Over the weekend, Wisconsin Democrats hosted their annual convention in Madison. Candidates are prepared to discuss resolutions calling for ICE abolition amongst other measures.
The Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates discussed a resolution that limits state cooperation with federal immigration forces, expanding transgender related policies, creation of new AI regulations, supporting ranked choice voting, expanding the U.S. Supreme Court, and ending Wisconsin’s private school voucher program. (RELATED: UW Regents Approve Fourth Straight Tuition Increase Despite New State Funding)
In a recent poll, there is no front runner in the Democratic Primary with only three major candidates emerging to be front runners. However, no candidate has over 30% of the support for the nomination. This could prove to be a crucial moment for candidates to cement their position on some hot button issues with Wisconsin voters, including immigration enforcement.
The draft resolution includes two separate measures supporting the end of ICE and state cooperation with immigration enforcement. One resolution claims the agency was created out of “fear and racism,” while another calls for ending mass deportations and private immigration detention. A related proposal would support state legislation restricting cooperation with ICE, and challenging the agency’s authority to operate without state or local approval.
Wisconsin GOP Chair Brian Schimming in a statement said the resolutions “leave no doubt” about where the State Democrats stand. “They continue to move further to the left, following the lead of Mandela Barnes and Francesca Hong. They want to endanger Wisconsin citizens by abolishing ICE and making our streets less safe,” Schimming said.
Candidate Francesca Hong has stood by her comments of having a “vision” where there is a world without police or prisons. Even outspoken socialists Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani have even walked back their comments about defunding police rhetoric. Current GOP candidate Tom Tiffany also called out Democrat Mandela Barnes for supporting the abolition of police, ending cash bail, and the abolition of ICE. (RELATED:Milwaukee Public Schools Approves $1.6 Billion Budget Amid Low Proficiency Rates)
The candidates will also answer questions regarding the transgender related resolutions. They will discuss proposals regarding affirming that transgender women are women and transgender men are men, along with protecting access to gender-affirming care for “transgender youth.” The Democrats will also discuss ending school vouchers, something they have pushed against in the State legislature.
