Dan Kelly stops in Eau Claire to discuss Supreme Court bid

Mar. 11—EAU CLAIRE — State Supreme Court candidate Daniel Kelly stopped in Eau Claire on Saturday, ahead of the April 4 election that is being closely watched across the country.

"The estimate is the price tag for this election is going to be north of $30 million," Kelly told a crowd of about 80 supporters at the Eau Claire County Republican Party headquarters in Altoona. "All of the eyes of the nation are watching us."

Kelly will face Janet Protasiewicz for the open Supreme Court seat. While Supreme Court seats are non-partisan, Kelly is considered the conservative candidate backed by Republicans, while Protasiewicz is viewed as the liberal candidate supported by the Democratic Party.

"There is a stark choice ahead of us on April 4. It is a choice of a continued rule of law, or the rule of Janet," Kelly claims. "She has made it abundantly clear she will place herself above the law if she gets elected."

Kelly said that in every campaign stop he's seen, Protasiewicz is sharing her political views. Kelly contends she is running like someone seeking a seat in the Legislature.

"In the courts, we do nothing but resolve legal matters," he said. "The court is for deciding questions of law. She is combining the power of the court with the power of the Legislature.

Kelly was appointed to the state Supreme Court in 2016 by then-Gov. Scott Walker. He lost his seat in April 2020 to Janet Karofsky by a margin of 55% to 45%. He addressed that loss Saturday, noting that it was the same day as the Democratic presidential primary, and voters who turned out to vote for Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders wound up voting for Kelly's opponent. He believes this year will be different, as there isn't a presidential primary.

Kelly criticized Protasiewicz, saying her ads are lying about his record, and the ads are everywhere.

"I would spend every single dollar refuting those ads," he said.

Kelly also told the crowd about several sexual assault convictions that went before her as a judge, and what he deemed as her handing out light sentences.

"She thinks this is a resume that should bring her to the Supreme Court," he said.

The winner of the spring election will replace retiring justice Patience Roggensack. Whoever wins the seat will likely determine if the court tilts in favor of Republicans or Democrats.

Kelly was endorsed by former President Donald Trump during his unsuccessful run two years ago and did work for both the state and national Republican parties the past two years, including advising on the scheme in Wisconsin to have fake electors cast ballots for Trump.

The winner of the race will also be in place heading into the 2024 presidential election in battleground Wisconsin. The court, currently controlled 4-3 by conservatives, came within one vote of overturning President Joe Biden's narrow win in 2020. The court also is expected to hear a challenge to Wisconsin's 1849 law banning abortion, and liberals have promised to put a case before the court that would allow it to overturn Republican-drawn legislative districts.

In speaking before Kelly, State Rep. Warren Petryk, R-town of Pleasant Valley, said the court also could consider overturning Act 10 which largely limited unions in the state, and the court could overturn concealed carry laws, and restrict police powers.

Whoever wins the April election will join the court in August.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.