Wisconsin conservatives turn on each other as right-wing group sues over GOP election law

A Wisconsin law passed by the GOP-controlled legislature to put new restrictions on the signature-gathering process for congressional candidates is being challenged in a new lawsuit — by a conservative group.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "The conservative legal firm Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Waukesha Circuit Court on behalf of the conservative Americans for Citizen Voting political action committee over the new law, which was signed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in March. It names members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission as defendants."

The legislation, written by GOP Rep. Jim Piwowarczyk, was passed in response to the campaign to recall Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a longtime titan of Wisconsin GOP politics.

A review of the signatures gathered in that campaign found "over a dozen people" working to collect them submitted fraudulent signatures, the report noted — and many of the offending signature gatherers did not live in Wisconsin, instead coming in from out of state to work on the campaign.

However, "Attorneys for the Americans for Citizen Voting PAC argue the law violates the First Amendment rights of the group and asked a Waukesha County judge to block the new requirements," said the report. "'These restrictions shrink the pool of available circulators for Wisconsin candidates, prevent candidates from associating with out-of-state supporters, and thus limit the dissemination of political messages,' attorneys wrote."

"The Virginia-based Americans for Citizen Voting indicates on its website that it spent heavily in support of passing a constitutional amendment in Wisconsin that limited voting to U.S. citizens," noted the report. "Voters approved the amendment in November 2024."

Vos, who remained in power as the recall failed to make it onto the ballot, announced his retirement from politics earlier this year, citing a health scare that made him rethink his priorities.