WISCONSIN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

CAPITOL UPDATE

November 14, 2024

Pope Francis Names Bishop Jeffrey Grob as New Archbishop of Milwaukee

On November 4, Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Jeffrey S. Grob was named the 12th Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Archbishop-Designate Grob, a Wisconsin native, will be installed as Archbishop of Milwaukee on January 14, 2025. Until then, Archbishop Listecki–who turned 75 this past March–will serve as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese. Read more about the announcement here.

WISCONSIN STATE LEGISLATURE: Republicans Hold Majority but Democrats Gain Seats

State Assembly: 54-45 Republican majority (64-35 Republican majority in prior session)

State Senate: 18-15 Republican majority (22-11 Republican majority in prior session)

The change was largely because new legislative maps were used for the first time this election. The redrawn maps pitted numerous incumbents against each other. Additionally, an unusually high number (28) of state representatives did not seek reelection.

Assembly Leadership:

Speaker - Robin Vos

Majority Leader - Tyler August

Minority Leader - Greta Neubauer* (*Expected. Democrats will elect leadership on Tuesday, November 19.)

Senate Leadership:

Senate President - Mary Felzkowski

Majority Leader - Devin LeMahieu

Minority Leader - Dianne Hesselbein

WISCONSIN CONGRESSIONAL RACES: Seven Incumbents Reelected

Senator Tammy Baldwin (D) won reelection over challenger Eric Hovde (R). Senator Ron Johnson (R) was not up for reelection this cycle. In the 8th Congressional District (CD), Tony Wied (R) was elected following the retirement of Rep. Mike Gallagher (R). All other Wisconsin members of Congress were reelected in their races.

Wisconsin Congressional Delegation:

Senator Tammy Baldwin (D)

Senator Ron Johnson (R)

1st CD - Rep. Bryan Steil (R)

2nd CD - Rep. Mark Pocan (D)

3rd CD - Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R)

4th CD - Rep. Gwen Moore (D)

5th CD - Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R)

6th CD - Rep. Glenn Grothman (R)

7th CD - Rep. Tom Tiffany (R)

8th CD - Rep. Tony Wied (R)

FEDERAL ELECTIONS: Republicans Win White House, Take Senate and House Majorities

President: 312-226 Electoral votes. President Donald Trump won over Vice President Kamala Harris.

House: 219-210* Republican majority. Republicans retained their majority. (*There are still six races that are too close to call that will determine how big the Republican majority will be.)

Senate: 53-47 Republican majority. Republicans flipped control of the Senate.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Hears Abortion Case

On November 11, the Wisconsin Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Kaul v. Urmanski challenging whether Wis. Stat. 940.04, the state's abortion ban, applies to abortion and is enforceable. Urmanski argues that 940.04 applies to abortion and has never been overruled or repealed and must stand as state law. Kaul argues 940.04 is not enforceable because of prior judicial opinions that found it is a feticide statute rather than an abortion statute. Even if the Court decides 940.04 is an abortion statute, Kaul argues that it is still unenforceable because it conflicts with subsequent abortion laws (“implied repeal”).

The Wisconsin Catholic Conference maintains that 940.04 is an abortion statute and became effective again after Roe was overturned. The WCC will always uphold the value of every human life, from conception to natural death, and will also support policies that embrace both women and their children.

A recording of the oral arguments is available on Wisconsin Eye: Wisconsin Supreme Court: Josh Kaul v. Joel Urmanski.

There is no set date for a final opinion in this case.

Updates from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops