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Candidates Running Under Multiple Political Parties
One of the top Republicans in the Wisconsin Assembly is making it clear that he never wants to see fusion voting return.
Assistant Majority Leader Scott Krug on Tuesday didn’t mince words about the idea from one former lawmaker to allow candidates to run under different political parties in the same election.
“How 'bout hell no!!” Krug wrote in a post on X.
He made his stance clear after former Republican state Senator Dale Schultz filed a lawsuit back in April to bring fusion voting back.
Fusion voting would allow a candidate to run as both a Republican or a Democrat, and as a member of a third party. That means their name would be on the ballot twice (or more), and the candidate would get to keep all of the votes they receive.
Schultz said fusion voting would put "democracy back in our democracy." The lawsuit that his group, United Wisconsin, filed also said there is a constitutional question about the freedom to assemble.
The lawsuit names the Wisconsin Elections Commission as the defendant. It was filed April 29th in Dane County, though there’s no word when it may make it before a judge.
Krug said fusion voting would do nothing but make Election Day a mess.
"These 'gimmick' election ideas only lead to more confusion, mistrust and degradation of our election system," Krug added.
Wisconsin allowed for fusion voting in the late 1800s, but now just two states allow for candidates to run under multiple political parties at the same time.
The liberal law firm Law Forward is representing United Wisconsin. Law Forward’s Jeff Mandell said the hope of fusion voting is to break-up the “calcified and deeply unstable” two-party system in the state.
Krug, again, said it would only create confusion.
"Voters want common sense reforms that help them feel confident about who’s voting and when they can know the results," Krug wrote.
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