Election

Crucial Wisconsin Supreme Court Election Could Impact Abortion, Parental Rights

Wisconsin voters will decide between two candidates for the state Supreme Court on Tuesday, April 1, a pivotal election that will affect the ideological balance of the court.

Wisconsin Family Action (WFA) highlighted the importance of this election in a recent email, noting that the election will impact key issues like school choice, abortion and parental rights. The court also has a role in establishing congressional districts in the state.

Another important race on the ballot involves the election of the next State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Voters will also decide on a constitutional amendment to enshrine voter ID laws into the state’s constitution.

WFA President Daniel Degner told Daily Citizen the court is considering a major case that will decide whether children struggling with sexual identity confusion will be able to receive counseling to help them embrace their bodily, God-given sex.

He explained, saying,

“The Wisconsin Supreme Court is currently determining whether or not the Legislature can block executive mandates that limit licensed marriage and family counselors from affirming biological gender to children struggling with gender dysphoria.”

In addition, parental rights in education are at stake, as Degner told us,

“The Court will also likely determine whether or not school districts in Wisconsin can socially transition students’ “gender” without parental knowledge or consent. “

Degner also highlighted the court’s role in deciding the fate of pre-born children,

The current liberal court denied Wisconsin Family Action and other pro-life groups in Wisconsin to intervene on behalf of the unborn in a case awaiting a verdict that will determine if Wisconsin’s pre-Roe abortion ban is enforceable.
The Court is awaiting to hear a second case from Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin that would create a constitutional right to abortion under the constitutional rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

The race between Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford and Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel has received national attention, with total candidate spending expected to reach $100 million. Here are some of the groups endorsing and donating to the candidates.

Schimel, according to WFA and iVoterGuide’s candidate profile, has received endorsements from more conservative groups, like the National Rifle Association, the Milwaukee Police Association, Americans for Prosperity – Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Professional Firefighters Association and the Wisconsin Professional Police Association.

Ballotpedia lists large donations to Schimel coming from Elon Musk’s America PAC and Building America’s Future, as well as business owners like ABC supply owner Diane Hendricks and Ameritrade founder and Chicago Cubs co-owner Joe Ricketts.

Crawford is supported by liberal and pro-abortion groups such as Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin, Emily’s List (a pro-abortion political action committee), Indivisible (a major supporter and organizer of the Tesla protests), the Wisconsin Education Association Council and Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.

She’s also received an endorsement from the anti-faith Freedom From Religion Action Fund.

Large donations to Crawford listed on Ballotpedia include money from the progressive organization A Better Wisconsin Together and pro-abortion billionaires George Soros and J.B. Pritzker.

Degner said,

We say it every election, but it’s especially true for this one: Your vote makes a difference. Early voting is available in most municipalities through Friday.
Please make a plan to vote this week or on election day and encourage your friends and family to do so as well. Visit myvote.wi.gov for election information.

Related Articles and Resources

Wisconsin Family Council and Wisconsin Family Action

Freedom from Religion Zealots Unwittingly Promote Christianity

How to Get In Touch With Your State Policy Group

Pritzker Non-Profit Donates Millions to Pro-Abortion Campaigns

Wisconsin Governor Vetoes ‘Save Girls Sports’ Bill, Veto Override Unlikely

Young America’s Foundation Wins Free Speech Victory Over University of Wisconsin

Image from Shutterstock.

Election Aftermath: Americans Aren’t Losing Their Rights

Citizens mourning the results of last week’s presidential election are taking to social media, filming and posting reactions including screaming, more intense screaming, “screaming into the abyss,” crying, proclaiming “devastation,” head shaving, name calling, threats of violence and mental breakdowns.

The videos reflect some Americans’ sincere and anguished belief that the coming administration will take away American freedoms — up to and including reinstating slavery. But neither President-elect Trump’s proposed policies nor his campaign rhetoric suggest any American rights are in danger.

Let’s break it down.

Rumors about Mr. Trump taking away women’s rights have to do with abortion. Vice President Kamala Harris repeatedly asserted the President-elect would enforce a national abortion ban “with or without Congress.”

Ironically, the President-elect’s position on abortion has either frustrated or disappointed many pro-life advocates. He opposes late-term abortion and staunchly supports states’ rights to determine their own abortion policy. In October, he claimed he would veto any national abortion ban to protect states’ rights.

These facts did little to dampen the panic surrounding Trump’s supposed “war on women.” In a dire video warning about America’s Trumpian future, comedian Kathy Griffen claimed, “If your son gets a girl pregnant and they’re both fifteen, then you, of course, will force that they marry and keep having as many Duggars as possible.”

“I’m not being hyperbolic,” Griffen doubled down. “I’m not being dramatic.”

The author believes Griffen is, in fact, being hyperbolic and dramatic.

Trump and his allies have never supported, or even floated, marriage contracts or child quotas. Griffen’s predictions are wild extrapolations of a faulty set of facts — and all too representative of the kinds of narratives popping up online and in person.

One high school teacher vented her distress to her students, warning them,

[The Trump administration] is talking about deporting people. If you’re from Central America, they want to deport you. If you’re from South America, they want to deport you. He’s talking about deporting black people back to Africa.

Deportation is part of the Trump administration’s goal to beef-up border security. From fiscal years 2021 to 2024, Customs and Border Patrol agents encountered more than six million illegal immigrants, a 59% increase from the more than two million encountered from fiscal years 2016 to 2019.

A significant number of these arrivals have had criminal records or ties to gangs and terrorist organizations. At least 435,000 of these bad actors have been released into the U.S. to await immigration trial, according to the Department of Homeland Security. In some cases, repeat offenders have been allowed to kill American citizens, including Laken Riley, Lizbeth Medina, Rachel Morin, Jocelyn Nungaray and Kayla Hamilton.

Mr. Trump and his border czar nominee, Tom Homan, say finding and deporting these violent offenders will be priority one, something a teacher of vulnerable students should be excited about. As for deporting black people back to Africa — suffice to say it’s never been part of Trump’s platform.

Also not a part of Trump’s platform? Taking away LGBT “rights” or endorsing violence against LGBT-identified individuals.

The President-elect plans to reinforce some basic protections for biological women, namely restoring the integrity of Title IX and stopping men from participating in women’s sports. He further plans to stop forcing taxpayers to pay for transgender surgeries and keep schools from promoting gender ideology.

These policies are popular with most Americans for reasons the Daily Citizen frequently enumerates. Notably, however, they do not stop a person from being gender confused or pursuing transgender surgeries as an adult and on their own dime.

Neither do these policies incite violence against anyone. If anything, they are a repudiation of violence against women.

Still, on TikTok, one user forcefully opined, “It’s going to be hell on Earth once they strip away everyone’s rights that isn’t a straight, white, cis[gender] man.”

Post-election hysteria illustrates a deeply sad picture of Americans laboring under a lie. No American is losing their rights. Love him or hate him, the election of Donald Trump shouldn’t send anyone into an existential crisis.

Let’s keep it real, folks — and by that, I mean let’s get a grip on reality.

Additional Articles and Resources

Trump’s Promise to Shutter Dept of Education Could End Woke Agenda in Schools

Illegal Immigrant Arrested in Murder of Maryland Mom

Debate Over Immigration Labels Obscures Seriousness of Laken Riley’s Death

Illegal Immigrant to Appear in Court for Death of Texas Teen, Illustrates Violent Trend

Fentanyl Overdoses Rise, Connection to Illegal Immigration

Taxpayers Will Fund Violent Inmate’s Transgender Surgery, Judge Rules

Back to School With Sexualized Lessons

Title IX Redefinition of ‘Sex’ Faces Defiance and a Flood of Lawsuits

Appeals Courts Affirm Rulings Stopping the DOE’s Rewrite of Tilte IX

Huge Title IX Win: Department of Education’s 2021 Interpretation Ruled ‘Unlawful’

Courts Defend Title IX from Department of Health and Human Services

Pray for President-Elect Trump’s Safety, Especially Between Now and December 17

President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance are scheduled to be sworn into office just 69 days from today – a time-honored tradition dating back to 1937.

The ratification of the 20th Amendment officially moved Inauguration Day from March 4 to January 20. Nicknamed the “Lame Duck Amendment,” it was proposed and passed as a way to shorten the time between Election Day in November and the new president’s start date.

Up until then, the Constitution was silent on when a president was to assume office. It was the Continental Congress that established March 4 as Inauguration Day.  George Washington assumed the presidency the day the Constitution was adopted, but back in 1789, electoral votes weren’t officially cast until April 30. 

The formalization of our presidential election usually happens outside the headlines and often beyond the interest of the average citizen who is content with the notion we elect the president on Election Day.

But you’ll remember from your history lessons, we’re actually voting for electors in November. The executive of our respective state (usually the governor) then appoints them to the Electoral College.

This year, the “Certificates of Ascertainment” – official documents containing those electors – are due to be presented on December 11. Come December 17, these electors will be meeting in their states to vote.

The final tallies will then be sent to the National Archivist and Vice President Kamala Harris, the President of the Senate. At that point, the president-elect and the vice president-elect are officially elected.

A few weeks later, on January 6, 2025, a joint session of Congress will convene to certify the results of the election. The new president and vice president are then formally sworn in on January 20.

Scripture is clear that as Christians we’re to pray for all our leaders.

It was the apostle Paul who urged “that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

He also advised believers in Rome, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (1 Timothy 13:1).

But prayers for the president’s well-being are especially in order on multiple fronts – his past brushes with two assassination attempts, physical threats from abroad and the constitutional silence concerning what happens if a president-elect doesn’t make it until the Electoral College meets.

The potential conundrum over a looming Constitutional crisis was the premise of a novel by longtime political correspondent Jeff Greenfield. Here’s how Publisher’s Weekly described the fictional story:

The country is set into a constitutional tailspin two days after the November election when President-elect MacArthur Foyle, a conservative Republican, dies as a result of a rodeo accident. Vice President-elect Ted Block, universally acclaimed as “a step or two slow out of the cognitive gate,” looks to be a shoo-in for the Oval Office until a renegade member of the electoral college, Dorothy Ledger, an office manager of a Michigan Bank & Trust, balks at having to vote for the moderate veep.
Ledger, joined by a New Jersey plumber, a Texas history professor and a CalTech computer-whiz dropout, orchestrates a campaign that leads to other electors willing to change or withhold their votes. Meanwhile, a menagerie of cynics and opportunists led by D.C. “political powerbroker” Jack Petitcon, the megawealthy, self-styled “Hebrew from the Bayou,” and W. Dixon Mason, a rhyming, dissembling, African American preacher, moves toward endorsing its own favorite candidate. Suspense depends on who will prevail: VP-elect Block, the ailing Democratic incumbent or the candidate of splintered factions.
After a tense electoral vote, an unexpected yet honorable resolution is reached. Characterization sometimes takes a back seat to plot machinations here but, for the most part, what The Player did for Hollywood, The People’s Choice, in its unabashed flailing of the American system, does for presidential politics.

Fantastical and far-fetched in many aspects, there remains constitutional questions and issues that, thankfully, have not been faced.

As Christians, we should be praying for President Biden and Vice President Harris, as well as President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Vance.

Image from Getty

Biden’s Leaving and Trump’s Returning, But the Battle is Still Raging

It’s been a week since Donald Trump was officially elected for a second, non-consecutive term — an historic campaign that promises to reshape and redefine our nation’s priorities.

With the calling of the Arizona presidential race over the weekend, the margin of President-elect Trump’s electoral win is now final (312-226), and his popular vote advantage is currently approaching 3.6 million.

The GOP will control the United States Senate with a likely 53 seats. The House of Representatives is still to be decided, but the Republicans currently have the edge.

It was Abraham Lincoln who said, “The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” Theodore Roosevelt invoked similar weaponry imagery when he observed, “A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user.”

Elections are often turning points in a country’s history – sometimes it’s a revolution, other times a restoration, rejuvenation, and even a redemption of ideals.

Evidence suggests last Tuesday was a repudiation of the inane and an embrace of common sense – but it remains to be seen how new majorities will respond and what they’ll be able to accomplish.

Of course, elections don’t last forever, and the country is beginning its pivot from campaign to governing mode. The next few months will be filled with news of political appointments, legislative priorities, and even ideological soul-searching.

Some Christians might be exhaling, relieved the “fight” is over – but the reality is the battle remains ongoing.

Writing to Christians at Ephesus, the apostle Paul urged believers:

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm (Ephesians 6:11-13).

In this context, Paul is reminding us that all of life is a battle. It shouldn’t surprise us when difficult days and challenging circumstances occur. The election may be over, but the work is only beginning.

It’s a reminder that the “enemy” is not an opposing political party. It’s a not a person on Capitol Hill. It’s Satan – and he is determined to try to rattle and steal your peace of mind and sow misery at every turn.

Paul provides us with a blueprint on how to confront the wickedness:

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak (Ephesians 6:14-20).

It was the late Dr. Timothy Keller who once suggested, “To put on the armor of God means to take the things that are objectively true of you as a Christian, the privileges and positions of being a Christian, to take what’s externally and objectively true and so drill it into your heart.”

In other words, when you put on the “armor of God” you’re not rattled by culture’s lies. You’re persuaded by neither political attacks nor political hacks. You stand firm, stand tall – and stand up to the bullies who work overtime to tear you down.

“A pilot without his chart, a scholar without his book, and a soldier without his sword, are alike ridiculous,” wrote the 17th century Anglican clergyman William Gurnall. “Above all these, it is absurd for one to think of being a Christian, without knowledge of the word of God and some skill to use this weapon.”

His contemporary Thomas Brooks left us with a similarly strong charge – and one that believers should embrace as we head into this next political season:

“Remember this, that your life is short, your duties many, your assistance great, and your reward sure; therefore faint not, hold on and hold up, in ways of well-doing, and heaven shall make amends for all.”

Amen.

Image from Getty.

2024 Election – Mixed Results for School Choice and Educational Excellence

While the corporate media focused on issues like the economy, immigration, crime and abortion in the 2024 election, voters were also deeply concerned about education. An October Gallup poll listed education sixth out of 22 election issues, with 41% of voters saying it was “extremely important.”

In addition, 47% said education was “very important” to them. Together, education then tied for second overall in the list of biggest voter concerns.

Certainly much of this is due to what has been exposed about our nation’s education system in the past few years, such as schools working to circumvent parents’ rights, teaching radical ideologies, sexualizing and confusing children, graduating students who are not proficient in math and reading, and allowing males into women’s sports, restrooms and locker rooms.

Overall, results were mixed for educational freedom and excellence, which was on the ballot via school board elections, state ballot initiatives and legislative seats. Here’s a look at what happened in those arenas on Tuesday, November 5.

School Boards

Local boards have a lot of power over students’ education, as they set budgets and priorities, choose curriculums, establish teacher hiring criteria, set student achievement standards, write bathroom and locker room policies, select books for libraries and classrooms, and more.

With 21,144 school board seats on the ballot, it’s impossible to cover all the 2024 election results, but there are a few important trends to note:

  • Recall efforts have increased dramatically in the past four years. Ballotpedia tracked two efforts in 2006 to recall 5 candidates. In 2021, there were 92 efforts to recall 237 candidates, 2022 saw 54 efforts affecting 123 candidates, 2023 saw 48 efforts to recall 97 candidates, and 2024 saw 37 efforts to recall 78 candidates.
  • Most recall efforts in recent years have not seen a lot of success. It’s hard to unseat an entrenched board member who has successfully gathered funds and support to get elected, is now a recognized name in the community and, usually, has developed ties to teachers and special interest groups.
  • 1776 Project PAC endorsed candidates in many states, including Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Maryland and Wisconsin. The political action committee reports it flipped three Maryland school boards with conservative candidates, backed winning candidates in Wisconsin and helped elect two Alabama State Board of Education members. Their results in Florida and Arizona are forthcoming.
  • Moms for Liberty provides resources and training for conservative school board candidates. The organization endorsed school board candidates in at least 11 states. While still waiting for a full report, the organization has announced winning candidates across Arizona, California, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas.
  • In Los Angeles, the nation’s second-largest school district, union-backed liberal candidates ahead in school board seat races where they faced candidates more friendly to charter schools and educational freedom, Chalkbeat reported.   

State Ballot Initiatives

State education initiatives were voted on in four states. The results were not good for improving student outcomes and educational freedom. Clearly, more work must be done to inform citizens about the benefits of educational freedom.  

  • Colorado voters rejected Amendment 80, a measure which would have amended the state constitution to provide a right to school choice, including “neighborhood, charter, private and home schools, open enrollment options and future innovations in education.” The amendment also stated that “parents have the right to direct the education of their children.” The school choice amendment needed 55% of the vote to pass. It was losing with just 48% voting in favor with 75% of the vote counted.
  • Kentucky voters also rejected a school choice measure, Amendment 2, which would have amended the state constitution to enable state funding for students outside government-run schools. The initiative was defeated with 35% voting yes and 65% voting no.
  • Chalkbeat reports, “In Nebraska, voters repealed a new law that would have directed $10 million of public money toward private school vouchers. The law established a partnership between the state and the nonprofit Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska, directing public money to fund scholarships provided by the organization to low-income students.”
  • Voters in Massachusetts approved Question 2, “repealing the requirement that students must achieve a certain competency level on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam to graduate high school.” Instead, students must complete coursework “showing mastery of the skills, competencies, and knowledge contained in the state academic standards and curriculum frameworks in the areas measured by the MCAS high school tests.”

State Legislative Races

Many states saw candidates who support school choice and excellence in education winning legislative races.

  • Corey DeAngelis posted on X that in Texas, “21 Republicans voted against school choice last year,” but after being targeted by school choice advocates, “14 of them are gone.” The educational freedom activist noted the significance of this, saying, “Incumbents usually win 95% of the time.” In its next legislative session, Texas looks set to pass a school choice initiative.
  • American Federation for Children, an organization advocating for funds to follow the student to schools of their choice, endorsed winning legislative candidates who support educational freedom in many states, including Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and Texas. 
  • Moms for Liberty reported that members of local chapters won seats in state legislatures in several states, including Florida, Iowa, and South Carolina.

While educational freedom suffered setbacks with ballot initiatives in four states, it’s clear that the movement is growing and that the rising movement of parents and other concerned citizens are making a difference in school board and state legislative races.

Related articles and resources:

Dad Confronts School Board for Allowing Boys in Girls Restrooms

Education is on the Ballot – Over 20,000 School Board Seats up for Election

‘Equipping Parents For Back-To-School’ – Updated Resource Empowers Parents

Is it ‘Book Banning’ to Keep Sexually Explicit Books out of Schools?

The National Education Association Wants to Indoctrinate Children Across the Country

Students’ Test Scores Tank After School Consults ‘Woke Kindergarten’