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 […]
Spring Election Update: Republican Primary in SD 8; Supreme and Appellate Court Races
Date Wed, Jan. 11, 2023 - 9:20am By Hamilton
Kicking Off Second Term, Gov. Evers Names Several New Agency Heads
Date Wed, Jan. 11, 2023 - 9:00am By Hamilton
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. […]
Open Supreme Court Seat Attracts Four Candidates
Date Tue, Dec. 13, 2022 - 1:59pm By Hamilton
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 […]
Sen. Darling Retires; Special Election to Take Place in the Spring
Date Tue, Dec. 13, 2022 - 1:57pm By Hamilton
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 […]
2023-24 Legislative Session: Caucus Leaders
Date Tue, Dec. 13, 2022 - 1:51pm By Hamilton
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 […]
2023-24 Legislative Session: Joint Finance Committee Members
Date Tue, Dec. 13, 2022 - 1:49pm By Hamilton
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 […]
2023-24 Legislative Session: New Members
Date Tue, Dec. 13, 2022 - 1:43pm By Hamilton
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 […]
2022 Election Results
Date Wed, Nov. 9, 2022 - 10:23am By Hamilton
Based on available results as of Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at 10:30 AM. United States Senate Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (50.5 percent) won a third six-year term, defeating Democratic challenger Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes (49.5 percent). Governor Democratic Gov. Tony Evers (51.2 percent) defeated Republican challenger Tim Michels (47.8 percent). Evers’ running-mate Rep. Sara […]
2022 Election Preview
Date Wed, Oct. 26, 2022 - 10:05am By Hamilton
Political Environment Historically, midterm elections in the first term of a presidency are rather textbook in nature. Whichever party has recently won the presidency tends to face an unfavorable electoral environment. On average, the party in power loses 36 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and faces challenges in races from the top to […]
Where the Gubernatorial Candidates Stand on Environmental and Energy Policy
Date Tue, Oct. 25, 2022 - 3:13pm By Hamilton
A recent poll of Wisconsin voters found that 69 percent are “very” or “somewhat concerned” about climate change, an issue affecting many aspects of environmental and energy policy. This year’s gubernatorial candidates, incumbent Gov. Tony Evers (D) and challenger Tim Michels (R), have addressed these issues in various public appearances throughout the campaign. Although neither […]