Frederica Freyberg:

Janet Protasiewicz and Daniel Kelly met Tuesday this week for their only debate of the Supreme Court election and they spent most of the hour accusing the other candidate of being a liar and a threat to the court. Like prize fighters entering the ring, Daniel Kelly and Janet Protasiewicz descended opposite sides of a curved staircase on their way to the debate stage and then spent the next hour hitting each other with verbal blows.

Janet Protasiewicz:

I am running against probably one of the most extreme partisan characters in the history of this state.

Daniel Kelly:

Again, this is you being quick to lie.

Frederica Freyberg:

This election will determine the ideological balance of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and as it became the most expensive Supreme Court election in United States history, it became more and more partisan, with a heavy focus on topics like Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban.

Janet Protasiewicz:

But I can tell you that if my opponent is elected, we can tell you with 100% certainty that 1849 abortion ban will stay on the books. I can tell you that. Take a look at Wisconsin Right to Life’s website. There’s a picture of him as their endorsed candidate with the language that he has pledged -pledged- to uphold their values.

Moderator:

Justice Kelly, your response.

Daniel Kelly:

Yeah, that’s absolutely not true. Once again. So this seems to be a pattern for you, Janet, just telling lies about me. So you don’t know what I’m thinking about that abortion ban. You have no idea.

Frederica Freyberg:

The accusations of lying and slander cover topics like what promises they made to special interest groups, whether their campaign ads are distortions of the truth and whether electing their opponent was a threat to democracy.

Janet Protasiewicz:

Andrew Hitt, who is the head of the Republican Party, testified in the January 6th hearing that he had extensive conversations with my opponent. Extensive. Extensive conversations with him about the fake electors. He is a true threat to our democracy.

Moderator:

Justice Kelly, you have 30 seconds.

Daniel Kelly:

Sure. So once again, you’re lying. So you might not know this, but the Republican Party had multiple attorneys. His testimony was he had extensive conversations with his attorneys, plural.

Frederica Freyberg:

The debate ended as it began with no handshake and the campaigns arguing that the other side was lying.