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RACINE, Wis. — Moms for Liberty chapters from Racine and Kenosha counties held their annual Christmas party Thursday night, drawing a full room of members, elected officials, and national figures for an evening centered on education advocacy, parental rights, and preparing for the 2026 elections.

The program opened with a prayer followed by welcoming remarks from Joann Koenecke, a Moms for Liberty member who helped guide the evening’s agenda and later recognized volunteers and donors.

Racine County Chapter Chair Misty Gilbert recapped her chapter’s year of activism, including monitoring meetings across 13 school districts, assisting parents with school issues, partnering with the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, distributing hundreds of pocket Constitutions to students, and successfully hosting a booth at the Racine County Fair.

Kenosha County Chapter Chair Angela Kretchmer detailed efforts in Central, Salem, Bristol, Wilmot, and KUSD, including helping parents raise concerns about safety and school climate. She highlighted community outreach events such as trunk-or-treat gatherings, Constitution distributions, and local library programs, noting that KUSD remains the only district yet to accept their Constitution handouts.

Koenecke also presented special recognition to contributors across both counties, acknowledging donors Sam Wahlen, Dawn Patzke, Ivan Ibarra, Barb Griffin, Dawn Santoro, and Devin Principe, as well as extensive volunteer support for the Racine County Fair booth and Kenosha outreach events.

DA Solis Discusses Enforcement Priorities

Kenosha County District Attorney Xavier Solis addressed the audience with a general overview of the types of cases his office has been prioritizing. He emphasized ongoing efforts to prosecute crimes involving children, technology-related offenses, and cases involving misconduct by adults in positions of trust. Solis also described routine coordination with federal immigration officials when local cases involve individuals without legal status, stressing interagency communication as a key public-safety tool.

Rep. Bob Wittke Provides DPI Oversight Update

State Rep. Bob Wittke spoke about legislative efforts surrounding Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction, including a forthcoming bipartisan audit of DPI’s educator licensing system. Wittke also touched on continuing concerns within Racine Unified School District leadership and said he remains committed to working with those willing to address persistent issues.

Scarlett Johnson Delivers Extended Keynote and Celebrates Court Victory

The night’s keynote came from Scarlett Johnson, Moms for Liberty’s Wisconsin Ambassador, Legislative Committee Chair, National Social Media Manager, and White House Correspondent.

Johnson opened by recapping her recent legal victory in the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, where she won a defamation lawsuit brought against her in Milwaukee County. The appellate court ruled that her politically charged social-media statements — including her use of terms such as “woke,” “lunatic,” and “white savior” — were protected opinion and not actionable as defamation. The case was reversed and remanded with directions to enter summary judgment in her favor. She noted she was represented by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, which she praised for defending her First Amendment rights.

She went on to deliver an hour-long address touching on national education debates, gender-identity policies, online harassment of parent advocates, the cultural and political pressure placed on school boards, and what she described as efforts to marginalize parents raising concerns about district policies. Johnson urged members to engage with undecided families, avoid social-media echo chambers, and stay unified ahead of the 2026 elections. She also encouraged parents to remain outspoken on issues involving student safety, privacy, and academic standards.

Local Officials Attend

Local officials in attendance included State Rep. Amanda Nedweski, Union Grove President Steve Wodnem, Union Grove Trustee Sarah Wombler, and Young Republicans Vice Chair Nick Reiger.

Koenecke closed the evening by thanking attendees and volunteers — and reminding everyone that there was still cake left as the crowd began to disperse.