Wisconsin Congressman Glenn Grothman is under fire for saying the state’s voter ID law could help the GOP presidential nominee win the state in November.
The Republican from the state’s Sixth Congressional District made the comment during an election night interview with a Milwaukee TV station.
Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chairwoman Martha Laning called it a shocking admission. “He might as well have said Republicans are working to rig elections in order to win,” she said.
Grothman has not responded to requests to clarify his comment, which sparked a massive backlash on social media the day after the first high turnout state election with a requirement in place that Wisconsin voters show a government-issued photo ID card to obtain a ballot. The law was the subject of multiple court challenges, and was on hold for several years before the legal battle ended last spring.
Laning, who talked to reporters in a call on Wednesday, said the comments are yet another example of how the GOP has gotten “bolder” in its efforts to stop the opposition from voting. “He did tell the truth, that theĀ Republicans did this for the main purpose of preventing people from getting their voices heard – particularly our minorities and low-income voters.”