MADISON (WKOW) -- On Friday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Chief Elections Administrator Meagan Wolfe could remain in her position amid repeated attempts by Republicans to unseat the state's top election official.
In a unanimous decision written by conservative Chief Justice Annette Ziegler, the court rejected legislative Republicans' argument that the Wisconsin Elections Commission was required by law to appoint a new administrator.
Republicans in the Senate moved to fire Wolfe in September 2023 following three of the Commission's Democratic members abstaining from a vote to reappoint her.
27 News had a chance to speak to Wisconsin Elections Commission Chair Ann Jacobs moments after that decision came down.
Jacobs emphasized that she's glad the Commission can return to the status quo and focus on the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election in April.
"My hope is we could perhaps put 2020 to bed. The conspiracy theories that came out of that election were unfortunate. They damaged public confidence in elections in Wisconsin, and they were simply not fact based," said Jacobs. "The commission has work to do."
Republican lawmakers rejected the court's decision, arguing state statute requires Chief Elections Administrator Meagan Wolfe be subjected to further legislative oversight.
"By refusing to reappoint an administrator, three liberal commissioners have decided that Wisconsinites do not get a say in who administers our elections," Senate Majority Leader Devin Lemahieu and Senate President Mary Felzkowski said in a joint statement in response to the court's ruling. "Senate Republicans will continue to do everything we can to ensure that Wisconsin has free and fair elections."
Commissioner Jacobs noted lawmakers have the authority to change the confirmation process for Wolfe's position. "If the legislature doesn't like this decision, it is within their abilities to pass a new law and change the statute that's being applied here," said Jacobs. "To my knowledge, that hasn't even been proposed."
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