Wisconsin Judge Race Recount Sparks Challenges to Ballots
The removal of a conservative judge in Wisconsin, which occurred by a margin of less than one percent, has led to a recount of the votes.
A highly anticipated recount is currently in progress concerning the election results for circuit judge in Racine County, Wisconsin.
The incumbent Circuit Court Judge Jon Fredrickson was defeated by his opponent, Jamie McClendon, by a narrow margin of 55 votes. There were a total of 60,349 votes cast for the position.
McClendon, a former public defender, currently works as a private attorney in the local area.
In Wisconsin, if the victory margin is within two percentage points, the recount costs are borne by taxpayers.
Local resident Jim Spodick, a political Independent and election integrity advocate affiliated with the organization Honest, Open, and Transparent Government (HOT Government), attended the courthouse as an unofficial observer on April 14, the recount’s inaugural day.
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Spodick observed that no representatives from the local, state, or national GOP were present to advocate for Fredrickson’s interests as a conservative judge.
“I observed that numerous absentee ballot envelopes had visible defects, sufficient to disqualify them under Wisconsin law,” he remarked.
“These issues were not being adequately contested due to a lack of Fredrickson’s observers, who were significantly outnumbered, nine to one, by McClendon’s supporters. Such a disparity is not appropriate.”
Following this, Spodick reached out through social media, gathering HOT Government members from Racine County who promptly rallied to support Fredrickson during the recount.
Neither the Racine County Republican Party nor Republican Clerk Wendy Christensen responded to requests for comments by the time of publication.
Spodick mentioned that his group contacted Election Watch, an organization dedicated to election integrity, which acquired the complete Racine County voter roll and began reviewing it for errors and irregularities.
Records Indicate Ineligible Voters, Group Claims
According to Election Watch, 823 discrepancies were identified after matching the April 15, 2025, state voter roll with the United States Postal Service Change of Address database, which they subscribe to.
The alleged discrepancies included 40 individuals who had moved to a different Wisconsin county years earlier but were still recorded as voting in the April 1, 2025, election from their previous Racine County address.
Wisconsin election integrity activist Jim Spodick Courtesy of Jim Spodick
Election Watch claimed that another 11 voters in Racine County had relocated out of Wisconsin long before the election.
The organization also reported that over 250 registered voters in Racine County were identified by the United States Post Office as not having received mail at their registered addresses for at least 90 days, indicating they may not reside at their recorded addresses.
All these individuals voted from those addresses in the April 1 election, according to the group.
Election Watch spokesperson Peter Bernegger informed The Epoch Times that they uncovered 51 individuals who had voted in the April 1 election, having previously registered from a physical primary residence within the county, yet later designated a post office box as their primary residence.
Wisconsin law allows individuals to list a P.O. box as a secondary residence, but they must still be registered to vote from a primary physical address where they actually reside.
Spodick stated, “This kind of issue is typically not the fault of the local clerk. A statewide system that allows inflated and inaccurate voter registration rolls to persist is the real problem.”
If the recount does not alter the election results, Fredrickson retains the option to appeal the decision in court.
Both Fredrickson and McClendon did not respond to requests for comments by the time of publication.
“Given the questionable voter rolls, the court might mandate a redo of the election,” Bernegger stated.
‘Not Just About Fredrickson Remaining in Office’
Sandra Morris of HOT Government Wisconsin. Courtesy of Sandra Morris
Sandra Morris, a Navy veteran and HOT Government activist who has personally filed numerous challenges related to the recount, expressed to The Epoch Times: “For me, it’s not merely about Fredrickson remaining in office.
“My concern is for transparent and lawful elections where only eligible individuals partake.
“Considering all the disputes, supported by official data, I believe a redo of the April 1 election in Racine County is warranted.
“This would benefit every candidate as well as all eligible voters,” said Morris.
“We are not truly free if we do not uphold fair election processes.”
