A Milwaukee-based voting rights organization demands the removal of Wisconsin Republican Party executive director Andrew Iverson, alleging attempts to suppress the Black vote in Milwaukee during the 2020 election. Img source: wisn.com
May 8, 2024 Story by: Editor
Calls for the dismissal of the state GOP executive director have escalated following the surfacing of text messages exchanged during the 2020 election. Souls to the Polls, an organization dedicated to bolstering Black voter turnout, offered complimentary transportation to polling stations on election day. However, revelations from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel shed light on a concerted effort by GOP operatives to disrupt these efforts.
The text exchanges, disclosed by former Trump campaign staffer Carlton Huffman, unveil communication with Andrew Iverson, currently serving as the executive director of the Wisconsin GOP. In these messages, Iverson solicits assistance in redirecting Trump supporters towards participating in Souls to the Polls activities, expressing excitement and urging to “wreak havoc.”
Further communications, shared on Souls to the Polls social media, indicate Huffman’s directive to inundate the organization’s hotline. These disclosures have ignited fury among voting rights advocates, with calls for accountability echoing from various quarters.
Rev. Gregory Lewis, leading Souls to the Polls, emphasized the need for unity in condemning such actions, stating, “We all need a champion… to stop standing on our necks.” Similarly, Sam Liebert of All Voting is Local condemned the tactic as a blatant assault on democracy, particularly targeting minority communities.
Nick Ramos, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, joined the chorus, demanding the immediate dismissal of Iverson. Huffman corroborated Iverson’s involvement, attributing the directive to cause disruption to Souls to the Polls to him.
However, the Wisconsin GOP swiftly responded, deflecting blame onto Huffman, labeling him a “known white supremacist.” They asserted Iverson’s integrity and commitment to fair electoral practices, dismissing the accusations as false.
In response, Huffman acknowledged past misjudgments but expressed a dedication to rectifying his actions. Iverson downplayed the seriousness of his texts, dismissing them as a spur-of-the-moment jest with no further consequence.
