With over 95% of total votes counted, Democratic incumbent Doug La Follette continues to hold the lead over Republican challenger Amy Loudenbeck with 48.31% of votes for Wisconsin’s secretary of state race, according to the New York Times.
The Secretary of State oversees the actions of the governor and State Legislature, manages public records and serves on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. In Wisconsin, the position does not hold election oversight responsibilities, instead implementing a nonpartisan election board in 1974.
A 44-year incumbent of the position, La Follette defeated Republican challenger Amy Loudenbeck who ran with the promise to abolish the Wisconsin Election Committee (WEC) and move their responsibilities to the Secretary of State, according to WUWM.
This issue holds particular prevalence due to allegations surrounding both voting fraud and voting accessibility following the 2020 election, according to WUWM.
In addition to preserving the WEC, La Follette has said, according to Ballotpedia, that he wants to move some business-related responsibility to the Secretary of State in order to “make Wisconsin more business-friendly,” particularly after, as he believes, the Republican Legislature has diminished his power in recent years.
“It’s more important than ever that we elect a Secretary of State that will defend our democracy over party,” La Follette said, according to Ballotpedia. “As America’s longest-serving incumbent Secretary of State, I have the track record and deep well of experience to do it.”
