Pro-gun, anti-abortion groups endorse Supreme Court candidate Dan Kelly.

• Author: Duran, Ethan

Byline: eduran

By Ethan Duran

eduran@dailyreporter.com

Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Dan Kelly received endorsements from both pro-gun and anti-abortion groups, with his latest appearance in a video conference alongside Pastor Matthew Trewhella, who the Federal Bureau of Investigation inquired in connection to the fatal shooting of an abortion doctor in 1994.

Kelly on Wednesday night appeared in a video conference at the same event Trewhella spoke at, a Facebook post from Sons and Daughters of Liberty-Wisconsin showed. The meeting was first reported by Adam Kelnhofer of WisPolitics.com.

Kelly maintained he would resist influence from special interest groups and follow the rule of law, but several groups including the National Rifle Association as well as some anti-abortion groups have formally endorsed the candidate for his past track record with supporting guns and prohibiting abortion.

A spokesperson for Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz, who Kelly is running against, said it was "not surprising" the candidate would appear next to an extreme figure. Kelly has criticized Protasiewicz in the past for being open about her political beliefs.

"It's not surprising that (Kelly) would appear alongside somebody who's that extreme. We've seen that event and he's been appearing frequently across the state with someone who endorsed the (Jan. 6) insurrection and Stop the Steal. Dan Kelly has no hesitation when it comes to appearing alongside some extreme figures. That tells you a lot about how he approaches the issues and what kind of justice he will be in the court," a spokesperson for the Protasiewicz campaign said.

The April 4 election is less than two weeks away and Kelly is facing Protasiewicz for an open swing seat on the State Supreme Court. Stakes are high as the court split may be faced with the outcome of a national election again, as Wisconsin will again become a battleground state for the 2024 presidential election.

Kelly has been adamant about not discussing his political views on issues that might come before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. He has also criticized his opponent Protasiewicz for being open about her personal opinions.

Scott Jones, the state director for the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action, said the group's endorsement reflected Kelly's support for the Second Amendment and his record on guns while serving as a State Supreme Court justice, a letter shared with Wisconsin Law Journal showed.

"On...