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
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 […]
Study Committees Begin to Consider, Recommend Legislation
Date Tue, Oct. 25, 2022 - 2:28pm By Hamilton
The Joint Legislative Council (JLC) of the Wisconsin Legislature recommends special committees to study major issues identified by the Legislature, typically during even-numbered years after adjournment. This year, seven study committees were established with instructions to gather information and make policy recommendations that could be considered for adoption by the Legislature next year. Bills drafted […]
Governor Calls for Special Session to Repeal Abortion Law
Date Fri, Jun. 17, 2022 - 1:01am By Hamilton
Gov. Tony Evers (D) has called on the Wisconsin Legislature to convene a special session to consider repealing an 1849 law limiting abortion in the state. Gov. Evers issued an executive order on June 8 directing the Legislature to convene on June 22. The Legislature adjourned its 2021-22 regular session on March 8. Senate Majority […]
Judge Rules Legislative Oversight of DOJ Settlements is Unconstitutional
Date Thu, May. 26, 2022 - 6:22pm By Hamilton
A relatively new law, requiring the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) to seek legislative approval to settle or discontinue a civil action, is facing a legal challenge brought by Attorney General (AG) Josh Kaul. Enacted in December 2018 during a “lame-duck” extraordinary session, 2017 Wisconsin Act 369 granted the review power to the Legislature’s budget-writing […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Reverses Earlier Redistricting Decision, Selects Republican Legislative Maps
Date Tue, Apr. 19, 2022 - 9:17am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has adopted state legislative maps proposed by Republican legislative leaders, a reversal of the court’s earlier decision adopting maps proposed by Gov. Tony Evers (D). On April 15, the state’s high court issued what is likely to be its final ruling related to the current cycle of redistricting in Wisconsin. The […]