Who is Claire Woodall? What to know about the Milwaukee election official being replaced
Claire Woodall, the executive director of the Milwaukee Election Commission, is being replaced by Mayor Cavalier Johnson. Her deputy, Paulina Gutiérrez, is being nominated to take over her position.
The major change in leadership comes six months before the November election. Milwaukee's elections are closely watched, especially for the large numbers of absentee ballots that are processed after polls close and can switch up results late in the night.
State lawmakers had considered a bill last session allowing clerks across the state to begin that work on the Monday before Election Day, rather than on Tuesday night, but the proposal failed.
More: Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson to replace elections chief Claire Woodall, email shows
Johnson has declined to say why he did not reappoint Woodall. Here's what we know and don't know so far:
What is the Milwaukee Election Commission?
The Milwaukee Election Commission oversees elections in Wisconsin's largest city. Unlike a typical clerk's office (which the city also has), the body has commissioners.
It's distinct from the Wisconsin Elections Commission, which is a state-level agency that provides guidance to clerks across the state.
How long has Claire Woodall led Milwaukee's elections?
Woodall was confirmed as executive director of the commission in July 2020, a tight window before the city's August primary election. She started working for the commission in 2013 and had two other roles, including overseeing voter services and analyzing registration and absentee data.
In a 2020 statement supporting her nomination, Johnson called Woodall a "dedicated public servant, who is passionate about quelling voter suppression and overcoming the barriers faced by our electorate to ensure that everyone in our city has free and fair access to electoral participation."
In between her work on Milwaukee's commission, Woodall was the clerk for the City of Cedarburg.
Why is Claire Woodall being replaced?
The mayor's office has not yet given a reason for the change in executive director. A press release that announced the new nominee for the position did not share more information about why Woodall is being replaced.
In an interview with WISN-TV, Johnson denied Woodall was fired and said she had been offered a different position that she does not plan to take. Johnson said he did not want to discuss personnel decisions when asked if Woodall was accused of any wrongdoing.
Who will replace Claire Woodall?
Paulina Gutiérrez, who has been Woodall's deputy since 2023, is in line to replace her. But the Common Council will have to sign off on her nomination.
“Paulina’s integrity and capabilities are ideally suited to this position. She will lead the office at an important juncture when public scrutiny of the work of the department will be extremely high,” Johnson said in the press release. “I have confidence in her, and I will make certain the department has the resources it needs to fulfill its duties.”
Gutiérrez has held management positions previously in state and local government, according to the Mayor's Office. She is a graduate of Alverno College and earned a master's degree from Marquette University.
Why are Milwaukee's elections closely watched?
Milwaukee's election officials have faced intense scrutiny in recent years, especially from conspiracies that stem from absentee-ballot returns that are often posted late in the night, sometimes changing which candidate is in the lead.
In 2020, the later tally helped move Democrat Joe Biden over President Donald Trump, fueling the former president's false claims about election fraud in Wisconsin.
More: Here's how votes are counted in Milwaukee and when to expect election results in Wisconsin
Under current state law, clerks cannot process absentee ballots until after polls open on Election Day. A proposal to allow clerks to start working earlier and avoid late-night results failed in the Legislature this session.
A fictional storyline about the city's absentee ballots was featured in an episode of HBO's "Succession," about which Woodall consulted with show writers.
Has Claire Woodall received threats?
Woodall has received threats in her public position fueled by election conspiracies, which Milwaukee Police and the FBI have reviewed.
In 2022, she tweeted she would work remotely if the RNC were held in Milwaukee due to death threats — a post that the mayor's office called "flippant" but acknowledged threats against her.
Are there recent controversies with the commission?
A reason for Woodall's replacement wasn't given. But the commission has been in the news lately.
The commission's former deputy director, Kimberly Zapata, was given one year of probation and a $3,000 fine last week for ordering three military absentee ballots under fake names ahead of the 2022 midterm elections and having them sent to a state legislator known for embracing conspiracy theories.
In a letter ahead of Zapata's sentencing, Woodall described the personal and professional toll she felt from Zapata's actions but maintained that Zapata was trying to highlight a gap in the election system.
"As the executive director of the Election Commission, I faced severe skepticism and criticism from my colleagues, employees, and the citizens that I serve after Kim's actions came to light," Woodall wrote. "Despite the harm she has caused, her actions were rooted in a very real security vulnerability that state statute has created and that continues to persist."
Milwaukee election officials also made errors ahead of the April 2 election. The commission sent the wrong absentee ballots to 237 Milwaukee voters across four voting wards. The commission took disciplinary action against the employees involved. Woodall said she didn't believe there was any malicious intent, but rather "gross negligence."
This story may be updated.
Alison Dirr contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What we do and don't know about why Claire Woodall is being replaced
