15 Wisconsin legislators held accountable for ‘choosing Trump over truth’
Sept. 28, 2022- Democratic candidates for Wisconsin’s State Assembly denounced their Republican opponents Wednesday for signing a letter in January 2021 asking then Vice President Pence not to certify the 2020 election.
“Sending this letter was an illegal act, in violation of their oath to not only support the Wisconsin Constitution but also the U.S. Constitution,” said Bob Tatterson, candidate for Assembly District 24, at a news conference in Milwaukee. “These legislators sided with Trump and the MAGA Republicans and betrayed the voters of our state. They tried to deny us the most fundamental freedom to choose who governs us.”
The letter is dated January 5, a day before insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol. Fifteen Republican Wisconsin legislators (listed below) signed it, along with Republican legislators from other states. The letter implored Pence to postpone “the January 6th opening and counting of the electoral votes.”
They justified the request by citing “procedural irregularities raising questions about the validity of hundreds of thousands of ballots in our respective states.”
Nonsense, say the candidates running against the signers.
“After recounts and more than 60 court cases across America, including Wisconsin, it was clear there was no case to be made. Case closed, Joe Biden won the election fair and square. But these 15 Wisconsin legislators, including my opponent Dan Knodl, chose Donald Trump over the truth and over their duty to our state and country,” said Tatterson.
“These MAGA Republicans amplified election-denying conspiracy theories, adding fuel to the fire, and interfering with the peaceful transfer of power,” Tatterson said. “This is not the kind of leadership Wisconsin wants or needs. Wisconsin deserves better.”
Deborah Davis, candidate for Assembly District 82, said those Republicans running for office again must be held accountable.
“Wisconsin's January 5th Republican signers should be prosecuted,” Davis said. “In the meantime, this November's ballot gives Wisconsin voters the opportunity to be the prosecutors, the judges, the jurors and the defenders of democracy in our state. Chuck Wichgers violated his oath of office on January 5th and continues efforts to undermine Wisconsin 2020 elections. As a minimum consequence, his eligibility for continued public service should be immediately forfeited.”
Daniel Larsen, candidate for Assembly District 60, said our elected officials should be focused on doing their jobs for voters, not playing politics.
"We deserve to be represented by leaders who listen, who will bring our communities together, and who will work as hard for you as you do to support yourself and your family,” Larsen said. “The election lies pushed by these lawmakers are meant to distract us from the fact that they aren't doing the work that we expect and deserve from our elected officials. That's why we must defeat them."
Mary Ann Rzeszutek, candidate for Assembly District 58, called the signers’ action unconstitutional.
"I am appalled that these elected officials, who took an oath to support the Constitution, committed an act that subverted the Constitution and would have interfered with the peaceful transition of power. Wisconsinites cannot accept representatives who commit actions that are anti-democracy," Rzeszutek said.
Matt Brown, candidate for Assembly District 22, criticized his opponent for signing the letter.
“Representative Janel Brandtjen has been an embarrassment to Wisconsin with her trips to Milwaukee and Arizona to monitor the ballot recounts of the 2020 election,” Brown said. “She continues to sow doubt about the democratic process of voting and spread disinformation about the legitimacy of the election. What purpose does this serve other than to continue the lie that the election was stolen instead of attending to the needs of the people she represents? She was on the Wisconsin payroll the entire time and to date all claims of widespread voter fraud have been disproven.”
Tatterson said it is important to make sure voters know about this letter, and who signed it.
“On the campaign trail, the people we meet often don’t know their Republican representatives were part of an organized effort to stop the peaceful transfer of power following a free and fair election,” he said. “When they learn the truth, they’re appalled. The 15 Republicans who signed the letter, and especially the 11 who are now running for re-election, must be called out for their actions. They must be held accountable. People living in these districts -- whatever their political leanings -- can send a powerful message to these politicians by voting against them.”
Incumbents Who Signed Letter in 2021
Sen. André Jacque (R-DePere) — District 1
Rep. Janel Brandtjen (R-Menomonee Falls) — District 22
Rep. Robert Brooks (R-Saukville) — District 60
Rep. Rick Gundrum (R-Slinger) — District 58
Rep. Cody Horlacher (R-Mukwonago) — District 33
Rep. Dan Knodl (R-Germantown) — District 24
Rep. Gae Magnafici (R-Dresser) — District 28
Rep. Dave Murphy (R-Greenville) — District 56
Rep. Jeffrey Mursau (R-Crivitz) — District 36
Rep. Timothy Ramthun (R-Campbellsport) — District 59
Rep. Joe Sanfelippo (R-West Berlin) — District 15
Rep. Michael Schraa (R-Oshkosh) — District 53
Rep. Shae Sortwell (R-Two Rivers) — District 2
Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac) — District 52
Rep. Chuck Wichgers (R-Muskego) — District 82