Republican Resignations Let Evers Flip Key Law Enforcement Roles Republican resignations allow Evers to appoint liberals

Republican Resignations Let Evers Flip Key Law Enforcement Roles

Mid-term exits are giving Wisconsin’s Democratic governor the power to quietly reshape crime and immigration policy without voter input.

Published May 11, 2025

A behind-the-scenes political shift is unfolding in Wisconsin, as Republican sheriffs and district attorneys resign mid-term — giving Governor Tony Evers the chance to appoint left-leaning replacements without holding elections.

According to a report from the MacIver Institute, Evers has already used this authority to appoint Democrats to over a dozen DA positions and several sheriff posts since 2020.

Many of the DA roles being replaced were originally won by Republicans, but early exits have handed the governor the opportunity to quietly tip the balance in favor of progressive law enforcement policies.

In Wisconsin, sheriffs and DAs are partisan positions for a reason. Sheriffs influence how strictly the law is enforced, and DAs decide which cases are pursued. Those decisions can have major consequences for public safety — especially when appointments go to individuals less aggressive on violent crime, drug offenses, and immigration enforcement.

“Republican Resignations are flipping sheriffs’ and DAs’ offices over to Gov. Evers—allowing Evers to select replacements that are more progressive on immigration enforcement and criminal enforcement,” MacIver reported.

Critics warn that this trend could pave the way for “sanctuary” policies to take hold at the county level, even if voters never supported such shifts. Fewer sheriffs cooperating with federal immigration officials and more lenient prosecutors can alter the entire landscape of law and order in the state.

MacIver argues that conservatives often overlook the importance of finishing a full term in office. When Republican officials resign early — for personal, political, or professional reasons — they aren’t just leaving a job. They’re handing the other side a powerful opening.

This pattern, if it continues, could quietly transform the state’s approach to crime and immigration enforcement, one resignation at a time.