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Democratic Group Sues Wisconsin Gov. For Not Calling Special Elections

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker declined to hold special elections to fill two vacant seats in the state's legislature.
Posted at 8:15 AM, Feb 27, 2018
and last updated 2018-02-27 08:15:15-05

A Democratic group led by Obama-era Attorney General Eric Holder is suing Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker over his refusal to fill two vacant seats in the state's legislature.

Walker, a Republican, has declined to call special elections, saying they would be a waste of taxpayer money. He wants to wait to fill the seats until normal elections in November.

But the group argues Walker is violating voters' rights by leaving them without representation for a year. They hope the court will force him to act.

The seats were left vacant in December, shortly before Democrats flipped a GOP stronghold in the state. At the time, Walker called the Democratic win a "wake-up call."