the first indictment of a former President is dominating the news and there is profound uncertainty about how the matter will play out legally and politically.

While we'll watch the unfolding developments related to the indictment closely, this democracy drama is certainly not happening in isolation. In Nashville, another school shooting was met with despair, anger, and protests at the state capital. In Israel, citizens from across society – including MBAs – continue nationwide protests against proposed changes to Israel’s Supreme Court. And in France, demonstrations over pensions are engulfing the country.

Meanwhile, this Tuesday, Wisconsin voters will have a particularly consequential opportunity to impact democracy: by voting for a state Supreme Court justice in a special election that could “change the course of the entire country.” In recent years, the Court’s rulings have failed to uphold democracy, barring drop boxes for vote-by-mail ballots and refusing to act on unfair district maps in this notoriously gerrymandered state. Wisconsin’s maps merit an F from the Princeton Gerrymandering Project and the state as a whole receives a C on Leadership Now’s Democracy Report Card. The court is expected to hear many crucial cases in the years ahead — on gerrymandering, abortion, and challenges to future presidential election results.

The importance of the April 4th election prompted Leadership Now’s Wisconsin members to take action again — sending a questionnaire to the candidates asking them to confirm their commitment to democracy. Judge Janet Protasiewicz responded and agreed to uphold future election results. Her competitor, Daniel Kelly, declined to respond to the group’s 5-question judicial letter.?Kelly advised the Wisconsin Republican Party in 2020 on seating a slate of alternate electors to overturn the presidential election.?

Anoop Prakash, John Floreshim, and Sachin Shivaram, Leadership Now members and leaders of Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy, make a compelling case in an op-ed in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on the importance of the special election. They write:

"The stakes could not be higher.?As a non-partisan group of business leaders from both political parties, we believe it is in the best interests of all Wisconsinites to elect justices who will uphold our freedoms and support the principles of democracy on which our country was founded."

The group is also out with a new ad explaining their rationale for endorsing Judge Protasiewicz.

Thanks to the courageous Wisconsin business leaders for their willingness to take a stand on these most fundamental pillars of democracy. And to all of you for staying committed, informed, and taking action for democracy.

Daniella Ballou-Aares, CEO, Leadership Now Project?

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Leadership Now Project is a section 501(c)(4) social welfare organization with a mission to protect and renew American democracy. Project Democracy is a separate, affiliated political organization that supports candidates who share that mission.