Quotes of the Week
That’s a lie. We did that. We’re willing to do it, just not as much as he wanted.
– Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, on Gov. Tony Evers saying Republicans refused to agree to meaningful investments in education, child care and the UW System as bipartisan budget talks broke down.
No, I didn’t lie. Let’s put it that way.
– Evers on Vos’ comments.
You cannot put a price tag on patriotism.
– U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, on President Donald Trump’s upcoming military parade. The event will be held in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, which will mark both the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary and Trump’s birthday.
The fact that Donald Trump did this on his birthday is just one more sign of the pathetic, wannabe-King-attitude that Donald Trump shows every single day.
– U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Town of Vermont, on the event.
Political Stock Report
-A collection of insider opinion-
(May 31 – June 13, 2025)
Rising
Tourism: Wisconsin visitors in 2024 set a new record high for their economic impact. More than 114 million of them came to the Badger State last year, topping the previous record set in 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic put a dent in the state’s tourism industry. Dem Gov. Tony Evers and his administration take a victory lap as they tout the $25.8 billion economic impact tourism had on Wisconsin last year, surpassing the previous record of $25 billion set in 2023. Altogether, the industry generated $1.7 billion in state and local revenue last year, and it supported 181,898 part-time and full-time jobs across sectors in 2024, growing 2.2% from the previous year. Milwaukee County — the state’s largest — led the way with $4.3 billion in impact, followed by Dane County at $2.6 billion and $2 billion in Sauk County, home to the water park capital of the world. The numbers factor in three things: direct visitor spending on things like food and lodging; indirect spending that impacts a region’s supply chain, and induced spending, which includes what people earn while working a tourism-related job and then spending at another local business. Milwaukee County no doubt got a boost from hosting the Republican National Convention and the 50,000 people who swung through Wisconsin as the party nominated Donald Trump for the presidency. Looking ahead, the state already has a good start on topping 2024’s numbers with the successful NFL draft in Titletown in April. Green Bay says 312,000 individuals attended the draft festivities over three days, topping the 240,000 who were in Detroit last year. The NFL, meanwhile, pegs it at 600,000 people in Green Bay over the three days, counting attendance by the number of people who entered the grounds; those who left and came back were counted each time they entered the event’s footpath. Last year, the NFL had 775,000 in Detroit. Either way you count it, the turnout was impressive considering the Green Bay metro area — with Brown, Kewaunee and Oconto counties — has about 320,000 people. The six-county Detroit metro area has about 3.8 million. It looks like the Green Bay area, though, may miss out on additional state money to help defray the public safety costs of hosting the draft. The guv’s budget included $1 million for the city through municipal aid. Though the money was earmarked for Green Bay, the city had indicated it would be shared with Ashwaubenon and Brown County to help with their costs. But the GOP-run Joint Finance Committee this week didn’t include the money in its actions on the shared revenue program. Barring action later in the budget or separate legislation, locals will miss out on additional help covering those costs.
Mixed
Mark Born and Howard Marklein: The co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee have a challenging task ahead: How do they put together a budget that’s conservative enough to get enough GOP support to pass it out of both houses and at the same time has a realistic chance of Dem Gov. Tony Evers signing it? Or a GOP-made budget that at least gives the guv some serious heartburn about the potential political fallout if he doesn’t sign it. Oh, and it’d be nice if they could speed things along with the fiscal year wrapping at the end of the month. GOP legislative leaders for weeks sought to strike a deal with Evers. There was no secret why. With smaller majorities than they’ve had in recent sessions, real questions have emerged on how likely it is that leaders will be able to get at least 17 of 18 Republicans in the Senate and 50 of the 54 GOP members in the Assembly to vote for the two-year spending plan. Some have argued a better bet would be to strike a deal to pick up some Dem votes and call it a day. But with talks breaking down, the GOP-run Joint Finance Committee kicks into high gear after weeks of delay. It finally OKs two high-profile pieces of the budget on taxes and education. The parameters of the tax plan are no surprise. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, has been talking for months about wanting a tax break on retirement income, while Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, has called for a focus on one of the state’s tax brackets. They fit both into a $1.3 billion package that has some wondering if the guv will feel compelled to sign it with a possible reelection bid on the horizon. Evers last year vetoed GOP tax cuts that included a more generous tax break on retirement income and a larger expansion of the income covered by the second-lowest bracket. Will the calculation be different this time with 2026 just over the horizon? Or would the guv be unfazed by that — and maybe even keep in the back of his mind what he could do with that money if Dems won a trifecta next year? The education package, meanwhile, includes $336 million, the bulk of which would go toward special education. It’s a fraction of the $3.3 billion that Evers proposed, though Republicans note it’s not the whole enchilada with education spending. The guv two years ago used his partial veto pen to extend by four centuries an annual increase in per-pupil spending of $325 per student. That revenue cap limits what districts can spend between state aid and property taxes. The more money the state puts in, the less districts can raise from homeowners. Republicans have obsessed over property tax bills for years. Still, districts would see about $1 billion in additional money to spend overall under the GOP approach, with close to two-thirds of that coming from property taxes. Joint Finance Co-chair Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, hints Republicans could make other moves later in the budget process that would impact property tax bills. But without further changes, homeowners are looking at a property tax bill this December that would be $160 more than what Joint Finance Dems proposed and $276 higher on the bills sent out in 2026. To some, Republicans are gambling that if the budget they send Evers is signed into law, voters would blame the guv for their property tax bills spiking. But that requires explaining the impact of his 400-year veto, and in politics, the more you explain, the less likely it is you win. That has some believing it’s a bad gamble. Then again, some Republicans gripe they never get credit for holding down property taxes, anyway. During a stop in Green Bay, Evers tells reporters: “The last thing I would want to do as governor is to veto a budget. That’s just not something that’s in my DNA.” Some believe Republicans need to do just enough to appease the guv for him to sign what they put in front of him. After all, he’s done some saber-rattling before on the budget only to sign what Republicans put before him. The theory is: get just close enough to what Evers wants, and he’ll sign it so people aren’t stuck in the Capitol all summer. Others say that’s a bad take. The lack of investment in education crosses a red line for the guv, and vetoing the budget would be a sign of strength to voters, especially those looking for someone to fight for education. What’s more, Republicans have teed up a vote on the Universities of Wisconsin on Tuesday. When the guv was still engaged in negotiations with GOP legislative leaders, many believed the UW might be able to squeeze out something from this budget, though it’d be nowhere near the $855 million that it requested. Now, some are wondering just how badly Republicans will ding the system, especially with some still steaming over diversity, equity and inclusion. If Republicans really want the guv to sign their budget, the investment they put into K-12 was a poor start, some say. Taking a meat cleaver to UW could further irritate Evers. Before getting to that calculation, however, Republicans still need to get a budget through both houses. With Dem votes likely off the table, there’s little margin for error. The Senate went first last time on the budget, meaning it’s the Assembly’s turn to take a whack at it. Can you imagine if the Assembly signs off on the Joint Finance version of the budget only for Senate Republicans to amend it to appease conservatives like Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, or Steve Nass, R-Whitewater? Insiders are already gaming out a series of “what if?” scenarios. And what Joint Finance does in the coming weeks will shape those possible outcomes. With the delayed start because of the budget talks between Evers and GOP leaders, there’s still a window to complete the budget before July 4. It likely requires the committee to meet twice next week and likely at least once the week of June 23. Then there’d be a window to deliver the document to Evers before July 4 — if there’s enough GOP support for whatever Born and Marklein produce.
Stewardship: If there’s no legislative oversight, there’s no program. A quick-moving bill seeks to address that concern from GOP lawmakers. But with details still being hashed out and a budget rapidly approaching, some wonder if it will be too much of a lift to extend the program another four years through 2030. The state Supreme Court last year overturned the process the GOP-controlled Legislature had used to block stewardship purchases. In a 6-1 ruling, the court found lawmakers can’t authorize the money for purchases and then require the Department of Natural Resources to come back for their sign-off. Some Republicans haven’t been big fans of the program, especially those who complain it’s gobbling up too much territory in places like northern Wisconsin, restricting the ability of locals to grow their tax bases through development. Not having the chance to weigh in on how the money is spent, though, was the last straw for some Republicans who said they wouldn’t reauthorize the program unless legislators have a say. State Sen. Pat Testin, R-Stevens Point, and Rep. Tony Kurtz, R-Wonewoc, hope they have a solution. First unveiled this month and already up for a public hearing, their bill would give lawmakers input on big projects by creating a major land acquisitions program for projects that exceed $1 million. It would require those projects to be enumerated through legislation, with the DNR submitting to the Joint Finance Committee and the appropriate standing committees a list of all major land acquisitions with information such as the estimated purchase price. Similar to how the Building Commission uses an enumeration project to sign off on projects, backers hope the approach would give lawmakers a say in those big projects without running afoul of the state Supreme Court’s ruling. The challenge, though, is it’s creeping up to mid-June and the proposal is just a starting point. At least that’s how Kurtz pitched it in committee as he sought to build support. There also isn’t any money in the bill, a nod to Republicans’ reluctance to mix funds and policy in anything these days as they try to get around Dem Gov. Tony Evers’ partial veto power. The proposal would extend the program through 2030 at $28.25 million in annual spending, compared to the current level of $33.25 million. It’s also well short of the 10 years at $100 million annually that the guv proposed in his budget, but Dems are keeping an open mind because it’s a lifeline for the program. Even so, they’d like to see some final numbers in print to make sure they’re OK with it. And saying that money will be there in the budget isn’t quite good enough to get them fully on board. They’ve seen that play out one too many times where the money is set aside only for policy differences to prevent it from being released.
Falling
Conservatives: WisPolitics reported last month that pessimism was growing in conservative legal circles over whether Justice Rebecca Bradley would run for reelection next year. Conservative talk show host Mark Belling reports he’s hearing it’s now unlikely she takes the plunge. Whatever she decides, insiders say, the fact that there’s even a conversation about whether an incumbent justice who’s a favorite of the conservative legal community can win a spring race in Wisconsin shows just how bad things have gotten for Republicans. Shortly after Dane County Judge Susan Crawford won the April 1 election by 10 points — locking up a liberal majority until at least 2028 — Bradley told WisPolitics she planned to seek a second 10-year term in 2026. Bradley added she planned to take some time to assess what happened in the April race and determine how to achieve a court that isn’t dominated by the radical left. It doesn’t appear she likes the assessment so far. Belling cites sources close to Bradley in reporting she’s realistic about the challenge of winning a spring race as a conservative after taking stock of the last few races. Belling reports no final decision has been made, and a source close to Bradley tells WisPolitics the same. The source adds there’s been a “discouraged” tone coming from the justice on the prospects of running next year. Who could blame her? The GOP has become the party of Donald Trump, and Republicans are openly acknowledging one of their biggest problems is that his supporters fail to turn out when he’s not on the ballot. What’s more, he sends Dems into hyperdrive. Crawford received 1.3 million votes in April, which is more than Republicans Tim Michels and Scott Walker got in the 2022 and 2018 guv races. Bradley has a unique way of firing up the conservative base with her fiery dissents pushing back against the liberal majority that took over the court in 2023. If she can’t attract the resources and turnout to win a spring election, who can? Insiders note that former GOP AG Brad Schimel fully embraced Trump in his bid this spring, while Daniel Kelly in 2023 kept him at arm’s length. Neither approach mattered as both lost by double digits. Money didn’t seem to matter, either. Kelly was outspent by $9.5 million as the candidates and groups dropped $56 million on the race, according to a WisPolitics tally. This year, spending hit $109 million — and counting. Of that, $59 million went to backing Schimel, suggesting conservatives face an uphill battle even if they go all in financially. The state GOP is working on a postmortem of the spring race as it seeks answers to reverse its off-year losing streak. Insiders are skeptical the report will tell Republicans anything they didn’t already know about the shift in the spring electorate and the inefficient money strategy on the right. Dems have a finely tuned operation where large donations flow into the state party, which then takes advantage of a GOP-authored law to make unlimited transfers to the candidates. They get better rates on the air, and it allows them to get more messages out on broadcast TV than the other side even when they are at a financial disadvantage. You can bet the state party will argue conservative donors need to put more resources into the WisGOP than outside groups to follow the same playbook, and the report would be right, some say. But will the party take ownership of the reasons some donors don’t trust it to spend their money wisely, particularly after the issues it’s had raising funds in recent years? If Bradley decides against a run, the attention on the right would immediately shift to 2nd District Court of Appeals Judge Maria Lazar or Waukesha County Judge Jennifer Dorow, who finished third in the four-way 2023 Supreme Court primary. Neither, though, would have the gravitas of Bradley in defending the seat. Insiders say Bradley dropping out would be a boost to Dane County Judge Chris Taylor, who has all but cleared the liberal field for next year’s race. The former Dem lawmaker and policy director for Planned Parenthood would be a test case for just how liberal a candidate for the Supreme Court can be and still win with a Dem-leaning electorate. Despite what conservatives see as weaknesses in her candidacy, others point out she’s a solid messenger who’s honed those skills in numerous legislative debates and won’t wilt under the glare of an intense campaign. What’s striking to some is the negative tone of Belling’s assessment against a candidate with Taylor’s profile. It comes across to some as a conservative can’t win, so why bother trying? Insiders note while another run may not be an attractive option for Bradley, the alternatives for her aren’t great, either. Some have mentioned her name as a potential fit for the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals appointment in Chicago. But at 53, she’s older than the Trump administration’s target range of people in their 30s and 40s who can serve on the bench for decades. And going back to private practice isn’t necessarily an easy option for a former Supreme Court justice. Big firms are usually looking for high-profile hires who have a roster of clients they bring with them. That’s just not possible when you’ve been on the bench since Walker appointed her to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in 2012. As Bradley contemplates her future, conservatives seem resigned to another tough race next spring. And with the seat of conservative Justice Annette Ziegler up in 2027, some see a realistic path to all seven seats being in liberal hands two years from now.
Judicial safety: Credible threats against state judges and justices are on the rise. But that’s not enough to persuade GOP members of the Joint Finance Committee to create a new police force for the state Supreme Court after shooting down a similar request two years ago. Conservative Justice Annette Ziegler made the pitch for an Office of the Marshals in 2023 to no avail and tried again with the court’s budget proposal this year. Ahead of the Joint Finance Committee considering the request, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau put together background on the proposal that noted there had been 22 credible, identified threats against judges and justices between January and March that were referred to law enforcement for a formal investigation. At that pace, the state would see some 88 such threats for all of 2025, compared to 29 in 2024 and 46 in 2023. The issue took on new urgency in 2022, when retired Juneau County Judge John Roemer was executed in his home. Police said a man Roemer had sent to prison more than a decade earlier was found inside the judge’s house, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot. And some believe the constant railing that Donald Trump has done against the judiciary since returning to the White House is making things worse. Dem Gov. Tony Evers included 8.4 full-time equivalent general-fund supported positions to create a new Office of the Marshals for the Supreme Court, with nearly $2.3 million to cover the costs. With the 1.6 FTEs already authorized for the Supreme Court for a civilian marshal and a deputy marshal, the proposal would create a force of 10 under the direction of the Supreme Court. To some, the additional staff is even more pressing because the guv used federal COVID-19 funds to cover four positions providing protective services to the court, and that money runs out Aug. 31, 2026. Joint Finance Co-chair Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, telegraphed the committee’s rejection of the proposal ahead of the meeting, questioning whether there was a need for the court to have its own police department. To some, there are plenty of resources within Capitol Police to cover the court’s needs. Others can’t help but see politics at play considering Republicans’ disdain for the court’s liberal majority after it’s ruled against them in a string of cases.
Study: bills to curb foreign land ownership popular in many states, including Wisconsin
As Wisconsin lawmakers debate competing approaches to restricting foreign ownership of land, a new study finds similar bills elsewhere are more likely in states with Republican legislative majorities, military installations and more foreign-owned cropland.
Michigan State University recently published research findings focused on legislation being introduced across the country to restrict foreign ownership of agricultural land. It assessed 143 bills recently introduced across 34 states, including Wisconsin, as well as actions of more than 6,700 state lawmakers.
In Wisconsin, Republican lawmakers have proposed two dueling approaches to restricting foreign ownership of land in the state. Current state law allows a foreign person or corporation to own up to 640 acres of land with certain exceptions.
The study found states where both chambers of the Legislature have a Republican majority, like Wisconsin, are more likely to see bills proposed to restrict foreign holdings of agricultural land. And the likelihood that such a bill will be proposed in a given state increases by 2% with an additional military installation, researchers found.
They also found that when the ratio of foreign-owned cropland to local private agricultural land rises by 1% in a state, the likelihood of a foreign land ownership restriction bill being proposed rises by 6%.
In Wisconsin, the ratio of foreign held agricultural land to privately held agricultural land was 2.6% at the end of 2023, a USDA report shows. Total foreign held acreage in the state was about 626,000 at that point, compared to nearly 24 million in privately held acres.
Republican legislative control and military installations are also “significant factors” influencing the likelihood of the bills passing, according to the study. If a state has GOP majorities in both chambers, it’s 18% more likely to have its bill passed, while an additional military installation increases that chance by 3%. Each 1% increase in a state’s agricultural GDP share raises it by 7%.
Meanwhile, a 1% increase in Chinese holdings of agricultural land raises the likelihood of state bill passage by 1%, the study shows. And if a state is a net exporter of ag products to China, it’s 21% less likely to pass a foreign land ownership restriction bill.
“This result highlights the importance of the Chinese market for U.S. agricultural products and suggests that states gaining economic benefits from exporting agricultural products to China would be less likely to pass legislation that could deteriorate their relationship with the country,” authors wrote.
Wisconsin last year exported $333 million in agricultural products to China, its third-largest market for these products after Canada and Mexico. That’s an increase of 3.2% from 2023, a DATCP overview shows.
Foreign entities hold 3.5 percent of privately owned U.S. agricultural land, according to the study, which has prompted increased attention from lawmakers. More than 20 states have established some limits on foreign ownership of farmland, with some targeting specific adversarial countries such as China and others restricting it more broadly.
David Ortega, a professor and chair in food economics and policy at the university, says the study’s goal was to understand what’s driving the “surge” in state-level legislative proposals.
“While many of these proposals are framed around safeguarding agricultural land, our analysis finds that broader geopolitical concerns and the current political climate are shaping how legislators respond,” he said in a release on the study results.
GOP Sen. André Jacque of New Franken, one of the Wisconsin bill authors, says he appreciates the “growing attention to the issue of foreign land ownership” by adversarial nations. In an emailed statement, he noted two Chinese nationals were recently arrested for smuggling a fungus into the United States that’s been linked to “agroterrorism and devastating crop loss,” arguing this underscores the threat.
“This is not theoretical,” he said. “These are active risks to our domestic food systems, and Wisconsin cannot afford to be complacent.”
Two bills under consideration in Wisconsin
One bill, SB 219, would reduce the maximum amount of agricultural land that a foreign person can own to 50 acres. It would give those currently above that limit three years to divest themselves any excess land, one year less than under current law. And it would ban the sale of any real property to federally designated foreign adversaries.
The legislation was co-authored by Sen. Rob Stafsholt, R-New Richmond, and Rep. Clint Moses, R-Menomonie, who testified earlier this month before the Senate Agriculture and Revenue Committee on their bill. In a joint statement to WisBusiness.com, the lawmakers said their bill was authored following conversations with Wisconsin farmers and others who are concerned about this issue.
“We fundamentally do not think Wisconsin farmland needs to be owned by foreign entities,” they wrote in an email.
At the same committee meeting, Jacque discussed his own bill, SB 7, which he said would draw “a necessary line” to protect critical state resources from hostile regimes. It was modeled on a Virginia law that was passed with bipartisan support, he noted.
Under a substitute amendment added to the bill, the legislation would bar a principal of a foreign adversary from acquiring, owning or holding any interest in real property in the state. It would define a foreign adversary as any identified by the U.S. Commerce Department, whose list currently includes China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela.
Jacque says his approach isn’t a “blanket restriction” on international investment, noting it specifically targets land purchases by adversaries working against U.S. interests. As current statute doesn’t make such a distinction, he argues the bill would close a “dangerous loophole.”
SB 7 has been endorsed by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Jacque noted, also pointing to strong support among his colleagues and legislative leadership.
“This bill reflects growing bipartisan momentum nationwide to defend our sovereignty, our supply chains, and our rural communities from undue foreign influence,” he wrote in the email. “I remain confident in the path forward for SB 7 and am grateful for the broad support it continues to receive.”
While the MSU study only covered bills from 2021 to 2023, authors noted multiple states had new bills proposed in 2024 targeting new or expanded restrictions on foreign ag land ownership. That includes bills targeting specific foreign countries such as China, pointing to examples in Indiana, South Dakota and Pennsylvania.
Ownership restrictions in place, proposed in majority of states
As of April, about 26 states had laws in place aimed at restricting foreign ownership or investments in private ag land, according to a tally by the National Agricultural Law Center in Arkansas. The list includes the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
The NALC says lawmakers in the majority of U.S. states proposed at least one such bill in 2023 and 2024. So far this year, proposals have been introduced in more than half of the states, the group’s site shows.
MSU researchers raised concerns about possibly creating barriers for foreign farmers that immigrate, depriving immigrants’ residential rights and creating “unintended economic consequences on the broader U.S. agri-food system” given China’s key role in international trade with the United States.
“Therefore, while it is crucial to secure a valuable and finite resource like agricultural land, it is also important to carefully evaluate the impact of certain legislative actions to strike a balance between national security and economic interests,” they wrote.
WisDems chair contenders make pitches ahead of Sunday vote
William Garcia believes the state Dem Party needs to focus its attention on county parties.
Joe Zepecki says it’s time for change.
Devin Remiker wants to stay the course.
The three have been pitching those messages to Dem activists as they campaign to become the next state party chair at this weekend’s Dem convention in Wisconsin Dells. Whoever emerges from Sunday’s vote will follow one of the more successful chairs in party history. Along with a strong record at the ballot box — Dems have won 10 of 13 statewide contested elections since Ben Wikler became chair in June 2019 — the party has raised an astounding $206 million under his watch.
In interviews with WisPolitics this week, each of the three contenders vowed to build upon the party’s recent success under Wikler while promising to make varying levels of change.
Remiker, who served as party executive director under Wikler and has been endorsed by the outgoing chair, wants tweaks to the party apparatus. Garcia, the 3rd CD chair, wants more resources to flow to county parties and a bottom-up approach to canvassing. Zepecki, a Milwaukee-based operative, argues the party needs an overhaul of its messaging after watching Donald Trump win the state in two of the past three presidential elections.
The following are short summaries of the main arguments from each on why they believe they’re best to become the next chair with links to audio of the interviews:
*Zepecki says communications is everything. He says the party has had a “doors first mindset” when it comes to reaching people. Instead, it needs to take the view that everyone — from elected officials to volunteers who are part of the Dem team — are messengers.
Zepecki said the WisDems can be the envy of the other 49 state parties and have work to do with U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson still representing the state and Trump’s successes in 2016 and 2024.
Zepecki says the party’s “brand is busted.”
“We have lost connection with the beating heart of the Democratic Party, which, to me, is a message of economic opportunity for all,” Zepecki said. “We cannot continue to cede the communications playing field to Republicans and let them define who we are.”
As much as Zepecki wants to change the party’s message, he has no interest in changing its staffing. But he does want to fine tune the organizing approach, which he says has been a “little too top down, little too one-size-fits-all.”
“The question before delegates is, ‘Who is best suited to make the changes we need and continue the successes we have?’” Zepecki said. “I believe that my perspective coming from outside the four walls of the party, outside of the machine with fresh eyes, is ultimately the way to make that change.”
*Remiker says the party needs a battle-tested leader ready from day one to “grab the baton” from Wikler. And that’s him.
Remiker said some may try to paint him as a party insider. But he argued that means he’s been intricately involved in helping Wikler build an apparatus he touts as the envy of other state parties.
Remiker first served as political director at the party before Wikler made him the executive director in 2021. He left the party to work on the Biden-Harris campaigns in 2024 and then oversaw Wikler’s unsuccessful bid for national chair.
When Remiker started with the party under former Chair Martha Laning, Dems were largely shut out of power in the Capitol. Now, they have all but one constitutional office, a majority on the state Supreme Court and the opportunity to flip control of both houses in the Legislature in 2026.
“I think it has helped me build trust with our grassroots,” Remiker said. “It’s helped me build trust with our elected officials, with our donors, you name it. And I think that there’s really something to be said about both having sort of that trust, that experience, but also being able to perform at a very high level, understand how to set the strategy, the vision, the leadership.”
Not that he thinks everything is perfect with the party. Remiker wants all county parties to feel like they’re partners with WisDems, and he says there’s room for improvement with the party brand after Dems lost voters making less than $50,000 a year in 2024.
“Ultimately, this is about making sure we can put Republicans on the ropes as quickly as possible,” Remiker said. “And I don’t think that we have time for folks to learn the ropes.”
*Garcia says you can’t argue with the party’s run of electoral success and its “amazing organization.” But that still doesn’t change his belief that “we have left behind county parties.”
Garcia, a longtime educator who is now a learning support instructor at Western Technical College, is also co-chair of the La Crosse County Dem Party. He believes the state party has failed to adequately invest in county parties, which need more tools, training and resources, along with things like better training for volunteers.
Instead, he said, WisDems tells county parties how to organize and message.
“The organizing that works in Milwaukee doesn’t always work in La Crosse, and what works in Madison doesn’t always work in Black River Falls,” Garcia said. “We’re going to listen to local people about what those counties want to hear about, what their neighbors are talking about, and we’re going to give them the ability to speak to those neighbors directly.”
County parties are a central theme in most of Garcia’s plans, including tweaking current DPW staff job descriptions to have more of a focus on working with them.
He also argues his focus on county parties will be attractive to large donors, who want to see their money be used efficiently and effectively. His plan to strengthen county parties will reinvigorate the grassroots so WisDems can make the pitch to large donors: “Look at the volunteers that we have working for us that are going out and knocking doors. The party has grown, and so because of that growth, your money is going to be used efficiently, and that’s what large donors want to see.”
Party to use ranked choice voting in chair’s race
The state Dem Party has used a form of ranked choice voting since 2019. But Sunday will be the first time the system is fully utilized, because there have been no more than two candidates for an office since it was implemented.
Voting will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday for delegates with polls closing at 1 p.m. Anyone in line at that time will be allowed to cast a ballot.
The ballots will have columns to the right of each name with rankings, and delegates can rank as many as they want.
If either of the three gets a majority of the votes cast on the first ballot, he will win.
If no one crosses that threshold, the third-place finisher will be dropped and the second choice of his backers will be added to the other two. A majority will again be required to win.
Chair is the only office that will be contested this weekend, but other offices will be voted on Saturday.
They are:
- Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, first vice-chair
- Joshua Taylor, second vice-chair. He’s chair of the 4th CD Dem Party.
- Kim Butler, secretary. She’s a past chair of the 7th CD Dem Party.
- State Rep. Randy Udell, of Fitchburg, treasurer.
Butler and Udell are incumbents.
Follow WisDems convention coverage at the WisPoltics Dem Convention Blog, where you can also read an interview Wikler and see coverage of a WisPolitics event on the future of the state parties.
Audit: MPS lacks clear focus for instructional improvement
Milwaukee Public Schools lack “a clear vision and the systems necessary to activate talent and create the conditions for learning in all schools,” according to an audit of the district’s instructional practices.
The independent audit released today was the second of two outside probes of MPS conducted by MGT Impact Solutions LLC at Dem Gov. Tony Evers’ direction, including a previous audit of district operations. Evers ordered the audits after the district failed to submit required financial reports to the Department of Public Instruction last year.
Superintendent Brenda Cassellius in a statement to WisPolitics on the audit pledged an urgent effort to ensure MPS students are able to read at grade level.
“In my short time here, I’ve seen a real readiness for change. Our talented educators and dedicated staff are prepared to turn recommendations into a focused strategy,” Cassellius said. “We will act with urgency and purpose to get every child reading on grade level. This audit will help us chart a stronger path forward, one that accelerates outcomes and puts our students first.”
The offices of education committee chairs Sen. John Jagler, R-Watertown, and Rep. Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay, did not immediately return calls seeking comment on the findings.
The audit report comes after DPI last week announced it would withhold an additional $25.4 million in state aid from MPS this year due to ongoing financial reporting delays. That’s on top of the $16.6 million DPI was already holding back due to missed deadlines.
The instructional audit evaluated four levers: visionary and student-centered leadership, ambitious instruction and learning, culture of support and high expectations, and authentic partnership with family and communities.
Some other takeaways from the report:
- MPS “lacks a clear focus for instructional improvement or a vision for teaching and learning,” recommending the district create and communicate continuous improvement systems with a focused vision for teaching and learning.
- Many MPS schools struggle with staffing shortages and MPS does not have systems to ensure schools with lower academic performance have qualified teachers and leaders. MGT recommends the district “reenvision staffing systems to align with the district vision and goals.”
- Inconsistent foundational literacy instruction practices, “contributing to low rates of reading proficiencies,” as well as a limited understanding of structured literacy among MPS leaders. MGT recommended promoting understanding and buy-in for “Science of Reading” teaching by providing professional development for teachers and district and school leaders.
- There are “unclear expectations and accountability” across regions and departments at MPS, poor communication, insufficient collaboration, and missed opportunities to recognize success. MGT said MPS should enforce high expectations, enhance communication, and celebrate successes.
The audit is based on a representative sample of 78 schools, about 50% of the district. The findings are based on data collection from a variety of sources, including classroom observation and one-on-one interviews with staff, teachers and administrators.
Tucker says military background has made him a better state rep
Freshman Rep. Duke Tucker, R-Grantsburg, tells WisPolitics’ “Capitol Chats” podcast his military service has prepared him well for his new role as a state representative.
Before representing northwestern Wisconsin’s 75th AD, he worked as an operations manager for Grantsburg Telecom. He started that job after serving as a combat communications specialist in Operation Desert Storm.
Tucker said after spending time in the Middle East and seeing how other cultures live, “I really respect people’s ability to have an opinion and speak freely without being ridiculed or bullied.”
“When I come back home, that made me, I think, probably a better father, better husband, better community member, and probably a better state representative because I don’t take things real personal,” Tucker said. “ … I just, I do what I need to do, and I sleep like a baby at night– it’s not a problem. But I really think without my military service and the experiences that I had, I probably wouldn’t be a state representative, because I appreciate everybody’s views.”
Tucker has been heavily involved in public life and policy. He’s a member of the Burnett County Board and Wisconsin Conservation Congress, and water commissioner for West Marshland and Grantsburg. He’s served as president of the Grantsburg Public Library, coached girls fastpitch softball and ran the Grantsburg World Championship Snowmobile Watercross.
He’s also advocated for years for the Department of Natural Resources to change how it manages wetland water levels at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area where he lives in Burnett County. He said that work to curtail flooding issues led him to run for office.
“ I got to know some of our area legislators through that, and I guess lo and behold when one of them retired, I thought, well, I’ll step up and get around and meet people,” Tucker said.
Listen to the full Capitol Chats interview here.
Political TV
(Check local listings for times in your area)
“UpFront” is a statewide commercial TV news magazine show airing Sundays around the state. This week’s show, hosted by GERRON JORDAN and MATT SMITH, features Sen. KELDA ROYS, D-Madison, WisPolitics Editor JR ROSS, Milwaukee County Chief Judge CARL ASHLEY and ‘Original Sin’ co-author and Axios National Political Correspondent ALEX THOMPSON.
*See more about the program here.
*Also see a recap of the show online each Monday at WisPolitics.
“Rewind,” a weekly show from WisconsinEye and WisPolitics, airs at 8 p.m. on Fridays and 10 a.m. on Sundays in addition to being available online. On this week’s episode, WisPolitics’ JR ROSS and CBS 58’s EMILEE FANNON discuss Joint Finance Committee Republicans approving tax cut and education funding plans for the state budget, a lawsuit filed against ELON MUSK over paying people to sign petitions, this weekend’s state Dem Party convention and more.
*Watch the show here.
This week’s episode of WisPolitics’ “Capitol Chats” features freshman Rep. DUKE TUCKER, R-Grantsburg, on his motivations for seeking public office, his priorities in the Assembly, and how his background as a veteran has made him a better elected official.
*Listen to the podcast here.
“The Insiders” is a weekly WisOpinion.com web show featuring former Democratic Senate Majority Leader CHUCK CHVALA and former Republican Assembly Speaker SCOTT JENSEN. This week, Chvala and Jensen discuss the FBI’s arrest of Milwaukee County Judge HANNAH DUGAN, who is facing felony charges over accusations she helped an undocumented immigrant attempt to evade arrest by federal immigration officials.
*Watch the video or listen to the show here.
“In Focus: Wisconsin” airs Sundays at 9:30 a.m. on Spectrum News 1 on channel 1 with host RYAN BURK.
PBS Wisconsin’s “Here and Now” airs at 7:30 p.m. Fridays. This week’s program with anchor FREDERICA FREYBERG features: reporter ZAC SCHULTZ on updates from the Joint Finance Committee; Sen. JESSE JAMES, R-Thorp, on his bill to create a school-centered mental health service pilot program; South Wood County YMCA Sr. Diretor of Childcare & Community Programs TRACY VRUWINK on federal cuts to programs like AmeriCorps; and Serve Wisconsin Executive Director JEANNE DUFFY on a temporary injunction restore AmeriCorps funding and its effects on Wisconsin.
“For the Record” airs Sundays at 10:30 a.m. on Madison’s WISC-TV with host WILL KENNEALLY.
Week Ahead
– Saturday, Sunday: The Democratic Party of Wisconsin convenes for its annual state convention.
– Chula Vista Resort, Wisconsin Dells
– Tuesday: The Assembly Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention Committee holds an executive session on several mental-health related bills.
– 10 a.m.: 328 Northwest, state Capitol
– Tuesday: The Joint Finance Committee meets to take up the UW System and Corrections.
– 1 p.m.: 412 East, state Capitol
– Wednesday: The Assembly is set to meet for a floor session on several bills, including a proposal to create a new certification for advanced practice nurses.
– 1 p.m.: Assembly chambers, state Capitol
Names in the News
Attend a June 24 WisPolitics luncheon with Attorney General JOSH KAUL at the Madison Club. Kaul, first elected in 2018, has joined Dem colleagues in other states in filing suits against Trump administration actions. Register here.
Join WisPolitics for a free panel on June 20 at Fox Valley Technical College: “Refining Wisconsin’s voting administration ahead of the ’26 elections.” Panelists will include: state Reps. LEE SNODGRASS, D-Appleton, and SCOTT KRUG, R-Arkdale, members of the Assembly Campaigns and Elections Committee; former GOP Attorney General JB VAN HOLLEN; and KIM PYTLESKI, who has served as the Oconto County Clerk for over 16 years. Register here.
Former Wisconsin Watch Senior Statehouse Reporter JACK KELLY has started a new position as publications & media relations manager for UW-Madison’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Kelly also previously covered state politics for The Capital Times.
EMILEE FANNON is leaving her role as CBS 58’s politics and state government reporter. Today was her last on-air day. She will take on a new position as public information officer for the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Fannon co-hosted WisconsinEye’s weekly “Rewind” show with WisPolitics Editor JR ROSS.
BILL BRINKLEY has joined the Department of Administration as chief information security officer. He was previously director of information technology operations for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
BRIAN PLEVA is leaving his role as senior director – state relations at Northwestern Mutual in Milwaukee. He has worked at NWL for 11 years and represented the company in every state. He will be moving to senior director – regional government affairs at the Molson Coors Beverage Company in Milwaukee, where he will represent the company in its Great Lakes sales region effective July 14th.
UWM Foundation has named LAURA BRAY its new president, starting July 31. Bray was most recently executive director of the MATC Foundation.
Platform Communications has won a Silver Pollie award for its work with the MKE 2024 RNC Host Committee. The group’s Executive Vice President of Marketing & Digital Strategy, ANTHONY BIRCH served as a judge in this year’s Pollie awards.
Milwaukee County Exec DAVID CROWLEY and Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman MARCELIA NICHOLSON have accepted a $250,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize to help fund initiatives to support health and well-being in the county.
Rep. RUSSELL GOODWIN, D-Milwaukee, Rep. WILLIAM PENTERMAN, R-Hustisford, and Sen. MELISSA RATCLIFF, D-Cottage Grove, have been selected as members of the 2025 Bowhay Institute for Leadership Development.
Endorsements: The following is a list of recent endorsements, based on emails received by WisPolitics.com:
3rd CD
REBECCA COOKE: Blue Dog PAC
Court of Appeals District II
ANTHONY LoCOCO: Milwaukee Police Association
Lobbyist Watch
Forty-one changes were made to the lobbying registry in the past 10 days.
Follow this link for the complete list.
