Wisconsin Supreme court races only technically non-partisan

Technically, and officially, the race for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court is considered non-partisan. Candidates don’t have to declare themselves as democrats or republicans. There is no “D” or “R” by their name on the ballot. But the fact is that voters are almost always left with two choices, a republican candidate and a democrat candidate. Each is supported by vast amounts of dollars from either republican or democratic groups. Candidates for the state’s highest court often insist that whatever their political affiliation, or even their religious views, they can put those aside and consider only the merits of a case. We’re hearing that now from Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brian Hagedorn. Hagedorn has come under fire for past comments regarding homosexuality and abortion. And he has lost support from a number of groups for his ties to a school that bans homosexuality among students, teachers and parents. Hagedorn is also the former legal counsel to Governor Scott Walker, and helped write Act 10, which stripped teachers of a number of state benefits. It is clear to many voters which way Supreme Court candidates lean politically. Perhaps it is time to stop the charade, stop pretending these candidates have no political affiliation. Perhaps we should put a “D” and an “R” by the names on the ballot, and stop trying to pretend they are not something they really are.