Legislature Votes to Put Bail, Welfare Reform on Spring Ballot

Among the first measures to pass both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature this year were two legislative resolutions that will put questions before voters. Both resolutions passed the Senate on January 17 and the Assembly two days later, largely but not entirely along party lines. Both questions will appear on the next statewide ballot, the […]

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Supreme Court Candidates Discuss Philosophy and Key Cases at WisPolitics Forum

Currently, judicial conservatives enjoy a 4-3 majority on Wisconsin’s elected supreme court. Justice Patience Roggensack, a judicial conservative, is not seeking reelection, creating a vacancy which will decide control of the court. The race will be hotly contested, attracting a significant amount of attention. The four candidates for the open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme […]

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Gov. Evers Begins Second Term as GOP Legislature Considers Broad Tax Reform

Tony Evers Sworn in for Second Term as Governor Inauguration Day in Wisconsin took place on January 3. Democratic incumbents Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul began their second terms in office, while Sara Rodriguez was sworn in as the state’s new lieutenant governor. Gov. Evers spent the majority of his second inaugural […]

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Spring Election Update: Republican Primary in SD 8; Supreme and Appellate Court Races

A total of four candidates will compete in a special election for the 8th Senate District, which was triggered by eight-term Sen. Alberta Darling’s (R-River Hills) retirement. The general election will take place on April 4, coinciding with Wisconsin’s 2023 spring election, which also features a statewide supreme court race and many nonpartisan and local elective […]

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Kicking Off Second Term, Gov. Evers Names Several New Agency Heads

Following the November 2022 election, three members of Gov. Tony Evers’ (D) cabinet announced they were leaving the administration. Sec. Preston Cole of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Sec. Mary Kolar of the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) have both retired, and Gov. Evers has since appointed their replacements. To lead DVA, Gov. […]

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Open Supreme Court Seat Attracts Four Candidates

The 2023 spring election will feature a statewide race for an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Justice Patience Roggensack is retiring after 20 years on the state’s highest court. First elected in 2003 and reelected in 2013, Justice Roggensack also served as chief justice from 2015 to 2021. This race has implications for […]

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Sen. Darling Retires; Special Election to Take Place in the Spring

State Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) retired on December 1, stepping down in the middle of her eighth term in office. She announced her retirement two weeks after the November 2022 election. Sen. Darling served in the Wisconsin Legislature for a total of 32 years, representing the 8th Senate District since 1993. She served on […]

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2023-24 Legislative Session: Caucus Leaders

As a result of the November 2022 election, Republicans will continue to control both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature with strong majorities. After the election, the Assembly and Senate party caucuses met and selected their leaders for the 2023-24 legislative session. Senate leadership from both parties will mostly remain the same, save for one new […]

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2023-24 Legislative Session: Joint Finance Committee Members

The 16-member Joint Committee on Finance (or Joint Finance Committee, JFC) is among the most important committees of the Wisconsin Legislature. It is responsible for writing the biennial state budget and has the authority to approve requests for funding, agency position authority, and state lawsuit settlements. The committee has an equal number of members from […]

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2023-24 Legislative Session: New Members

Following the November 2022 election, the Wisconsin Legislature will have 31 new members, nearly 25 percent of its total membership. This turnover was almost entirely due to legislators retiring or seeking other offices. Only Rep. Don Vruwink (D-Milton), who was moved into a differently numbered district due to redistricting, lost his bid for reelection. Shortly […]

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