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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In this update:

• Election Updates
• Administration Updates

Election Updates

Spring Election Recap

The Spring Election this week included the presidential preference primary, two constitutional amendments, referendums, and local races.

• President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump both won their parties’ primaries.

• The two constitutional amendments both passed.

• Rep. Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee) won his bid for Milwaukee City Attorney while Rep. Marisabel Cabrera (D-Milwaukee) won her race for Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Because state law bars those serving in judicial roles from simultaneously holding other elected offices outside the judiciary, Rep. Cabrera must vacate her Assembly seat prior to being sworn into her circuit court seat on August 1. Since Milwaukee city attorney is not a judicial position, Rep. Goyke has promised to continue to hold his Assembly seat to avoid giving Republicans a supermajority in the Assembly.

• Rep. Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville) lost his Dodgeville mayor’s race and said the loss will not impact his plans to run for reelection to the assembly. Rep. Angie Sapik (R – Lake Nebagamon) received enough write-in votes for two different county board seats, but she only plans to serve for one seat. Rep. Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) also won reelection to the La Crosse County Board.

• Milwaukee voters approved a $252 million school referendum.

For more information on the elections, read our Spring Election Preview.

For the results as votes were coming in, read our April 2nd Election Results.

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.

• Representative Dave Armstrong (R-Rice Lake) announced he will seek reelection in the new 67th AD. Rep. Armstrong was drawn into the 67th AD under the new maps, having previously served in the 75th AD since 2020. The new 67th AD has a 62.5% GOP lean.

• Rep. Clinton Anderson (D-Beloit) announced his reelection bid for the 45th AD. Rep. Anderson has represented the 45th since 2022 and was redrawn into the district under the new maps without another incumbent. The new 45th AD has a 55.4% Democratic lean.

• Sen. Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska) announced his reelection campaign for the 32nd SD. The new 32nd SD has a 53% Democratic lean.

Not running for reelection

Representatives John Macco (R-Ledgeview) and Jon Plumer (R-Lodi) announced this week that they will not seek re-election. Reps. Macco and Plumer join 17 other incumbent lawmakers in not seeking re-election to their current office in 2024.

• Representative John Macco (R-Ledgeview) has represented the 88th AD for a decade and said he and his wife are looking “forward to enjoying a Wisconsin summer, spending quality time with family, working to grow her new business and seeing that Republicans remain the majority party in the Wisconsin Legislature.” Rep. Macco was paired with 2nd AD incumbent Rep. Shae Sortwell (R-Two Rivers) in the 2nd AD under the new maps. Rep. Sortwell announced his bid for the 2nd AD in March, and the district has a 61% GOP lean.
• Rep. Jon Plumer (R-Lodi) represented the 42nd AD since winning a special election in 2018 and was assistant majority leader during this past session. Under the new maps, Rep. Plumer was drawn into the 42nd with Rep. William Penterman (R-Columbus). Rep. Penterman already announced he will be moving to the 38th AD. The new 42nd has a 58.6% Democratic lean. Maureen McCarville (D-DeForest) is the only candidate announced to run in the district.

* 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

• 2nd AD: Navy veteran Alicia Saunders (D-Kimberly) told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that she will run for the 2nd AD. The district is currently represented by GOP Rep. Shae Sortwell, who has held the seat since 2018. The new 2nd AD has a 61% GOP lean.

• 14th AD: Mental health social worker Nate Kieso (D-West Allis) announced his bid for the 14th AD. The seat is currently represented by Rep. Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa) who was drawn into the 13th AD. The seat has a 55.3% Democratic lean, and Brady Coulthard (D-Milwaukee) has also announced a bid for the seat.

• 18th AD: Margaret Arney (D-Milwaukee) launched her bid for the 18th AD. She is currently a Wauwatosa District 2 Common Council member. The 18th AD is an open seat under the new maps. The 18th AD is currently represented by Rep. Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee) who was elected Milwaukee City Attorney this week. The new 18th AD has an 83.6% Democratic lean. If needed, the Democratic primary will be on August 13th, 2024.

• 88th AD: Small business owner and Air Force veteran Ben Franklin (R-De Pere) announced his bid for the 88th AD. His announcement came a few days after incumbent 88th AD Rep. John Macco (R-Ledgeview) said that he would not seek reelection. Under the new maps, Rep. Macco was paired with Rep. Shae Sortwell (R-Two Rivers) in the new 2nd AD. The new 88th AD has a 61% GOP lean. Mr. Franklin is the second Republican to enter the race for the 88th, joining public relations professional Phil Collins.

• 93rd AD: Christian Phelps (D-Eau Claire) announced his candidacy for the 93rd AD. The 93rd is currently held by Rep. Warren Petryk (R – Town of Washington), who was drawn into the district under the new maps as well. The district was previously a Republican leaning district, but under the new maps, the new 93rd has a 54.7% Democratic lean.

State Senate

• 2nd SD: Former journalist Kelly Peterson (D-De Pere) told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that she will run for the new 2nd SD. She is the first Democrat to join the race. Sen. Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay) and Sen. Eric Wimberger (R-Green Bay) have both already announced they will be running for the seat. The 2nd SD has a 62.8% GOP lean.

• 18th SD: Dr. Anthony Phillips (R-Appleton) launched his campaign for the 18th SD. The new 18th was left vacant from incumbents after Sen. Feyen (R – Fond du Lac) was drawn into the new 20th SD. The 18th SD has a 54.3% Democratic lean. Kristin Alfheim, Blong Yang, and Joseph Carman all have entered the race.

* 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.

U.S. President

New poll from WSJ finds Biden and Trump tied

The Wall Street Journal released a new Wisconsin poll that found President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump tied at 46%. When third party candidates are included as an option, Biden receives 41%, Trump 38%, and Robert Kennedy Jr. 10%. Cornel West and Jill Stein each receive 1%.

The poll surveyed 600 Wisconsin registered voters by phone and text March 17-24. The poll was conducted by Fabrizio Lee and GBAO. FiveThirtyEight rates them 1.7 stars and 1.2 stars, respectively, on a three-star scale.

See the poll release.

Biden launches new TV ad

President Joe Biden released a new TV ad targeting former President Donald Trump’s abortion policy and said he doesn’t trust women. The Biden campaign said the ad is part of a $30 million buy targeting battleground states on national and local TV broadcasts. The ad will run during Milwaukee Brewers games and targets Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay while also running on streaming services statewide.

Watch the ad here.

RNC launches website critical of Biden

The Republican National Committee launched a website targeting President Biden’s border policy and said the president was “aiding and abetting an invasion.” The website is BidenBloodbath.com and includes videos praising former President Donald Trump while contrasting with Pres. Biden. The site also features memos on the Biden administration’s border policy and has dedicated web pages for 13 states, including Wisconsin, where it notes a 97% increase in fentanyl overdose deaths in the state from 2019-2021.

Climate Power runs digital ads favoring Biden

Climate Power released digital ads touting President Biden’s Clean Energy Plan. The multi-state campaign includes two ads with 15- and 30-second versions and will cost the group $100,000. One of the ads features Milwaukee homeowner Ramona saying the Clean Energy Plan helped pay for home insulation and reduce her utility bill.

Watch the 15-second “Saving Money” ad here.

Watch the 30-second “Saving Money” ad here.

Watch the 15-second “Future” ad here.

Watch the 30-second “Future” ad here.

Republican Voters Against Trump are running new ads

Republican Voters Against Trump ran ads on Tuesday in Green Bay critical of former President Donald Trump for the actions on January 6, 2021 at the U.S. Capitol. Former Pres. Trump visited Green Bay on Tuesday, and the ads will also run in Grand Rapids, Michigan where the former president also stopped. The group did not say how much was spent on the one-day campaign but did say the ads ran on Fox and other major broadcast news networks and YouTube.

Watch the ad here.

MU releases national poll

Marquette Law School released a national poll this week finding President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump tied at 50% among registered voters. When surveying likely voters, Pres. Biden has 52% support while former Pres. Trump has 48%. In February’s poll, Trump was at 51% with registered voters, and 52% among likely voters.

See the poll release.

The next Marquette Law School Wisconsin poll results will be released on April 17.

U.S. Senate

Trump endorses Hovde

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde received former President Donald Trump’s “complete and total” endorsement during the former president’s Green Bay rally on Tuesday. Former Pres. Trump said of Mr. Hovde, “You have tremendous potential, and she’s a weak candidate,” referring to U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison). “If you lose to her, that’s not a good thing” the former president added.

Mr. Hovde spoke before former Pres. Trump, saying the country has “taken a beating” during Pres. Biden’s administration. He said Pres. Biden’s policies have led to a humanitarian crisis along the southern border, sent inflation skyrocketing, and decreased real wages. Mr. Hovde went on to say Sen. Baldwin has supported Pres. Biden and does anything the “hard left wants.”

Wisconsin Democratic Party spokesperson Arik Wolk responded, “Eric Hovde and Donald Trump are birds of a feather: two out of touch rich guys running to put themselves first and Wisconsinites last. From banning abortion, repealing the Affordable Care Act, and promoting MAGA conspiracies about January 6 and the 2020 election, Donald Trump and Eric Hovde won’t fight for Wisconsin values.”

Hovde raises at least $1 million since campaign launch

A spokesperson for U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde said he has raised more than $1 million since his campaign launch in February. They said the $1 million did not include Mr. Hovde’s personal contributions that he made to his campaign. FEC reports are due April 15 to cover the first quarter of 2024’s fundraising. The $1 million meets the threshold to be eligible for an endorsement for the state’s Republican Party but will be verified by FEC reports filed this month. Receiving the endorsements gives the candidates access to benefits like the party’s infrastructure. In 2022, the minimum was $100,000 to qualify for the party’s endorsement, increasing it this year ten times due to the expected cost to challenge U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D). For comparison, Sen. Baldwin finished last year with more than $8 million cash on hand.

Hovde launches new TV ad

GOP U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde released a new TV ad critical of President Biden and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D) for their “open border policy.” The campaign is running statewide but didn’t include any other details. In the ad, Mr. Hovde says, “Our country was already struggling to provide housing and health care to our citizens and tragically, we’re losing over 100,000 Americans a year to the drugs that pour over our open border,” and later promises, “I’ll work to fix this problem.”

Watch the ad here.

U.S. House of Representatives

Dem joins 8th CD race

OB/GYN physician Kristin Lyerly (D-Green Bay) has announced she will run for Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District. Dr. Lyerly, a Democrat from De Pere, said her campaign will focus on healthcare access. “As an OB/GYN, I have been attacked firsthand by MAGA extremists targeting a woman’s right to make her own health choices,” said Dr. Lyerly. “I will work tirelessly to ensure that every woman in our state has access to reproductive care, including safe and legal abortions, essential services like maternity care, and mental health support.” This won’t be Dr. Lyerly’s first political campaign. She previously challenged Rep. John Macco for the 88th Assembly District in 2020 and lost, receiving 48% of the vote to Rep. Macco’s 52%.

The race for the 8th CD has gained increased attention in recent weeks after Congressman Mike Gallagher announced he would not run for reelection and instead would resign from his seat effective April 19. So far, two Republicans — state Sen. Andrew Jacque and former state Sen. Roger Roth — have officially entered the race. A third GOP candidate with ties to former President Donald Trump, political consultant Alex Bruesewitz, has also floated a possible run.

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.

Opportunity Wisconsin launches new ad targeting Van Orden

Opportunity Wisconsin launched a new digital ad that is critical of U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien) for allegedly siding with big corporations rather than farmers. The ad will run on digital platforms across the 3rd CD and are part of a previously announced seven-figure buy.

Watch the ad here.

Administration Updates

Evers takes action on bills

Governor Tony Evers (D) signed seven bills and vetoed two bills this week. He signed SB 222, which promotes pre-disaster flood resilience in Wisconsin communities, and AB 232, which requires school boards to include education on the contributions and history of Hmong Americans and Asian Americans in Wisconsin.

Below are the press releases for the passed bills:

• SB 222 which promotes flood resilience, click here.
• AB 232 which adds Hmong and American histories to K-12 school curriculum, click here.
• AB 558 which adds the Mount Horeb Veterans Memorial to state highway maps, click here.
• SB 399 which designates the USH 63 bridge, SB 452 which designates state Trunk Highway 128, and SB 668 which makes changes to DFI regulation, click here.
• AB 917 which bars the sale of certain unsafe lighters, click here.

One of Gov. Evers’ vetoes was SB 145, which would have created a new license for advanced practice registered nurses (ARPNs). Gov. Evers’ said he vetoed the bill because he opposes new licensure and practice standards for ARPNs.

Below are the press releases for the vetoed bills:

• AB 377 which would have prevented transgender and gender nonconforming youth from participating on school athletic teams that align with their gender identity, click here.
• SB 145’s veto message, click here.

Medicaid fund projected to end biennium with $30M surplus

Wisconsin’s Medicaid fund is projected to end the biennium with a surplus, although slightly less than previously forecasted. The Department of Health Services notified the Joint Finance Committee that Wisconsin is on track to spend more than $8.6 billion in general purpose revenue on the program. That number is $26 million less than was budgeted but slightly higher than what the agency reported three months ago, which would have resulted in a $56.5 million surplus.

The agency said increased enrollment was a factor in the higher spending. The state projects that certain elderly, disabled and blind populations will still be below the budgeted numbers. However, child enrollments are expected to be 5% higher than expected due to a new federal requirement for 12 months of continuous coverage of Medicaid children between their annual eligibility redeterminations. The report also listed other factors that contributed to the reduced surplus, such as an increase in fee-for-service expenditures for nursing homes and hospitals, as well as prescription drugs.

Quick Hits

Statewide spring elections were held today and at the top of the ticket was the Presidential Preference Primary and two Constitutional Amendment referendums.

Below are the current projected winners of key races:

Presidential Preference Primary (81% Reporting)

Democratic candidates:

• Joe Biden: 87.9%
• Uninstructed Delegation: 8.8%
• Dean Phillips (Suspended): 3.3%

Republican candidates:

• Donald Trump: 79.1%
• Nikki Haley (Suspended): 12.8%
• Ron DeSantis (Suspended): 3.4%
• Uninstructed Delegation: 2.2%
• Chris Christie (Suspended): 1.6%
• Vivek Ramaswamy (Suspended): 0.9%

Constitutional Amendment Referendums (79.4% Reporting)

• Question 1
  • Yes: 54%
  • No: 46%
• Question 2
  • Yes: 57.9%
  • No: 42.1%

Local Races

• Milwaukee Mayor
  • Cavalier Johnson: 77%
  • David King: 22%
• Milwaukee County Exec
  • David Crowley: 83%
  • Ieshuh Griffin: 16%
• Wausau Mayor
  • Katie Rosenberg: 48%
  • Doug Diny: 52%

Presidential Preference Primary

With 81% of precincts reporting, the presidential preference primary adds 41 delegates for former President Donald Trump as the Republican nominee and 79 delegates to President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee.

Below is the current reporting of the results:

Democratic candidates:

• Joe Biden: 87.9%
• Uninstructed Delegation: 8.8%
• Dean Phillips (Suspended): 3.3%

Republican candidates:

• Donald Trump: 79.1%
• Nikki Haley (Suspended): 12.8%
• Ron DeSantis (Suspended): 3.4%
• Uninstructed Delegation: 2.2%
• Chris Christie (Suspended): 1.6%
• Vivek Ramaswamy (Suspended): 0.9%

Constitutional Amendments Referendums

With 81% of precincts reporting, both referenda have passed.

State of Wisconsin Use of Private Funds in Election Administration Referendum – Question 1

Vote for one

QUESTION 1: “Use of private funds in election administration. Shall section 7 (1) of article III of the constitution be created to provide that private donations and grants may not be applied for, accepted, expended, or used in connection with the conduct of any primary, election, or referendum?”

• Yes: 54%
• No: 46%

State of Wisconsin Election Officials Referendum – Question 2

Vote for one

QUESTION 2: “Election officials. Shall section 7 (2) of article III of the constitution be created to provide that only election officials designated by law may perform tasks in the conduct of primaries, elections, and referendums?”

• Yes: 57.9%
• No: 42.1%

Local Races of Note

Milwaukee Mayor

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson secured his first full term as Milwaukee Mayor after defeating David King.

• Cavalier Johnson: 77%
• David King: 22%

Milwaukee County Exec

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley also won his reelection bid after a victory against Ieshuh Griffin.

• David Crowley: 83%
• Ieshuh Griffin: 16%

Wausau Mayor

Incumbent Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg lost her reelection bid to conservative Doug Diny.

• Katie Rosenberg: 48%
• Doug Diny: 52%

In this update:

• Election Updates
• Administration Updates
• Legislative Updates

Election Updates

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. Sheila Stubbs (D-Madison) announced her candidacy for the 78th AD. Rep. Stubbs currently represents the 77th AD but was drawn into the 78th under the new maps. She has no other incumbents drawn into the district with her, and the district has an 81.7% Democratic lean.

• Sen. Duey Stroebel (R-Cedarburg) will run in the new 8th SD in the 2024 election. Sen. Strobel currently represents the 20th but was drawn into the 8th SD under the new maps with Sen. Dan Knodl (R-Germantown). Sen. Knodl already announced that he will not be running for reelection to the State Senate and will instead run for the 24th Assembly District seat. The new 8th SD has a 49.6% GOP lean.

• Sen. Eric Wimberger (R-Green Bay) announced he will be moving to the 2nd SD to launch his campaign, creating a primary between him and Sen. Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay). Sen. Wimberger said moving districts will allow him to live closer to his family business and to help his mom. Sen. Wimberger, Sen. Cowles, and Sen. Andre Jacque (R-DePere) were all drawn into the 30th SD under the new maps. Sen. Cowles already announced his intention to move to the 2nd AD after the maps were signed, and Sen. Jacque announced his bid for the 8th CD. The new 30th SD that they were all drawn into has a 51.5% Democratic lean, and the 2nd SD has a 62.8% GOP 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.

Non-incumbent election announcements

• Former state representative Rob Kreibich (R-New Richmond) announced his candidacy for the new 28th AD. Mr. Kreibich is the current New Richmond Chamber President, and his priorities are tax relief for families, regulatory reform, smaller government, and college affordability. Kreibich previously served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1993 to 2006, when he lost his re-election to Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick) who now represents the 31st SD. The new 28th is an open seat with a 63% GOP lean.

• Blong Yang (R-Appleton) announced his candidacy for the 18th SD. Mr. Yang is the first Hmong Republican to run for state office in Wisconsin. He is local business owner who says he will prioritize economic development for all of Wisconsin, cut taxes, eliminate income and social security taxes, and make government a partner of business. The 18th SD is currently represented by Sen. Dan Feyen (R-Fond du Lac). However, Sen. Feyen was drawn into the 20th SD and will run for re-election in that district. The new 18th SD is therefore an “open seat,” with no incumbent seeking re-election, and is a 54.3% Democratic lean seat. Appleton Alder Kristin Alfheim (D-Appleton) also announced her candidacy for the seat last month.

* 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.

Baldwin launches new TV ad

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison) launched a new TV ad, saying she “fought like hell” to protect pensions for Wisconsin workers. The ad is included in a previously announced seven-figure buy that will run across all Wisconsin markets. The ad refers to a provision in the American Rescue Plan that enabled the U.S. Treasury to provide assistance to failing multiemployer pension plans.

Watch the ad by clicking here.

Opportunity Wisconsin launches ad targeting Steil

Opportunity Wisconsin, a left-leaning issue advocacy organization, launched a new TV ad against U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Janesville). The ad accuses Rep. Steil of siding with drug companies instead of favoring an insulin price cap. The ad launched this week on Milwaukee broadcast TV and is included in a previously announced seven-figure media campaign.

Click here to watch the ad.

Americas PAC files $222,922 to oppose Baldwin

The conservative group Americas PAC notified the FEC they added $222,922 to its independent expenditures to oppose U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison). The money is for a radio spot that is critical of Sen. Baldwin for “inflation, out-of-control immigration, and insider deals.”

Listen to the spot: AmPAC_WISpring24_BidenWay_Final_60.mp3

DPW and RPW file finance reports

The state Democratic Party brought in $500,473 in late contributions since March 19, according to their latest filing. Former hedge fund manager and philanthropist George Soros contributed $250,000 to the sum while New York investor Clay Kirk contributed $90,000. Since the start of the new year, DPW has raised just under $6 million in its state account and reported having $3.6 million cash on hand in its Spring Pre-Election 2024 campaign finance report. LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman was the largest contributor to state Democrats, donating nearly $3.6 million since Jan. 30, roughly the same amount of money the state GOP has raised in total over the past six months.

Meanwhile, the Republican Party of Wisconsin reported a $237,650 donation from ABC Supply owner and chair Diane Hendricks, as well as a $50,000 donation from Fred Young, a retired CEO from Racine, for a total of $287,650 in late contributions since March 19. Since the start of the new year, RPW has raised slightly less than $400,00 in its state account and reported having $646,224 cash on hand in its Spring Pre-Election 2024 campaign finance report.

Active state groups in the spring election must file reports of donations $1,000 or more that were received over the two weeks between the end of the pre-election period and the election. The pre-election reports were due this week.

Bloomberg News/Morning Consult releases new poll

Bloomberg News/Morning Consult released a new Wisconsin Presidential poll showing the race between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump is within the margin of error. Of registered Wisconsin voters, 46% favored Pres. Biden and 45% favored Trump. In last month’s poll, Trump was ahead of Pres. Biden by 4 points.

The poll surveyed 697 Wisconsin registered voters March 8-14. The data was weighted based on gender, age, race/ethnicity, marital status, homeownership and 2020 presidential vote. The margin of error is +/- 4 percentage points. FiveThirtyEight rates Morning Consult 1.8 stars out of 3 stars.

See the poll release.

Trump rally next Tuesday in Green Bay

Former President Donald Trump will hold a rally in Green Bay Tuesday evening. This will be Trump’s first visit to Wisconsin since August 5, 2022, when he held a rally in Waukesha for the GOP candidate for governor, Tim Michels. The announcement said Trump will begin at 5pm at the Hyatt Regency with the doors opening at 2pm. The event is being held the same day as the Wisconsin spring elections which also includes the state’s presidential preference primary. President Joe Biden campaigned in Milwaukee earlier this month and Vice President Kamala Harris has visited Wisconsin twice in 2024.

Administration Updates

Evers takes action on bills

Governor Tony Evers (D) signed fifty bills and vetoed forty-one bills this week. He signed two bills designating highways, as well as bills focused on community safety. A highlighted bill was AB 573 which establishes a pilot program to provide virtual behavioral health crisis care services for county or municipal law enforcement agency officers. Gov. Evers also vetoed SB 335 that “would have allowed individuals with no license, no education, no training, no experience, no specific skillsets, no qualifications, and no background check to become school district administrators and have direct contact with kids at school.”

Gov. Evers also officially vetoed AB 386, a $3 billion GOP plan that would have reduced the third-highest tax bracket from 5.3% to 4.4% while enabling married couples to subtract $150,000 in payments from qualified retirement plans from their taxable income once they’re 67 or older. Gov. Evers said the bill was fiscally irresponsible and would leave the state “unable to meet its basic obligations to adequately fund education, health care, public safety and aid to local governments.”

For SB 633 Designating the Ho-Chunk World War II Code Talkers Memorial Highway, click here.

For SB 223 Designating the Corporal Benjamin H. Neal Memorial Highway, click here.

For SB 875 which decriminalizes the use of xylazine testing strips, click here.

For SB 829 which allows a tactical emergency medical services (TEMS) professional, who is acting in the line of duty, to carry a firearm, click here.

For the full list of community safety bills, click here.

For the SB 335 and its veto message, click here.

For 17 signed bills and 40 vetoed bills, click here.

DOR secretary Barca announces he is leaving Evers’ administration

Department of Revenue Secretary Peter Barca announced he will be leaving Governor Tony Evers’ administration after more than five years of service. “Peter has been with our administration since Day One, and I knew from the beginning that he would be a dedicated, enthusiastic, and effective leader for the Department of Revenue,” said Gov. Evers. “We’ve accomplished much together over the past five years on behalf of the people of Wisconsin, including ensuring Wisconsin taxpayers will see $1.5 billion in tax relief annually through income tax cuts I’ve signed into law. I thank Peter for service and wish him and his family all the best.”

Sec. Barca is reportedly considering a run for the 1st Congressional District, a seat he held thirty years ago. Sec. Barca won a 1993 special election to fill the vacancy created by Wisconsin Congressman Les Aspin’s appointment to be US Secretary of Defense under President Bill Clinton. Barca won the special election over Republican Mark Neumann by just 675 votes. Barca lost his re-election in 1994 in a re-match with Neumann by 1,120 votes. Prior to serving in Congress, Barca served in the state legislature for eight years. In 2008, Barca returned to the State Assembly and served in that body for another 10 years before being one of Governor Tony Evers first cabinet appointments. Racine County Emergency Management coordinator and Navy Reserve intelligence officer Lorenzo Santos and healthcare professional Diane Anderson have announced plans to run for the Democratic nomination for the seat.

Legislative Updates

Vos on ‘Upfront’

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) appeared on WISN’s ‘Upfront’ this week. On the show, Speaker Vos discussed his recall challenge and hiring Michael Gableman. Other topics discussed included:

• Donald Trump
• Recent RNC hires
• Monday processing bill

Watch the full interview here.

In this update:

• Election Updates
• Administration Updates
• Legislative Updates
• Upcoming Events

Election Updates

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. Elijah Behnke (R-Oconto) announced his bid for the 4th AD. He currently represents the 89th AD but has been drawn into the 4th AD with incumbent Rep. David Steffen (R) under the new maps. “I didn’t want to be paired,” he said. “We vote alike 98% of the time, but the reason I’m running against him is because I feel like friends and family and Oconto County constituents will get more say in Madison because I’m actually from that community.” Rep. Behnke was first elected in April 2021 in a special election. The new 4th AD has a 66% GOP lean according to the 2022 elections at the top of the ticket.

• Rep. Jenna Jacobson (D-Oregon) announced she is running for the new 50th AD. Rep. Jacobson currently represents the 43rd AD and was drawn into the 50th AD with no other incumbents under the new maps, leaving the 43rd open. Rep. Kurtz represents the 50th AD right now, and with the new maps, the district has a 59.2% Democratic lean after having a 62.8% GOP lean based off of the 2022 elections.

• Rep. Alex Dallman (R-Green Lake) announced he will be seeking a third term in the state Assembly; this time in the 39th AD. He currently represents the 41st AD and was drawn into the 39th with no other incumbents. The new 39th has a 68% GOP lean according to the 2022 elections at the top of the ticket.

• Rep. Loren Oldenburg (R-Viroqua) announced is reelection to the 96th AD. He was first elected to the Assembly in 2018 and was drawn into the 96th without another incumbent. However, the new 96th has a 56.7% Democratic lean where the old 96th had a 58.3% GOP lean according to the 2022 elections at the top of the ticket. Former La Crosse County Board Chair Tara Johnson also put in a bid for the seat two weeks ago.

• Rep. John Spiros (R-Marshfield) announced his reelection to the 86th AD. Rep. Spiros was first elected to the 86th AD in 2012 and was redrawn into the 86th under the new maps along with Rep. Donna Rozar (R). Rep. Rozar currently represents the 69th AD which is a 72% GOP leaning open seat. The new 86th AD has a 65.1% GOP lean.

• Rep. Cindi Duchow (R-Town of Delafield) launched her campaign for the 97th AD after representing the 99th AD since 2015. She was drawn into the 97th AD under the new maps along with Rep. Scott Johnson (R). The new 97th now includes areas south of I-94 in the Waukesha County area while also moving west. The new 97th AD has a 69.9% GOP lean according to the 2022 elections.

• Rep. Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) announced his reelection bid for the 1st AD. Rep. Kitchens has represented the 1st AD in 2014 and was redrawn into the district under the new maps. He was drawn into the district without any pairs, and the district has a 59.1% GOP lean. He said fixing the state’s reading crisis is one of his top priorities as Chair of the Assembly Education Committee.

• Rep. Tom Michalski (R-Elm Grove) launched his reelection campaign to the 13th AD. Rep. Michalski was elected to represent the 13th AD in 2022 and was redrawn into the district along with Rep. Robyn Vining (D). The new 13th AD has 57.5% Democratic lean, but it previously had a 57.5% GOP lean.

• Rep. Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc) announced he will be seeking reelection in the 41st AD. Rep. Kurtz currently represents the 50th AD and was first elected to the seat in 2018. He has been drawn into the 41st AD under the new maps. The new 41st AD has a 60.1% GOP lean according to the 2022 election results.

Not running for reelection 

Two incumbent Republican lawmakers this week announced their intention not to seek re-election. Representatives Gae Magnaifici (R-Dresser) and Angie Sapik (R-Lake Nebagamon) join 15 other incumbent lawmakers in not seeking re-election to their current office in 2024.

• Rep. Gae Magnafici (R-Dresser) announced her retirement from the Assembly. “As I prepare to leave public office, my dedication to this community does not waver. I am immensely thankful for the trust and support extended to me over the years and am optimistic about the future prosperity and growth of our great state,” she said. Rep. Magnafici was first elected to the 28th AD in 2018. She was drawn into the 75th AD without another incumbent, leaving the 65.9% GOP leaning seat open.

• Rep. Angie Sapik (R-Lake Nebagamon) announced she will not be running for reelection for Assembly in 2024. She said in her press release, “In the governor’s map, our district changed from nearly 50/50 Republican versus Democrat to an overwhelming 62% Democrat seat. Ultimately, and honestly in the last seconds, I decided to hit the green button and vote for the Governor’s Maps – for the good of the party and what I deemed to be for the good of the state. Essentially, I voted myself out of office to help save the Republican majority.” She first ran for the 73rd AD in 2022 and was redrawn into the district under the new maps. However, the new 73rd AD changed from a 53.2% GOP lean to a 61.3% Democratic leaning seat.

Non-incumbent election announcements

• Duke Tucker (R) launched his campaign for the 75th AD following Rep. Gae Magnafici’s (R) retirement announcement. Mr. Tucker enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served in Desert Storm/Shield as a combat communications specialist. He also served as the Operations Manager at Grantsburg Telcom for 28 years. Some of his priorities include: community safety, wise use of hard-earned tax dollars, protect 2nd amendment rights, protect private property rights, and ensure secure and fair elections. The new 75th AD has a 65.9% GOP lean.

• Madison Common Council Alder Nasra Wehelie (D) announced her candidacy for the 80th AD. She said she will bring “a community-centered approach and draws from her lived experiences to address critical issues, including housing, women’s rights, education, economic development, criminal justice reform, and sustainability.” Rep. Mike Bare (D) announced he will be running for reelection for the seat as well.

• Brad Cook (D) announced his bid for the 40th AD. He currently serves on the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, the Town of Pacific Plan Commission, and the Pardeeville Fire Department. The 40th AD is currently held by Rep. Petersen (R), but he was drawn into the 57th AD. Rep. Dave Considine (D) was drawn into the 40th but announced his retirement earlier this year. The new 40th AD has a 55.3% Democratic lean based on the results of the 2022 election at the top of the ticket. Engineer Kyle Kunicki (D) already announced his candidacy for the seat.

Gallagher announces resignation effective April 19

U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R) announced he is resigning from his U.S. House seat after announcing earlier this year that he would not be running for reelection in the fall. His resignation announcement did not include a reason for the decision, but his decision does contribute a shrinking GOP majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. U.S. Rep. Ken Buck (R) also announced his resignation on Friday. Once those two resignations are effective Republicans will have an even more slim 217-213 majority in the House of Representatives.

In his statement, Gallagher said “Four terms serving Northeast Wisconsin in Congress has been the honor of a lifetime and strengthened my conviction that America is the greatest country in the history of the world. I will forever be proud of the work I did on the Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, chairing the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, and chairing the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. It has truly been an honor to serve in the House of Representatives.”

Biden releases new TV ads

President Joe Biden’s campaign launched two new TV ads in Wisconsin “aimed at highlighting the ‘disaster’ former President Trump would be for Black Americans if he is reelected president” according to an article in The Hill. The ads will run through April 21 in Wisconsin and other swing states as well as nationally on Black-owned news platforms and streaming platforms during the NCAA basketball tournament. In both the 30 second ad and the 15 second ad, Pres. Biden says as “bad as Trump was, his economy was worse. Black Americans felt it the most.”

Watch the 30 second ad here.

Watch the 15 second ad here.

Emerson College Polling/The Hill releases new poll

Emerson College Polling/The Hill released a poll this week tracking the presidential and senate race in Wisconsin. The survey found a 2024 rematch between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden in Wisconsin is within the margin of error. According to the survey Donald Trump has the support of 46% of Wisconsin registered voters while Pres. Biden has the support of 43%. In February, the survey had Trump at 45% and Biden at 42%. When third party candidates are included as an option, Trump receives 43%, Biden 40%, and Robert Kennedy Jr. 6%. Cornel West and Jill Stein each receive 1%. In February, the survey had 41% supporting Trump, 37% supporting Biden, 7% supporting Kennedy and 1% supporting Cornel West and Jill Stein respectively.

The poll also has Wisconsin’s US Senate race within the margin of error. In their latest survey, Emerson found U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D) leading GOP candidate Eric Hovde 45% to 42%. In their February poll, Emerson had Sen. Baldwin at 46% and Mr. Hovde at 39% among registered voters.

The poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters March 14-18. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points. FiveThirtyEight rates Emerson College Polling/The Hill 2.9 stars out of 3 stars.

Administration Updates

Evers takes action on 98 bills

Governor Tony Evers (D) took action on 98 bills in addition to the electric vehicle bills. He signed forty-eight bills and vetoed six in his first round of bills that he took action on. Gov. Evers then signed an additional forty-four bills later in the week. Among the legislation signed into law was AB-574, which regulates earned wage access services and programs. Also signed was AB 664, which requires disclosures on political advertisements when artificial intelligence is used to generate content. Several of the bills vetoed by the governor relate to the administration of elections. Also vetoed was AB 476, which would have prohibited the governor from filling vacancies in the offices of secretary of state, treasurer, attorney general, and state superintendent of public instruction through appointment without confirmation by the state Senate.

For the first list of signed and vetoed bills, click here.

For the second list of signed bills, click here.

Evers signs EV bills

Governor Tony Evers (D) signed into law SB 791 and SB 792, now 2023 Wisconsin Acts 121 and 122, which enables WisDOT to receive and administer more than $78 million in federal funds under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to support electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. “We don’t have to choose between protecting our environment and natural resources or creating good-paying jobs and infrastructure to meet the needs of a 21st-Century economy—in Wisconsin, we’re doing both,” said Gov. Evers. “Expanding EV charging infrastructure is a critical part of our work to ensure Wisconsin is ready to compete and build the future we want for our kids—one that is cleaner, more sustainable, and more efficient. Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re ready to get to work.”

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R) said the federal dollars going to electric charging stations are “such a waste” and a “big, huge boondoggle,” adding that electric vehicles won’t be the reality of where the nation is in a decade and the money should be going towards fixing roads.

Legislative Updates

Vos speaks at WisPolitics luncheon

WisPolitics hosted a luncheon to chat with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R) to reflect on this session, look ahead to future sessions, and discuss the November elections. Below are some other topics covered during the talk:

• His recall
• New maps
• Bipartisan agreements
• Education
• Right of First Refusal (ROFR)
• Medical marijuana
• Transportation

Watch the talk here.

In this update:

• Election Updates
• Legislative Updates
• Administration Updates
• Redistricting Updates

Election Updates

Lawmaker election announcements

Following Governor Tony Evers (D) signing 2023 Act 94 into law last month, more lawmakers have been making plans on how to adjust to the new legislative maps. Listed below are the latest announcements from legislators.

• Rep. Samba Baldeh (D) announced his bid for the new 16th SD. He currently represents the 48th AD and decided to run for Sen. Melissa Agard’s (D) seat when she announced she would not be seeking reelection. The new 16th has a 66.1% Democratic lean according to the 2022 election results at the top of the ticket. Rep. Melissa Ratcliff (D) and Rep. Jimmy Anderson (D) have also expressed interest in the 16th SD.

• Rep. Jodi Emerson (D) announced she is running for reelection for the 91st AD. The new 91st has shifted east compared to her current 91st and will decrease to a 54.8% Democratic lean from a 65.2% Democratic lean. Rep. Karen Hurd (R) was drawn into the 91st with Rep. Emerson but has announced her bid for the 69th AD instead.

• Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R) announced she is seeking reelection in the 12th SD. Sen. Felzkowski was first elected to the state Assembly in 2012 before joining the Senate in 2020. Sen. Felzkowski remains in the 12th SD without other incumbents and the district maintains its GOP lean of 65.4% based off the 2022 election results at the top of the ticket.

• Rep. Rob Brooks (R) announced his candidacy for the 59th AD. Rep. Brooks has represented the 60th AD for nine years and has now been drawn into the new 59th without being paired with any other incumbents. The new 59th AD has a 75.2% GOP lean according to the 2022 election results at the top of the ticket.

• Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer (D) announced she is seeking reelection in the 66th AD. Rep. Neubauer was first elected to the state assembly in 2018 in a special election. Rep. Neubauer currently represents the 66th AD and was drawn into the district without any other incumbents. The new 66th has a 55.6% Democratic lean.

• Sen. Patrick Testin (R) announced his reelection campaign for the 24th SD. Sen. Testin was first elected to the Senate in 2016. The new 24th has a 57.5% GOP lean and does not pair Sen. Testin with another incumbent. The district now has Black River Falls but no longer includes east of Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids.

• Rep. Barbara Dittrich (R) announced her bid for the 99th AD. Rep. Dittrich has previously represented the 38th AD but has been drawn into the 99th AD under the new maps, leaving the 38th open. Rep. Duchow currently represents the 99th AD and has been drawn into the 97th AD, leaving Rep. Dittrich as the sole incumbent. The new 99th AD has a 69.3% GOP lean based off of the 2022 election results at the top of the ticket.

Non-incumbent election announcements

• Former Sun Prairie Council President Bill Connors (D) announced his bid for the 48th AD. Mr. Connors was an alder on the Sun Prairie City Council from 2015 through early 2020 and was elected twice to serve as the Council President. Rep. Samba Baldeh (D) currently represents the district and announced his bid for the 16th SD, leaving the seat open. The 48th AD has a 69.2% Democratic lean according to the 2022 election results.

• Renuka Mayadev (D) announced her candidacy for the 77th AD. She is an attorney, public policy strategist, and public health expert who is running to protect “reproductive rights, the well-being of all Wisconsin’s children and families, and the very future of our democracy from the Ultra MAGA right.” The 77th AD is currently held by Rep. Shelia Stubbs who was drawn into the 78th, leaving the 77th open. The district has an 86.8% Democratic lean according to the results of the 2022 election at the top of the ticket. Dane County Board member Chuck Erickson announced his bid for the 77th last week. The primary will be on August 13th.

Vos recall effort appears to have fallen short

The group trying to recall Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R) turned in their petition signatures on Monday. According to recall organizer Matthew Snorek, more than 10,000 signatures were turned in. The group needed 6,850 valid signatures to initiate a recall election. However, an initial review by the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) found the recall organizers did not obtain the necessary number of valid signatures to trigger a recall regardless of which lines would be used under that recall election. The precursory review found only 5,905 signatures from the current 63rd AD — which is the district Speaker Vos was elected in when the recall began — 945 short of the number needed to trigger a recall election. The preliminary review also found only 3,364 signatures within the lines of the new 33rd Assembly District, which is the district Speaker Vos was draw into under the new 2023 Act 94 maps.

WEC agency staff sought clarification from elections commissioners during a March 12th meeting to determine which district boundaries should be used when assessing signatures for the recall petition. In a memo to commissioners, staff noted “Representative Vos was elected from the old Assembly District 63. His residence would now place him in the new Assembly District 33, but some of his previous voters now reside within the new Assembly District 66. Staff seeks guidance from the Commission concerning how staff should conduct the second review of signatures.” The memo noted typical practice would require the recall to take place using the lines from which the officeholder subject to recall was elected, which is the 63rd AD. However, because of the Supreme Court’s injunction on using the old legislative maps, agency staff questioned under what lines a recall election would take place and by extension, where the signatures would need to come from. Elections Commissioners responded by voting in favor of asking the state Department of Justice to petition the state Supreme Court. The WisDOJ motion, which was filed today, seeks clarification on which district boundaries should be used for a possible recall.

In a statement, Speaker Vos questioned whether the signatures for the recall petition were collected illegally. He promised to evaluate each signature to confirm its accuracy and implored Republicans in Racine to “reject this misguided effort on principle alone.” He has 10 days after the signatures were submitted to challenge their sufficiency. WEC must make a determination on the maps by April 11. Agency staff noted a possible timeline for the recall election would include a primary May 21 with the recall election on June 18.

Biden visits Milwaukee

President Joe Biden visited a Boys & Girls Club in Milwaukee this week to tout a $3 billion federal grant program to help communities divided by decades-old transportation infrastructure projects. Prior to the stop, the White House announced $36 million to help communities in the 6th Street corridor impacted by the construction of I-94/I-43 in the 1960s. President Biden said it will provide safer bike lanes, new bus lanes, and other improvements to neighborhoods that were disproportionately impacting low-income people and communities of color after transportation projects of the 1960s. “You’ve lived and felt the decisions made decades ago. Today, we’re making decisions to transform your life for decades to come,” Pres. Biden said. He kept most of his remarks focused on infrastructure but directed a few critical remarks at former President Donald Trump and U.S. Senator Ron Johnson.

President Biden also made a stop at his state campaign headquarters in Milwaukee and said his campaign in Wisconsin is “going to get down to knocking on doors, the old-fashioned way.” He also said “No one should be jailed for just using and possessing marijuana and it staying on their record.”

In a press release, Republican Party of Wisconsin Chair Brian Schimming dismissed the president’s visit, pointing to high inflation, as well as lost jobs in the manufacturing and dairy industries. “On Joe Biden’s watch, Wisconsin has lost 6,000 manufacturing jobs and 455 dairy farms in the last year,” said Mr. Schimming. “Instead of paying us a visit to brag about his abysmal record, the President should be offering working families an apology for Bidenomics.”

Watch the video.

Biden targets WI with new ad

President Joe Biden’s campaign is releasing a $30 million ad campaign in Wisconsin along with six other states. The six-week campaign will broadcast on national and local cable in the Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay markets. It also includes a digital component that has an emphasis on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. The ad, entitled “For You” opens with the President saying, “Look I’m not a young guy. That’s no secret. But here’s the deal, I understand how to get things done for the American people.”

Watch the ad here.

Hovde launches new ad

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde is releasing a new ad called “Can’t Be Bought,” that will be aired on broadcast, cable, and satellite TV statewide. The ad is included in a previously announced seven-figure buy. In the ad, he said he won’t accept special interest money and would donate his salary to charity if he were elected, saying he “he can’t be bought.”

Watch the ad.

Mayor Johnson launches first ad in reelection bid

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson is launching his first ad of this election cycle entitled “Looking Up,” to tout his efforts to decrease reckless driving and reduce crime. The ad is included in a six-figure buy that will run through the April 2 election on broadcast TV and streaming services.

Watch the ad here.

Senate Majority PAC announced $14 million reserved for WI

Senate Majority PAC announced it has $14 million reserved for TV ads in Wisconsin for the fall. The $14 million is on top of a more than $2 million buy the group has targeting Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde. The ad reservations span across the country for a total $239 million buy. Other states include: Ohio, $65 million; Montana, $45 million; Pennsylvania, $42 million; Nevada, $36 million; Arizona, $23 million; and Michigan, $14 million.

Republican Voters Against Trump to spend $50 million on ads

Republican Voters Against Trump announced plans to spend $50 million on an ad campaign targeting former President Donald Trump. The ads will be featured on TV, streaming, radio, billboards and digital in six states, including Wisconsin. There are no details yet on a total spend in Wisconsin, what markets it will appear in, or a start date. The ads consist of testimonials from more than 100 voters who have previously voted for Donald Trump and why they no longer will support him.

To see the Wisconsin testimonials, click here.

Legislative Updates

End of Session

The Senate was on the floor for the last time this session on Tuesday while the Assembly held its final floor session in February. PFAS mitigation, education, tax cuts, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure are just a few of the numerous issues addressed in bills that have been passed by the legislature and must be sent to Gov. Tony Evers by April 4th for his signature or veto. The full list of enrolled bills can be viewed here.

Several bipartisan accomplishments were achieved this session, including increased shared revenue for municipalities, literacy reform, and keeping the Brewers in Wisconsin. Meanwhile, there were still significant pieces of legislation left on the table that will likely be revisited next session.

See the full list of bills signed into law this session: click here

See the full list of vetoes: click here

Senate rejects eight Evers appointees

The state Senate rejected eight of Governor Tony Evers’ (D) appointments on the floor this week. The Senate rejected four nominees to the Judicial Commission and approved one nominee, Mary Beth Keppel. She is a retired attorney and the past president of Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center and was approved 27-5. Three of the rejections were along party lines. Sen. Rob Cowles (R) voted in favor of Jane Foley’s nomination with his Democratic colleagues. Sen. Van Wanggaard said the picks were political and were unprepared to answer basic questions that raised concerns about their qualifications.

The Senate also rejected two appointments to the UW Board of Regents. Both appointees opposed Speaker Robin Vos’ (R) deal with UW leaders to decrease DEI positions in exchange for funding. The Senate also rejected Terrance Craney, a former president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, as a public member of the Deferred Compensation Board. They also rejected Mildred Gonzales to the Council of Domestic Abuse despite her being approved 5-0 in the Senate Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families Committee.

Rejected Judicial Commission nominees:

• Yulonda Anderson, a senior client services specialist with the Milwaukee-Trial Office of the State Public Defender;
• Jane Foley, a retired victim advocate from the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office;
• Janet Jenkins, an attorney who worked as an investigator for the council when she was in private practice; and
• Judy Ziewacz, served as deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Rejected UW Board of Regents nominees:

• John Miller, a Democratic donor and businessman;
• Dana Wachs, a former Democratic member of the Assembly.

Gov. Evers was critical of Republican Senators for the rejections, saying in a press release, “Senate Republicans are continuing their unprecedented efforts to baselessly fire capable, qualified Wisconsinites who are volunteering their skills, time, and energy to serve our state, and for no reason other than petty, partisan politics. We work incredibly hard to appoint the best candidates to every role, so to have these folks’ service to our state politized like this just because they don’t bend to the will of certain politics or politicians—it’s ridiculous. Republicans have turned a basic duty of government into a political circus, and the ones who pay the price are the people of Wisconsin.”

In a different press release, Gov. Evers announced new appointments to each of the boards. He appointed retired financial consultant Timothy Graham to the Deferred Compensation Board, and the director of the Office of Victim Services and Programs at the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Elizabeth Lucas to the Governor’s Council on Domestic Abuse.

The new appointees to the Judicial Commission are:

• Barbara Notestein, a former Democratic member of the Assembly;
• Roberta Gassman, a former Department of Workforce Development secretary;
• Analiese Eicher, a Dane County supervisor; and
• John Hendricks, a retired teacher and superintendent.

The new appointees to the UW Board of Regents are:

• Haben Goitom, a business professional and attorney, and
• Amy Traynor, the lead teacher at Anthony Acres School in the Mondovi School District.

Bare elected as Assembly Democratic caucus secretary

Rep. Mike Bare (D) was elected Assembly Democratic caucus secretary this week. He was unopposed going into the election, following Rep. Kristina Shelton (D) stepping down after her announcement that she is not running for reelection in the fall. In a press release, Rep. Bare wrote “I thank my colleagues for electing me a member of the Assembly Democratic Caucus leadership team. We have a diverse, capable, and accomplished caucus. We are capable of creating and enacting a vision for the future that will benefit Wisconsinites, and I am excited to work with our leadership team to accomplish that.”

Administration Updates

Marcus Hawkins appointed to PSC

Governor Tony Evers (D) announced his appointment of Marcus Hawkins to the Public Service Commission (PSC). The appointment comes after the Senate did not approve PSC Commissioner Tyler Huebner’s appointment. Mr. Hawkins is the executive director of the Organization of MISO States (OMS). Prior to OMS, he was a senior engineer at the PSC and a program manager and engineer at Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation. Mr. Hawkins’ appointment is to begin April 8, 2024, and he will serve for the remainder of the term ending March 1, 2027.

“Marcus Hawkins’ experience working with utilities and his proven commitment to the state have well-prepared him to take on the role of commissioner,” said Gov. Evers. “We have important work ahead of us at the PSC, from expanding access to high-speed internet to building 21st-century clean energy infrastructure across our state, and I’m glad to have Marcus’ expertise back at the PSC and know that he will serve the people of Wisconsin well.”

Evers acts on 15 bills

Gov. Tony Evers signed 15 bills into law this week. In a press release announcing the bills he signed, Gov. Evers gave special praise to Senate Bill 99, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 106, which provides additional eligibility for municipalities to fund water quality improvement projects under the Clean Water Fund Program. “Since Day One, my administration has been working to ensure that every Wisconsinite, no matter their ZIP code, can trust the water from their tap is clean, healthy, and safe,” said Gov. Evers. “I’m proud to be signing a bill today that will expand the Clean Water Fund Program, helping ensure communities across the state have the resources they need to bolster their infrastructure and replace and modernize aging systems.”

Read the full list of bills that Gov. Evers took action on: click here

Redistricting Updates

GOP lawmakers request SCOWIS to dismiss redistricting case

Republican lawmakers have formally requested the state Supreme Court dismiss the redistricting lawsuit, saying the case is no longer relevant after Governor Tony Evers (D) signed his maps into law. The motion came after the justices declined to act on Gov. Evers’ recent request for the court to retain jurisdiction in the redistricting suit to “entertain motions and address other proceedings” since it was unclear if the new maps apply to elections before the November elections. The state Supreme Court responded they would not take any action on the governor’s letter or any others that were not formal motions.

In their motion to dismiss, the GOP lawmakers referred to previous court writings in which the court said it would retain jurisdiction in the case only to ensure maps were adopted in time for the 2024 election. The motion argued the new maps solve the contiguity issues that were used as the foundation for the maps being ruled unconstitutional. With the contiguity issues resolved and new maps passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, the Republican legislators urged the court to dismiss the lawsuit.

In this update:

• Election Updates
• Redistricting Updates
• Administration Updates
• Legislative Updates
• Upcoming Floor Session

Election Updates

Lawmaker election announcements

Following Governor Tony Evers (D) signing his maps into law last month, more lawmakers have been making plans on how to adjust to the new legislative maps. Listed below are the latest announcements from legislators.

• Rep. Tod Ohnstad (D) announced he will not seek reelection this fall to the state Assembly. Rep. Ohnstad was elected to the Assembly in 2012 after working at AMC for 30 years. He also served six years on the Kenosha Common Council. His seat under the new maps now has a 55.9% Democratic lean after previously having a 60% Democratic lean. Rep. Ohnstad is now the fourth Democratic Assembly member to announce retirement. He said he is “eager to explore different opportunities and adventures crossing some of the things off my neglected bucket list. I look forward to more time with my wife, dogs, and Kenosha friends and neighbors.”

• Rep. Ellen Schutt (R) announced her reelection for the 31st Assembly District. Rep. Schutt was elected to her first term to the 31st and remains in the district without a pair under the new maps. The seat has now a 63.2% GOP lean.

• Rep. Karen Hurd (R) announced her bid for the 69th AD. Rep. Hurd was elected to the 68th Assembly district in 2022. Under the new maps, she is now drawn into the 91st, a Democratic leaning district, with Rep. Jodi Emerson (D). Rep. Hurd plans to move into the 69th seat that remains open and has a GOP lean of 72%.

• Rep. Shae Sortwell (R) announced his bid for the 2nd AD. Rep. Sortwell currently represents the 2nd AD, but the district will be losing De Pere and Two Rivers under the new maps. However, the district is gaining Ledgeview, Denmark, New Denmark, Rockland, Francis Creek, Kossuth, Kellnersville and Franklin which he represented from 2019 to 2023 but lost in the previous redistricting. The new map pairs Rep. Sortwell with Rep. John Macco (R) in the 2nd, and the district has a 62.8% GOP lean using the data from the 2022 elections.

• Sen. Joan Ballweg (R) announced her reelection to represent the 14th Senate District. Sen. Joan Ballweg was elected to the state Senate in 2020 following eight terms in the Assembly. She was an elementary school teacher and has been in business with her husband for 47 years owning and operating Ballweg Implement. Under the new maps, Sen. Ballweg was drawn into the 13th SD and paired with Sen. John Jagler (R). She is running for the 14th that has incumbent Sen. Howard Marklein (D) drawn into and has a 53.3% Democratic lean based on the results of the 2022 election at the top of the ticket.

Non-incumbent election announcements

• Former law enforcement officer and co-founder of Wisconsin Right Now Jim Piwowarczyk (R) announced he is running for the 98th AD. The district has no incumbent living in its boundaries. Current 98th AD Rep. Adam Neylon (R) was drawn into the 15th AD under the new maps. The new 98th has a 71% GOP lean based on the results of the 2022 election at the top of the ticket. Former state Rep. Don Pridemore (R) is also running for the 98th AD.

• Fitchburg City Council member and Dane County supervisor-elect Randy Udell (D) announced his bid for the 47th AD. Mr. Udell’s campaign said he will focus on broadband access, abortion rights, affordable childcare, education, Medicaid expansion, and climate change, among others. The district’s current Rep. Jimmy Anderson (D) has announced plans to run for the 16th AD after Sen. Melissa Agard (D) said she would not be seeking reelection. The new 47th has a 73% Democratic lean based on the results of the 2022 election at the top of the ticket. The primary will be held on August 13th.

• Green Bay small business owner Jamie Wall (D) announced his bid for the 30th SD. Mr. Wall serves in leadership roles on the Green Bay Water Commission and his local neighborhood association. Sen. Wimberger (R) currently represents the 30th SD, but under the new maps , Sen. Wimberger, Sen. Cowles (R), and Sen. Jacque (R) are paired together. However, Sen. Wimberger is the only incumbent who has said he would run for reelection in the 30th SD. The district has a 52.6% Democratic lean based on the results of the 2022 election at the top of the ticket.

• Kyle Kunicki (D) announced his candidacy for the 40th AD. He is a mechanical engineer by profession and his press release said he is “deeply committed to innovative problem-solving and inclusive policy making.” The 40th AD is currently held by Rep. Petersen (R), but he was drawn into the 57th AD. Rep. Dave Considine (D) was drawn into the 40th but announced his retirement earlier this year. The new 40th AD has a 55.3% Democratic lean based on the results of the 2022 election at the top of the ticket.

• Dane County Board member Chuck Erickson (D) announced his bid for the 77th AD. He has served on the Dane County Board since 2002 and has spearheaded Dane County initiatives to recognize domestic partnerships and gay marriage, as well as championed affordable housing and voting rights. The 77th AD is currently held by Rep. Shelia Stubbs who was drawn into the 78th, leaving the 77th open. The district has an 86.8% Democratic lean according to the results of the 2022 election at the top of the ticket. The primary will be on August 13th.

• Tara Johnson (D) announced she is running for the 96th AD. She is a former La Crosse County Board Chair and recently dropped out of the Democratic primary for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District. Rep. Loren Oldenburg (R) currently represents the 96th and is the only incumbent drawn into the new 96th. However, the partisan makeup of the seat will undergo a nearly 10-point partisan swing that favors Democrats, going from a 58.3% GOP lean to a 56.7% Democratic lean based on the results of the 2022 election at the top of the ticket.

Jacque announces bid for 8th CD

State Senator Andre Jacque (R) announced he will run for the 8th Congressional District in northeastern Wisconsin. Last month, current 8th CD incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R) announced that he will not seek reelection in November. Sen. Jacque was first elected to the state Assembly in 2010 and the state Senate in 2018. His state Senate seat would be vacated in January 2025 if he were to win the congressional race. Sen. Jacque is the second Republican to enter the 8th CD race, following former state Sen. Roger Roth who announced his candidacy in February.

In his press release, Sen, Jacque said, “I’m excited to launch my campaign to fight for the people of Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District. Living in and representing the Northeast portion of the state has afforded me the opportunity to meet many neighbors who have become friends. I’ve worked tirelessly in the Senate to serve them and make the lives of their families, and mine, better. I’m proud of my record delivering conservative wins and fighting back against liberal policies that would harm our state. I’d be honored to earn your vote and bring our Wisconsin conservative values and common sense to Washington.”

VP Harris and First Lady visit Wisconsin

Vice President Kamala Harris was in Madison this week to tout federal-local apprenticeship programs and infrastructure projects. VP Harris was with Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway at the city’s new electric bus rapid transit facility to highlight Madison as an example of the Biden administration’s priorities to build collaboration between unions, the federal and local governments, and the private sector. “It is also an example of the fact that when we invest in the American people, including the American worker, everyone benefits,” VP Harris said. She also announced President Joe Biden signed an executive order for federal agencies to identify what federal jobs can be filled by those trained through apprenticeship programs, “and not just giving these jobs to people with a four-year college degree.”

Prior to VP Harris’ visit, several prominent Wisconsin Republicans including U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil held a press conference in which they claimed that despite the vice president trying to appeal to apprentices and union workers, the Biden administration made those who didn’t attend college pay for student loan debt cancellation and also eliminated union jobs by canceling the Keystone XL pipeline. Rep. Steil said the Biden administration’s policies have increased prices for everything in Wisconsin. “If she came to any grocery store in the state of Wisconsin and talked to anyone who’s checking out, she’d have learned firsthand that it’s harder and harder for families to afford what they need,” Rep. Steil said.

First Lady Jill Biden was also in Wisconsin this week visiting Waukesha on Sunday to tout her husband’s position on reproductive rights, saying another Donald Trump presidency would be “dangerous for women.” She spoke to around 100 people at the Waukesha Expo Center, and the stop was a part of her “Women for Biden-Harris” tour. She went on to say, “Donald Trump is dangerous to women and to our families. We simply cannot let him win. We must re-elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.”

Baldwin launches first ad

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D) launched her first ad of this election cycle, touting legislation she authored that requires American-made materials to be used in federal infrastructure projects. The campaign is putting seven figures into its initial buy for the next several weeks. It will be launched on TV, cable, and digital platforms across Wisconsin. The ad features a series of people saying they forage steel parts, but China lowballing their prices have been making it difficult to compete. Sen. Baldwin says, “We can’t let China steal Wisconsin jobs. So I wrote a law to require American infrastructure projects use American iron and steel.”

Hovde launches new TV ad

U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde launched a new statewide ad on TV, cable, and satellite. This campaign is another $700,000 ad after last week’s seven-figure ad launch. The ad features his wife, Sharon Hovde, who opens the ad saying her husband is a fourth generation Wisconsinite who graduated from Madison East High School and “then became a proud Badger.” She continues about his business accomplishments, his foundation, and ends with calling him a man of integrity who’s principled, honest and straightforward.

WinSenate launches at least $2 million in ads

WinSenate, a PAC that supports Democratic candidates, launched $2 million in ads in Wisconsin, making it the first significant outside spending in the race. The buy aired a week after GOP candidate Eric Hovde launched his first paid media in the race to take on U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D). The ad is critical of Mr. Hovde for his connections to California. WinSenate is a Senate Majority PAC affiliate and has placed ads in other top Republican target states, like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Montana.

Redistricting Updates

SCOWIS rejects redrawing the congressional maps

The state Supreme Court unanimously rejected a request to redraw Wisconsin’s congressional lines. The court did not provide an explanation for their decision despite recently overturning the state’s legislative maps that were used in the 2022 elections. Legal observers of the case said the petition not alleging a constitutional violation with the congressional lines and not filing until mid-January made it difficult for the justices to take up the case.

Washington D.C. based Elias Law firm filed the brief in January with three Democratic voters asking the state Supreme Court to redraw the congressional districts in Wisconsin before the 2024 elections, based off the court’s ruling in December over the state’s legislative lines. The petition argues some of the lines in place are from the court’s 2021 decision to take a “least change approach” to the maps that were drawn by Republicans a decade before. With that standard removed from the state legislative maps, the brief argues there is no justification to maintain the current congressional lines based on the same principle.

Administration Updates

Evers signs childcare tax credit

Governor Tony Evers (D) signed a bipartisan bill that expands the current child and dependent care tax credit from 50 percent to 100 percent of the federal credit. Gov. Evers signed AB 1023, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 101, at La Casa de Esperanza in Waukesha. “The cost of childcare is too darn high—making quality childcare more affordable across Wisconsin is not just about doing what’s best for our kids, it’s also critical for keeping more folks and parents in our state’s workforce. Signing this bill today will go a long way toward defraying yearly family expenses on childcare, giving Wisconsinites some breathing room in their household budgets and making sure our kids have the early support and care they need,” said Gov. Evers. Last week, Gov. Evers’ vetoed the rest of the tax cut package that AB 1023 was included in, saying it would leave the “state unable to meet its basic duties to provide adequate funding for programs and services provided by the state, including education, healthcare, childcare, public safety, and aid to local governments in the 2025-27 biennium and beyond.”

Evers approves UW projects

Governor Tony Evers (D) signed three bills to enumerate critical capital project investments for the UW-System for system-wide capital improvements as well as renovations to UW-Whitewater and the UW-Madison new engineering building project. “Investing in Wisconsin’s world-class higher education institutions, including our UW System, is critical for doing what’s best for our kids and helping us recruit, train, and retain talented students to help address the workforce challenges that have plagued our state for generations,” said Gov. Evers. “If we want to build a strong workforce and economy that are prepared to meet the needs of the 21st Century, then investing in public education—from early childhood to our higher education institutions—must be a top priority.”

Below are the bills signed:

• SB 161, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 104, authorizes the UW System to enter into and administer with the state of Minnesota a tuition reciprocity agreement.
• SB 896, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 103, allows UW System institutions to keep the net revenue they earned by attracting students from Minnesota and provides the UW System the opportunity to negotiate on behalf of its institutions to ensure that the tuition reciprocity agreement effectively serves Wisconsin students.
• SB 895, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 102, amends the 2023-25 Authorized State Building Program to include additional enumerations for the UW System and requires the UW System Board of Regents to submit to the Board of Veterans Affairs a plan to honor the veterans of the state.

Gov’s AI Task Force

The Governor’s Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence held its fourth meeting on March 4^th. Updates were provided by Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Secretary Amy Pechacek, Department of Administration Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld, and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes. Guest speakers included Anupam Khare – Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Oshkosh Corporation, and Amanda Ballantyne – Chief Executive Director of the AFL-CIO Technology Institute. Mr. Khare provided commentary on how artificial intelligence is automation’s next frontier, as well as Oshkosh Corp.’s current use of and plans for AI. Ms. Ballantyne spoke about AFL-CIO’s work on artificial intelligence from an organized labor perspective. The meeting concluded with presentations from the task force’s working groups on education, government, workforce development, and economic development and their guiding principles and broad policy areas being assessed.

Read the full memo from Michael Best: click here

Legislative Updates

Democratic Assembly members will caucus to elect new secretary March 12th

Democratic members of the Assembly will caucus on March 12 to elect a new secretary after Rep. Katrina Shelton (D) announced she is stepping down from her leadership role. Last week, Rep. Shelton announced she will not seek reelection in the fall. “It has been an honor to serve as your Democratic Caucus Secretary for the last two years,” Rep. Shelton wrote. “Thank you for trusting me to be a part of our incredible leadership team that has shaped our caucus’s path over this biennium!”

Members interested in the position have a deadline of March 11 to express interest to run and to be included on the ballot.

Upcoming Floor Session

• Senate floor session on March 12th.