Democratic secretary of state nominee JoCasta Zamarripa is backing off her claim that driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants are her top priority, 11 days before the November 3 election.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Friday that Zamarripa “says her top priority has changed” after she called the licenses her “number one priority.” Instead, she pivoted to the most basic of priorities, an adequately staffed office. To Zamarripa, this means adding four staffers and giving them a better view for an office that has virtually no duties.
“My number one priority is to see the governor sign driver’s licenses for undocumented Wisconsinites into law.”
The original statement came in an interview with WMTV Capitol bureau chief Vanessa Kjeldsen, published October 14.
“I’ll no longer be that legislator with the vote in that way, but I believe I can use the office as a platform. I’ll be able to use my soapbox,” Zamarripa said. “My number one priority is to see the governor sign driver’s licenses for undocumented Wisconsinites into law.”
In the video clip Kjeldsen posted October 15, Zamarripa added, “And I hope that that governor will be David Crowley.” Asked whether she had heard from Crowley, the Democratic nominee for governor, she said, “We’re going to talk soon, but I feel confident.” She said Crowley “was supportive” as a legislator and “that was my legislation when I was in the state Assembly.”
The legislative record backs her up on that point. In December 2017, then-Rep. Zamarripa introduced Assembly Bill 727, which would have let the Department of Transportation issue licenses and ID cards to people who do not provide proof of lawful presence in the United States. Then-Rep. David Crowley signed on as a co-sponsor. The bill died in March 2018 without a floor vote.
Zamarripa, now a Milwaukee alderman, pushed similar driver license bills for years. None became law.
On October 5, the campaign of Republican gubernatorial nominee Tom Tiffany posted a video it said shows Crowley raising his hand when asked if he supports “giving driver’s licenses to illegal aliens.”
Zamarripa has framed the policy as a safety measure. In the WMTV clip, she said it would mean “more folks with a driver’s license driving on our roads, more folks accessing affordable automobile insurance.”
But the office she is seeking has no say over licenses. The Department of Transportation issues them, and a 2006 state law requires applicants to prove citizenship or legal residency. Gov. Tony Evers proposed changing that in his budgets, and the Republican-controlled Legislature blocked it, according to WPR.
Republicans seized on the WMTV interview. “Giving illegal immigrants driver’s licenses is the NUMBER ONE priority of the Democrat candidate for Wisconsin Secretary of State,” Tiffany posted October 15. A day later, he added, “My NUMBER ONE priority? Protecting Wisconsin citizens.”
Asked by commentator Scott Jennings whether he would hand out licenses to people in the country illegally as governor, Tiffany said, “We will not,” in a clip his campaign posted October 21.
Zamarripa faces Republican Jay Schroeder and Green Party candidate Pete Karas for the open seat. Democratic incumbent Sarah Godlewski is running for lieutenant governor on Crowley’s ticket. Schroeder is campaigning on moving election oversight into the secretary of state’s office, WMTV reported.
Early voting is underway. Zamarripa’s ranking of the issue has changed. If Crowley wins, the next license bill would land on the desk of a governor who co-sponsored one in 2017.
