Greg Lewis, the executive director of Souls to the Polls in Wisconsin, addresses a news conference on Thursday, demanding the dismissal of Andrew Iverson, the Wisconsin GOP’s executive director. This call to action follows the revelation of 2020 text messages from Iverson, suggesting attempts to disrupt voter turnout efforts organized by Souls to the Polls. Img source: ca.news.yahoo.com
MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee-based voting rights organization is calling for the removal of Andrew Iverson, the executive director of the Wisconsin Republican Party, alleging his involvement in attempting to suppress Black voter turnout in Milwaukee during the 2020 election.
The group, Souls to the Polls, which facilitated free rides to polling stations on election day 2020 to boost Black voter participation, is at the center of the controversy. According to a report from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, GOP operatives, including Iverson, conspired to undermine these efforts.
The Journal Sentinel article discloses election day text messages between Iverson, who was then the leader of the “Trump Victory” campaign in Wisconsin, and Carlton Huffman, a 2020 Trump campaign staffer.
Iverson’s message to Huffman included a request for assistance from another staffer, Mario, stating, “Can Mario help get some Trump supporters to participate in Souls to the Polls?” Iverson expressed enthusiasm for the plan, saying, “I’m excited about this. Wreak havoc.”
Huffman, who shared these texts with the Journal Sentinel and WISN 12 News, allegedly instructed a staffer to “have our people spam their Souls to the Polls hotline,” as seen in messages posted on Souls to the Polls’ social media.
This revelation has incited outrage among voting rights advocates. Rev. Gregory Lewis, executive director of Souls to the Polls, emphasized the need for unity and resistance against voter suppression, saying, “We all need a champion. We all need a voice. We need to stick together and tell people to stop standing on our necks.”
During a Thursday news conference, Sam Liebert from All Voting is Local condemned the tactic to “wreak havoc” as an attack on democracy and minority communities. Nick Ramos, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, demanded the Republican Party of Wisconsin denounce such behavior and terminate Iverson’s employment.
In an interview with WISN 12 News, Huffman claimed that Iverson directed the effort to disrupt Souls to the Polls, intending to limit the availability of rides for voters or involve as many Trump supporters as possible to impede the process.
In response, the Wisconsin GOP issued a statement defending Iverson, with spokesperson Matt Fisher asserting, “The real story here is Carlton Huffman, a known white supremacist, was caught lying to the press by spreading falsehoods about former colleagues. Andrew Iverson is a man of integrity who is committed to electing Republicans by earning the trust and votes of Wisconsinites. The only person guilty of attempting voter suppression in regards to Souls to the Polls is Carlton Huffman.” Source: WISN
The Journal Sentinel noted Huffman’s participation in pro-white radio shows in 2009 and 2010. Huffman acknowledged his past and stated his efforts to make amends, both publicly and privately, for his previous beliefs and statements.
Iverson, speaking to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, dismissed his texts as a joke, claiming they were spur-of-the-moment comments that did not lead to any action.
