Referendum questions defeated

Governor retains authority over federal emergency funds

Voters defeated the two Republican-sponsored referendum questions seeking to change the state constitution.

Question 1 asked voters if the constitution should recognize the legislature as the “sole power to determine how monies shall be appropriated?”

Question 2 asked to prohibit the governor from having authority to spend federal monies sent to the state without legislative approval.

Wisconsin voters rejected Question 1 by a vote of 703,461 against to 521,122 in favor of the change to the state constitution.

Question 2 was defeated by a vote of 705.591 against to 520,778 in favor.

While the referendum questions were defeated statewide, in Waupaca County the vote was 6.870 yes and 4.916 no on Question 1 and 6.787 yes and 4.916 no votes on Question 2.

Republicans who control the state legislature wanted more control over federal emergency relief funds after Gov. Tony Evers dispersed more than $3 billion in covid-related aid without legislative oversight.

Opponents of the referenda noted that while the legislature controlled the state budget, the governor’s authority to make rapid emergency-response decisions in times of crisis had been state law since the 1930s during the Great Depression.

8th Congressional District

In the GOP primary for the 8th District of the U.S. House, Tony Wied won with 41,937 votes, against 34,344 votes for Roger Roth and 25,186 for Andre Jacque.

Kristin Lyerly is the Democratic candidate for the 8th District. She ran unopposed in the primary.