MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled on how congressional district lines should be drawn in a potential recall election sought by supporters of former President Donald Trump to target the Republican speaker of the House. He declined to clarify whether it would be affected.
Efforts to remove Speaker Robin Vos appear to have failed to gather enough valid signatures to force an election. But the Wisconsin Elections Commission had asked the Supreme Court to clarify which maps should be used for recalls and special elections held before the new maps go into effect in November.
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In a unanimous order, the court noted that it had ruled in December that the legal map then in effect was unconstitutional and prohibited its future use. In February, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed a legislative map he proposed for the Republican-controlled Legislature to pass.
Wisconsin Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos speaks with reporters at the state Capitol on February 15, 2022 in Madison, Wisconsin. On Wednesday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court declined to clarify what effect Congressional district lines should have on the possibility of a recall election. That’s what former President Donald Trump’s supporters called for, targeting the boss. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)
These are the maps that go into effect in November. The court order leaves open the question of what maps will be valid for elections before November.
“We decline to further clarify or modify our opinion and order,” the court said, referring to its December decision.
The court said the Wisconsin Elections Commission, not the Supreme Court, is responsible for administering elections.
The next move will depend on the commission, which faces an April 11 deadline to determine whether the recall petition has enough signatures to trigger an election. The decision can be appealed to the court.
Commission spokeswoman Riley Betterkind did not comment on the court order.
Based on an initial cursory review, the committee determined that there were not enough valid signatures collected from residents of the district Vos was elected to represent. However, Voss’s district boundaries are being changed based on a legal map that will take effect in November.
Vos is being recalled after refusing to move forward with the impeachment of the state election official or the effort to uncertify President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in Wisconsin. His actions infuriated Trump, who accused his boss of covering up election corruption, but his supporters are now trying to force a recall election after a failed 2022 primary. There is.
Vos disputed the legitimacy of the thousands of signatures and declared the effort a failure no matter which district boundaries were used, but called those targeting him “job bashers and idiots.” I scoffed.
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Recall organizers launched a second recall effort last week, recognizing that the first effort would likely lack the necessary signatures.
Vos is the most powerful Republican in the Republican-led Congress. He was first elected in 2004 and has held the position since 2013, making him the longest-serving Assembly Speaker in state history.
