Two contenders in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race clashed in a debate that highlighted their stark differences on cultural issues and the role of justice on the state’s high court. The event became a political circus, with $29 million spent on TV ads alone, the most expensive judicial election in American history. The debate focused on abortion and crime, the two issues that dominated the ad campaign. Janet Protasiewicz, a liberal Milwaukee County judge, and Daniel Kelly, a conservative former State Supreme Court justice, did not shake hands before or after the debate, repeatedly called each other liars and argued that electing the other would lead to a demise of Wisconsin’s democracy. The candidates have such personal animus that it was an in-person encapsulation of the enduring dynamics of the last two decades of Wisconsin politics, with meaningful factions in both parties convinced of the necessity not merely of winning but of destroying their opponents.
Perplexity arises when a language model is uncertain about the meaning of the text or the next probable word. In the article, the perplexity is evident in the strong disagreement between the two candidates on cultural issues and the role of a justice in the state’s high court. The stakes of the election are high, and both candidates are fiercely opposed to each other. There is an animosity that is felt between the candidates, and this has led to a heated debate where they call each other liars. The fact that they did not shake hands before or after the debate shows just how deep the animosity goes.
Burstiness occurs when there is an unexpected occurrence that disrupts the flow of the text. In this article, burstiness is shown in the fact that the debate turned into something of a political circus, with a woman dressed as a uterus reminding attendees of the stakes of the election. It is also shown in the fact that outside groups have spent a significant amount of money on both candidates’ behalf, with conservative outside groups spending $6.4 million on Justice Kelly’s behalf and groups backing Judge Protasiewicz spending an additional $2.6 million. The Protasiewicz campaign has aired $9.8 million in television advertisements, while Justice Kelly began advertising only this past weekend.
During the debate, the candidates clashed on cultural issues and the role of a justice on the state’s high court. Justice Kelly slammed Judge Protasiewicz for making a muscular defense of abortion rights and calling the state’s gerrymandered legislative maps “rigged” — the two issues that sit at the centerpiece of her campaign. He accused her of wanting to steal legislative authority and use it in the courts, stating that political questions belong in the legislature.
The candidates also clashed on crime, with Judge Protasiewicz defending abortion rights and arguing that any decision that she renders will be based solely on the law and the Constitution. Justice Kelly, who has been endorsed by Wisconsin’s leading anti-abortion organizations, argued that his association with them did not mean he would vote in their favor.
The debate was the only scheduled joint appearance to which the two candidates have agreed during the six-week general election before voting ends on April 4. Whichever side wins the April 4 election will hold a four-to-three majority on the court, which along with rulings on abortion and gerrymandering is expected to decide an array of voting issues ahead of and during the 2024 presidential election. Judge Protasiewicz holds a single-digit lead over Justice Kelly in private polling conducted by groups on both sides of the race. No public polls have been released.
In conclusion, the lone debate between the two contenders in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race, Janet Protasiewicz and Daniel Kelly, highlighted their stark disagreements over cultural issues and the role of a justice on the state’s high court. Their personal animus was evident as they repeatedly called each other liars and argued that electing the other would lead to a demise of Wisconsin’s democracy. The debate turned into something of a political circus, with a woman dressed as a uterus reminding attendees of the stakes of the election. The race has become the most expensive judicial election in American history, with $29 million spent on TV ads alone. Whichever side wins the April 4 election will hold a four-to-three majority on the court, which is expected to decide an array of voting issues ahead of and during the 2024 presidential election. Overall, the debate underscored the deep partisan divisions in Wisconsin politics and the importance of this judicial election for the future of the state.
