Political institutions should center the people with less power, even when doing so is inconvenient for party leaders, donors, campaigns or candidates. Uncertainty may complicate their responsibility. It does not erase it.

Juliana Bennett is running in AD76. That district covers the east side of Madison. It leans deep blue (+76 Democrat). This is the district Francesca Hong is leaving to run for governor.

Steven Doelder is running in State Senate District 11 in Southeast Wisconsin. SD11 leans deep red (+28 Republican), but it is an open seat because Stephen Nass is retiring. 

David Liners, is running in Assembly District 21. AD21 covers Oak Creek and part of Milwaukee. It leans blue (+4.1 Democratic), but and is an open seat because Republican incumbent Jessie Rodriguez is retiring. 

Lisa White is running in State Senate District 17. SD17 is in southwest Wisconsin. It leans slightly blue (+1 Democratic), but is currently held by Republican Howard Marklein. 

Josh Mittness is running in Assembly District 50. AD 50 is South of Madison. It leans +14 Democratic, and is an open race because Jenna Jacobson gave up the seat to run for State Senate against Republican incumbent Howard Marklein in SD17. 

The questions raised by this letter extend beyond any individual politician. How should parties respond when they receive allegations about candidates? What obligations do they have to complainants, to the accused, and to the public? At what point does an internal concern become a matter of legitimate public interest?

Thoroughly and precisely calculating thousands of nomination signatures and pages is beyond the scope of my attention to detail, but I did scroll through a handful of candidates of interest and can share some interesting takeaways.

“Amy Donahue will give voters in this district a democratic socialist option who supports healthcare for all, fair taxation of billionaires and corporations, and who will fight to end genocide and apartheid in Palestine.”