Two of three candidates running for the heavily Dem 12th AD seat in Milwaukee say they wouldn’t change Wisconsin’s 20-week abortion ban.
And Planned Parenthood has not endorsed any candidate in the race, despite the fact that one of the candidates used to work for the abortion rights group.
The three Dem primary candidates running for the seat are:
*Brandon Williford, 26, of Milwaukee, is the southeast organizer for Citizen Action of Wisconsin and the youngest-ever board member at Milwaukee Turners. Williford ran unsuccessfully for Milwaukee County supervisor in April. He is endorsed by the Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance, former Milwaukee County Democratic Chair Chris Walton, Rep. Ryan Clancy, D-Milwaukee, and Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee. Decorah Gordon, who was running for the seat but dropped out, also endorsed Williford.
*Katrina Morrison, 28, of Milwaukee, is a law student at UW-Madison. Formerly, she was a community organizer at Planned Parenthood Wisconsin and the director of health equity policy at the Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health. She has not run for office before. Morrison is endorsed by Rep. Alex Joers, D-Milwaukee, and Rep. LaKeshia Myers, D-Milwaukee, who currently holds the seat but is running for the 4th SD instead.
*Russell Goodwin, 42, of Milwaukee, is a volunteer pastor and former Milwaukee County supervisor. He is endorsed by the Concerned Realtors Committee.
The winner of the primary will face independent candidate Deanna Alexander of Milwaukee, who has served on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors for a total of 10 years. The northwest Milwaukee-area 12th AD is 79% Dem.
Williford, Morrison and Goodwin spoke to WisPolitics about their platforms.
Candidates differed on how they would approach Wisconsin’s 20-week abortion ban.
Morrison and Goodwin said they would not push to eliminate the ban.
Morrison, who worked at Planned Parenthood previously, said she “wouldn’t actively try to repeal” the ban, but would not support a stricter ban.
“I would not touch [the ban] unless there is an appetite and a real desire to readdress it,” Morrison said. “It’s been on the books for quite a while now in Wisconsin and I am not aware of any progressive efforts to try and push back that ban.”
However, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has accepted a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin asserting the state constitution protects the right to abortion. If the court rules in favor of PPWI, the 20-week ban could be struck down.
Morrison added: “I got to experience and really learn how critical abortion access is for people across our state, especially in the Black community.”
Goodwin also said he wouldn’t actively try to change the ban in place, and would rather take it to referendum.
“I definitely would want to see where Wisconsin stands [on abortion],” Goodwin said. “And if what Wisconsin wants is to eliminate the 20-week ban, then that’s their decision, and I’m fine with their decision.”
Goodwin added: “I have my own set of beliefs, but I’m not going to try to take away your beliefs because that’s what you believe. Whether it contradicts what I believe, that’s neither here nor there.”
Williford said he would “lean toward eliminating” the ban.
“I think it’s important we give women complete control and access to their body,” Williford said. “It’s really a matter of ‘how do we make sure a woman has complete rights to her body?’ And if there’s a way in which I can be a strong advocate or strong ally in providing women those rights, then of course I will do that.”
The GOP-controlled Legislature has passed several bills seeking to ban transgender athletes from playing girls sports, but Gov. Tony Evers has vetoed those efforts. The three candidates answered with slight variation on the issue.
Goodwin said he supports Evers’ vetoes, but the issue should be taken to referendum.
“There’s some people, even some women, who are scared to say that [transgender athletes in girls sports] create unfair competition for them,” Goodwin said. “And some of them feel like they can’t compete with men that are much stronger who have transitioned to becoming women. So I just want to make sure that that is done in a fair way.”
Goodwin added: “I think that we have to be sensitive to the needs of the women in our state and understand their side of the issue to know a lot of them are afraid to speak, and they won’t speak.”
Morrison, whose youngest sibling is transgender, said she applauds Evers’ vetoes of the bans and supports “no trans bans on anything, particularly not sports.”
“I have really gotten to learn so much from [my sibling] about truly expressing yourself in every sense of the way whether that be through sports, clothing, even your body,” Morrison said. “It is essential we support our kids, and we let them do the activities and self-expression that best suit their unique individuality.”
Williford said it is about finding the best way to “make things fair and accessible to all people in Wisconsin.”
“I think there needs to be a little bit more exploration upon the topic, at least from my end, to provide a proper answer whether or not transgender folks should be involved in girls sports. There’s opportunities to explore ways in which we can provide true equity for that.”
In addition:
- Morrison and Williford support full legalization of marijuana. Goodwin supports legalization of marijuana for medical purposes, but would like to “revisit” recreational marijuana legalization.
- Williford and Morrison would like to see state surplus money put toward education. Goodwin said he would like to see half go to tax cuts and half to education.
- None of the candidates support GOP efforts to reduce or eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion positions in state government, including at the University of Wisconsin.
This is a continuation of a series of WisPolitics interviews with Assembly primary candidates.
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