Court Orders Gov. Walker to Call Special Elections

A Dane County judge this week ordered Gov. Scott Walker to call special elections for the vacant Senate District 1 and Assembly District 42. The districts were vacated early this year when Sen. Frank Lasee (R-DePere) and Rep. Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) were appointed to the Walker administration.

Walker had previously declined to hold special elections because he argued the legislature would wrap up session before new legislators would be elected. The judge’s order says Walker must call the elections within 10 days. The elections would be held in late May or early June.

The governor’s office has not yet said whether they will appeal the decision.