Gov. Scott Walker, Wisconsin GOP can’t catch a break in legal battle to halt two special elections

The Wisconsin governor put off calling a special election for two legislative seats which were vacated by two Republicans who quit to take jobs within his administration. Walker was delaying his call for the elections so Republicans could hold a special session to change election law, cancel the elections, and thwart the possibility of Democrats gaining seats in the Wisconsin legislature.

According to the Minnesota Journal Sentinel, District 2 Court of Appeals Judge Paul Reilly ruled to hold the order, demanding the governor call the elections by Thursday.

“Representative government and the election of our representatives are never ‘unnecessary,’ never a ‘waste of taxpayer resources,’ and the calling of the special elections are, as the governor acknowledges his ‘obligation,'” Reilly said, according to the news outlet.

Dane County Judge Josann Reynolds ruled last week that Walker had until Thursday to formally call for the special elections after he requested to extend the date to April 6.

The governor appealed Reynolds’ ruling and was denied again by Circuit Judge Richard Niess.

“It is certainly the Legislature’s prerogative to change the law, but until they do, it is the obligation of this court to enforce the law, and the law right now in this state under that statute and by order of this court is that this election shall be held as promptly as possible and that it should be ordered no later than Thursday at noon,” Niess said while in court, according to the Minnesota Journal Sentinel.

Marc Elias, whose firm represented Democrats suing to force Walker to call for the elections, announced his victory on Twitter Wednesday.

“Walker will do nearly anything to prevent voters from having representation,” Elias wrote.

Elias later revealed that Walker’s attorneys informed the state Supreme Court that he would not “seek relief” from the high court. “Democracy wins!” Elias said.