In this update:

• Election Updates
• Administration Updates

Election Updates

State Assembly and Senate

Incumbent lawmaker re-election announcements

More lawmakers this week announced their intentions to run for re-election under the new 2023 Act 94 legislative district maps. Listed below are the latest announcements from legislators.

• Rep. Calvin Callahan (R-Tomahawk) announced his reelection bid to the 35th AD. Rep. Callahan has represented the 35th AD since 2020 and was redrawn into the district without being paired with another incumbent. The new 35th has a 64.5% GOP lean.

• Rep. Robert Wittke (R-Racine) announced his bid for the 63rd AD. Rep. Wittke currently represents the 62nd AD and was the only incumbent redrawn into the 63rd under the new maps. The new 63rd AD has a 56.6% GOP lean.

• Rep. Scott Allen (R-Waukesha) announced his candidacy for the 82nd AD. Rep. Allen represents the 97th AD and was first elected to the Assembly in 2014. He was redrawn into the 82nd under the new maps without any other incumbents. The new 82nd AD has a 53.8% GOP lean.

• Rep. Donna Rozar (R-Marshfield) announced her campaign for the 86th AD which includes over fifty percent of her old district. Rep. Rozar has represented the 69th AD since being elected in 2020. Under the new maps, she was drawn into the new 86th. Rep. John Spiros (R-Marshfield), who was also drawn into the 86th, already announced that he is running for the seat. The district has a 62.8% GOP lean, and the primary will be held on August 13.

• Rep. Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) announced his reelection campaign for the 94th AD. Rep. Doyle was first elected to the state Assembly in 2012 and currently represents the 94th AD which he was redrawn into under the new maps. The new 94th AD is a 50-50 seat.

• Rep. Scott Johnson (R-Jefferson) announced he will be running for the 43rd AD. Rep. Johnson currently represents the 33rd AD but was redrawn into the 97th AD with Cindi Duchow (R-Town of Delafield). The 43rd AD had no incumbents initially drawn in and includes communities that Rep. Johnson already represents. Dylan Kurtz (R-Janesville) has also announced a bid for the seat. The new 43rd AD has a 55.3% Democratic lean.

• Rep. Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa) announced her reelection to the 13th AD. Rep. Vining represents the 14th AD and was redrawn into the 13th AD with Rep. Tom Michalski (R-Elm Grove). Rep. Michalski also announced his reelection campaign for the seat despite the district having a 57.5% Democratic lean.

• Rep. Lee Snodgrass (D-Appleton) launched her reelection campaign for the 52nd AD. Rep. Snodgrass currently represents the 57th AD and was redrawn into the 52nd AD under the new maps without another incumbent. The new 57th AD has a 56.6% Democratic lean.

• Rep. Ty Bodden (R-Hilbert) announced his bid for the 3rd AD. Rep. Bodden has represented the 59th AD since 2022 and was redrawn into the 3rd AD with Rep. Ron Tusler (R-Harrison) under the new maps. The new 3rd AD has a 61.6% GOP lean.

Not running for re-election

Senator Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay) announced this week that he will not seek re-election. He joins 19 other incumbent lawmakers in not seeking re-election to their current office in 2024.

• Sen. Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay) was first elected to the Senate in 1987 and is the longest serving member of the state Senate. Sen. Cowles was drawn into the 30th AD with Sen. Andre Jacque (R-DePere) and Sen. Eric Wimberger (R-Green Bay). He initially intended to move into the 2nd AD which he currently represents after the maps were signed. “I’ve enjoyed the opportunity I’ve had to meet people in the State Capitol and throughout Wisconsin who share my love for the state we call home. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank everyone who wakes up every day working to make our great state an even better place,” said Sen. Cowles.

* Partisan Performance was calculated using the election results from the 2022 U.S. Senate election, the 2022 Wisconsin Gubernatorial election, and the 2020 Presidential Election.

Non-incumbent election announcements

State Assembly

• 9th AD: Deisy Espana (D-Milwaukee) announced her bid for the 9th AD. The 9th AD is held by Marisabel Cabrera (D-Milwaukee) who successfully ran for Milwaukee County Circuit Court Branch 43, creating an open seat. The district has a 71.6% Democratic lean.

• 9th AD: Business owner Priscilla Prado (D-Milwaukee) announced this week she is running for the 9th AD seat as well. She is the founder and owner of Midwest Bookkeeping.

• 11th AD: Rick Banks (D-Milwaukee) announced his candidacy for the 11th AD. He currently works at the Milwaukee County Office of Equity. The 11th AD is currently held by Rep. Dora Drake (D-Milwaukee) who has decided to run for State Senate. The district has an 85.3% Democratic lean.

• 15th AD: Sarah Harrison (D-Brookfield) declared her candidacy for the 15th AD. She is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Order of Operations. The 15th AD is currently held by Rep. Dave Maxey (R-New Berlin), but only Adam Neylon (R-Pewaukee) was drawn into the new 15th AD. The new district has a 57.3% GOP lean.

• 19th AD: Jarrod Anderson (D-Milwaukee) announced his candidacy for the 19th AD. Rep. Ryan Clancy (D-Milwaukee) currently represents the district and was redrawn in under the new maps. The new 19th AD has an 82% Democratic lean.

• 55th AD: Realtor Kyle Kehoe (D-Oshkosh) announced his bid for the 55th AD. Rep. Nate Gustafson (R-Fox Crossing) and Rep. Michael Schraa (R-Oshkosh) were both redrawn into the new 55th. The new district has a 57.8% GOP lean.

• 61st AD: LuAnn Bird (D-Hales Corners) announced she is running for the 61st AD. She previously ran for the 84th AD against Rep. Bob Donovan (R-Greenfield) and lost by two points. This election cycle, Rep. Donovan was drawn into the 7th AD with Rep. Daniel Riemer, and the current representative of the 61st, Amanda Nedweski (R-Pleasant Prairie), was drawn into the 32nd, leaving the district open. Rep. Donovan announced that he will be moving into the new 61st since it is three fourths of his current district, setting up a rematch with Ms. Bird. The new 61st AD has a 50.9% Democratic lean.

• 71st AD: Army veteran Bob Pahmeier (R-Plover) announced his candidacy for the 71st AD. Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) represents the 71st AD, but she has announced she is running for Congress, which leaves the 71st open. The new district has a 54.3% Democratic lean.

• 92nd AD: Caden Berg (D-Chippewa Falls) launched his bid for the 92nd AD. Rep. Clint Moses (R-Menomonie) was the only incumbent drawn into the district. The new 92nd has a 51.1% GOP lean.

State Senate

• 8th SD: Attorney and environmental policy expert Jodi Habush Sinykin (D-Bayside) launched her bid for the 8th SD to challenge Sen. Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville). She ran in the Spring 2023 special election and lost by 1,296 votes. The 8th SD is currently held by Sen. Dan Knodl (R-Germantown) who has announced he will be running for Assembly after being paired with Sen. Stroebel in the 8th SD. The new 8th SD is a 50-50 seat.

• 14th SD: Sarah Keyeski (D-Sauk City) announced her bid for the 14th SD. She is a rural mental healthcare provider and owns her own practice in Lodi. The 14th SD is currently held by Sen. Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) who has already announced her reelection campaign. Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) was also drawn into the district. The new 14th SD has a 52.6% Democratic lean.

• 30th SD: Allouez Village President Jim Rafter (R-Allouez) announced his candidacy for the 30th SD. He served on the Allouez Village Board of Trustees for ten years and served as President for eight of them. The district initially had three Republican incumbents drawn into it, and all of them decided not to run for the district, either retiring or running in a different race. Right now, Jim Rafter is the only Republican in the race against small business owner Jamie Wall (D-Green Bay). The new 30th SD has a 51.5% Democratic lean.

• 32nd SD: Trempealeau County Supervisor Stacey Klein (R-Trempealeau) announced she is running for the 32nd SD. Ms. Klein dropped out of the U.S. Senate race last month and will now challenge Sen. Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska) for his state Senate seat. The new 32nd SD has a 53% Democratic lean.

* Partisan Performance was calculated using the election results from the 2022 U.S. Senate election, the 2022 Wisconsin Gubernatorial election, and the 2020 Presidential Election.

Vos recall fails

The Wisconsin Elections Commission voted unanimously to reject the effort to recall Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) because the recall petition lacked the necessary number of valid signatures. According to a memo from WEC staff, regardless of whether the recall would be conducted in the 63rd AD (the district Speaker Vos was elected to in 2022), or in the 33rd AD (the district he was drawn into under the new maps), the effort did not have enough signatures from either district to trigger the recall. WEC staff determined 6,850 signatures would be needed to recall Speaker Vos in the old 63rd AD, but only 4,989 valid signatures were submitted. Meanwhile, 7,195 valid signatures would be needed in the new 33rd, but only 3,053 were submitted. Organizers of the first recall have already launched a second recall effort.

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State Supreme Court

Justice Ann Walsh Bradley will not seek re-election

State Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley announced she will not seek re-election in 2025. In her statement, Justice Bradley said although she would not seek a fourth term, she could still “do the job and do it well,” adding she could win re-election if she chose to run. However, she said “it’s just time to pass the torch, bringing fresh perspectives to the court.”

SCOWIS currently has a liberal majority that will be more challenging to maintain with Justice Bradley’s retirement. Last spring, the election of Justice Janet Protasiewicz helped liberals secure a majority on the court for the first time in fifteen years. If liberals are able to hold Justice Bradley’s open seat in 2025, conservatives would not have the opportunity to reclaim the majority for at least three years. With the court’s majority up again next year, Justice Bradley would have been a candidate that has already won three times. Meanwhile, Conservative Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge and former Attorney General Brad Schimel has already announced his plans to run in 2025. In the wake of Justice Bradley’s announcement, three liberal judges haveindicated they may launch a bid as well. The judges include Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford, 1st District Court of Appeals Judge Pedro Colón and 4th District Court of Appeals Judge Chris Taylor.

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U.S. President

Biden introduces student debt relief plan in Madison

President Joe Biden promoted his plan for student debt relief for more than 30 million Americans on Monday in Madison. He said at Madison Area Technical College, “Too many people feel the strain and stress wondering if they’re going to get married, have their first child, start a family because even if they get by, they still have this crushing, crushing debt. That’s not it’s not just a drag on them, it’s a drag on our local economy.” The White House said the plan would impact 40,380 Wisconsinites who owe almost $1.9 billion in student loans.

Before Pres. Biden’s visit, U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Janesville) said, “Today, President Biden is back in Wisconsin pitching another expensive, inflationary election year giveaway. His student loan debt repayment plan is an unconstitutional abuse of power and is unfair to anyone who did not go to college or paid off their own loans.” During the WisGOP news conference, he said it’s inappropriate to ask those who didn’t attend college to pay for the outstanding loan debt of others and accused Pres. Biden of “trying to buy votes.”

To watch President Biden’s visit, click here.

To read more about the student loan relief proposal, click here.

Lincoln Project releases new ad

The Lincoln Project is running a new digital ad that claims, “the problems we still face at home and abroad aren’t from this White House.” They spent $100,000 for the 60-second ad to run in Wisconsin and Arizona. The ad targets female voters that are soft Republicans. The ad references January 6th, the health and economic impacts of the pandemic response, and then touts President Joe Biden’s first term.

Watch the ad here.

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U.S. Senate

AFP Action launches new ad praising Hovde

AFP Action has launched a new ad campaign calling Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde the “political outsider” Wisconsin needs. The campaign is a six-figure buy that will run statewide on digital platforms and streaming TV services. The ad has a 30-second and 15-second versions.

Watch the 30-second ad here.

Watch the 15-second ad here.

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U.S. House of Representatives

New ads from Opportunity Wisconsin oppose Steil and Van Orden

Opportunity Wisconsin is running digital billboard ads targeting U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Janesville) and U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien). The ad knocking Rep. Steil says, “I support over $44 billion in tax giveaways for the richest 1%,” and Rep. Van Orden says the same but cites $34 billion from a different bill. The billboards will run in their districts.

1st CD Race

Steil announces fundraising

1st CD incumbent Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Janesville) raised more than $638,000 through his congressional campaign account and will report $4 million cash on hand when he files his report next week. Rep. Steil did not mention his spending this quarter but started 2024 with more than $3.6 million cash on hand, putting his spending at around $235,000. The Steil Victory Fund also raised $150,000, and his leadership account pulled in more than $50,000.

3rd CD Race

Cooke announces fundraising

3rd CD candidate Rebecca Cooke (D-Eau Claire) announced she raised more than $490,000 in the first quarter, bringing her fundraising total to over $1.2 million this cycle. She finished 2023 with $496,592 in the bank. Ms. Cooke is running against state Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) and Eric Wilson (D-Eau Claire) in the Democratic primary. The winner will face 3rd CD incumbent U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien) in November.

8th CD Race

Tony Wied enters 8th CD race

Businessman Tony Wied announced his bid for the 8th CD race with former President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Mr. Wied previously owned and operated several Dino Stop gas station and convenience stores in the Green Bay area before selling them in 2022.

Wied joins two other Republicans — state Sen. Andre Jacque (R-De Pere.) and former state Sen. Roger Roth (R-Appleton) — who are also in the race. Jacque announced this week he has raised over $140,000 in the twenty-eight days since joining the race. Last week, OB-GYN Kristin Lyerly (D-Green Bay) announced her bid for the GOP leaning seat last week.

The 8th CD is located in northeastern Wisconsin and has a marked GOP lean. Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels took 55.9% of the vote in the district in 2022 while U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson received 58.8% in the same year. In 2020, former President Trump won 57% of the vote in the district.

Administration Updates

Evers acts on last remaining bills of ’23-’24 session

Governor Tony Evers (D) acted on the last three remaining bills of the 2023-2024 legislative session. The Governor signed SB 981, or the “Prince Act,” which addresses the gaps in the Wisconsin AMBER Alert System by expanding criteria for issuing alerts for missing children. The Prince Act was a response to the disappearances and deaths of Prince McCree and Lily Peters to aid in ensuring authorities have expanded resources in the future to issue larger notices to the public quicker.

Gov. Evers vetoed SB 436 which would have eliminated the requirement that employers obtain a work permit in order to employ 14- or 15-year-olds. In the governor’s statement, he said the bill is wrong for kids and the state, especially with a rise in teenagers working hazardous or illegal jobs. The Republican sponsors of the legislation argued that currently 16 states have removed work permits for teenagers and that Wisconsin is halfway there, having previously removed the work permit form for 16- and 17-year-olds.

Governor Evers also vetoed SB 312 which he argued was “designed to benefit and protect polluters, limiting the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) authority to respond to contamination.” Along with the veto, he called on the Joint Finance Committee to schedule a special meeting to release the funds to combat PFAS. Sen. Eric Wimberger (R-Green Bay), the author of the bill, released a statement responding to Governor Evers’ veto. In the release, he says, “The governor claims that this bill does not release the $125 million in PFAS funds, however this bill is the only vehicle for these funds to be released without creating a massive slush fund for the DNR; The governor claims that this bill contains protections for polluters, but the nonpartisan Legislative Council has shown otherwise, explaining that the provisions only apply to innocent landowners who agree to testing and remediation.”

Below are Gov. Evers’ press releases for the bills:

• For the signed Prince Act, click here.

• For the vetoed SB 436, click here.

• For the vetoed SB 312, click here.

Evers and WHEDA announce workforce and senior housing funding program

Governor Tony Evers (D) and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) announced the Infrastructure Access Loan program is available to developers and municipalities statewide. The program provides loan funding to cover the costs of installing, replacing, upgrading, or improving public infrastructure related to workforce housing or senior housing. Borrowers can apply for up to 20% of the total development cost of residential housing and related infrastructure at a low-interest rate of three percent, or one percent in municipalities with a population of fewer than 10,000 or for senior housing.

“We made one of the largest state investments in state history in our most recent budget, and I’m excited to see this program and others supporting housing partners across our state,” said Gov. Evers. “We know access to quality, affordable housing is often a barrier to folks joining our workforce in communities across our state. Expanding affordable workforce and senior housing is critical to addressing our state’s workforce challenges and building an economy and workforce that can meet the needs of the 21st Century. I look forward to seeing the positive impacts these programs will have on housing access across Wisconsin.”

For more information on the Infrastructure Access Loan program and other WHEDA’s loan programs, click here.

Evers attends White House State Dinner

Gov. Tony Evers (D) attended a White House State Dinner in Washington, D.C., in honor of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. “This State Dinner is an important opportunity to represent Wisconsin on the global stage and celebrate the enduring partnership and friendship Wisconsin has long maintained and cherished with Japan,” said Gov. Evers. “Our shared achievements highlight the power of collaboration between our state and nations, and I am eager to continue building upon this foundation to bring even greater prosperity to Wisconsin and the many Japanese businesses that call our state home.”

According to a press release from the governor, there are 81 Japanese companies with over 224 operations throughout Wisconsin, which has created approximately 8,900 jobs. Since 2013, Japan has invested over $2.6 billion in Wisconsin, making it the second largest investor in the state after Canada.