Visit WisPolitics-State Affairs for premium content,
keyword notifications, bill tracking and more
Subscriber products moved to State Affairs-WisPolitics
As of July 17, 2025, all WisPolitics subscriber products have moved to the State Affairs-WisPolitics platform. Archived subscriber products from before this date are available below or search here.
If you are an existing Silver, Gold or Platinum subscriber, you can log on to the State Affairs-WisPolitics site using the email address to which your WisPolitics subscriber emails are sent, no password required. If you would like to subscribe, reach out to schmies@wispolitics.com.
Subscribers unable to access the archives below can contact schmies@wispolitics.com to request access.
From WisPolitics … — The Assembly and Senate Dems’ campaign committees significantly outraised their GOP counterparts over the first half of the year, fueled by seven-figure donations from the state party. The Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee reported $2.8 million raised
TOP STORIES Hovde calls Baldwin ‘rubber stamp’ for Biden in RNC speech … In a five minute speech before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Hovde said Baldwin, a Democrat, shares responsibility with Biden for the national debt, inflation and
From WisPolitics … — A GOP strategist is telling Republicans to “avoid the happy talk.” Keith Gilkes, a GOP strategist who runs Platform Communications in Madison, told a WisPolitics event at Marquette University Law School yesterday that he worries when
From WisPolitics … — GOP businessman Eric Hovde put another $5 million of his own money into his U.S. Senate campaign during the most recent fundraising period as he sought to keep pace with Dem U.S. Tammy Baldwin’s cash haul.
TOP STORIES Wisconsin Republicans say party unified at RNC following Trump assassination attempt … talked about the events of Saturday in biblical terms as they met at the Hampton Inn and Suites just outside the U.S. Secret Service’s soft security
From WisPolitics … — Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who faced two failed recall attempts that allowed him to collect contributions in unlimited amounts, raised $638,893 over the first half of the year, according to his latest campaign finance report. The
From WisPolitics … — GOP U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde reported his net worth between $195.5 million and $564.4 million, which would make him one of the wealthiest members of Congress if elected. And his actual net worth could be
TOP STORIES Trump arrives in Milwaukee day after assassination attempt … “Based on yesterday’s terrible events, I was going to delay my trip to Wisconsin, and The Republican National Convention, by two days, but have just decided that I cannot
From WisPolitics … — Milwaukee police Chief Jeffrey Norman says authorities continue to “monitor what is needed” after Saturday’s assassination attempt targeting former President Donald Trump. Trump arrived in Milwaukee last night amid speculation he will appear as the convention
Quotes of the Week I traveled all around the state last weekend and I heard concerns from Wisconsinites about whether or not the President has what it takes to do the job for four more years. I have passed on
TOP STORIES 2024 RNC host committee exceeds fundraising goal … Host Committee announced Thursday it has raised record $85M+ … [chair] Priebus noted WI-based organizations have played “an integral role” in the host committee’s fundraising efforts: “… they know that
From WisPolitics … — In this week’s GOP radio address, Sen. Rob Cowles celebrates tourism in Wisconsin ahead of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week. The Green Bay Republican touts the RNC as one of the largest events
From WisPolitics … — Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who has had a strained relationship with Donald Trump, will attend next week’s Republican National Convention as an official guest. That will allow the Rochester Republican to be in the arena during
TOP STORIES Secretary of State Godlewski settles open records lawsuit brought by conservative IRG … [IRG sought communications showing a pre-arranged La Follette resignation/Godlewski appointment, as reward for dropping her US Senate campaign] Godlewski did not respond to the request
From WisPolitics … — Conservative Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel raised $597,639 over the last six months, his campaign tells WisPolitics. By comparison, liberal candidate Susan Crawford raised $461,274 over the first three weeks after she got into the race
From WisPolitics … — Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski agreed to tweaks in how her office handles open records requests after a lawsuit by a conservative group found records showing her predecessor used his personal email account to seek advice
TOP STORIES Judge rejects attempt to revive Vos recall Dane County Circuit Judge Stephen Ehlke ruled that the organizers’ attempt to force a vote under old legislative maps [AD63] violates the state Supreme Court’s order barring the use of those
From WisPolitics … — Those seeking to oust Assembly Speaker Robin Vos are vowing to appeal a Dane County judge’s ruling rejecting their request to order a recall election. Judge Stephen Ehlke based yesterday’s ruling on the state Supreme Court’s
From WisPolitics … — A Dane County judge today ruled the state Supreme Court’s decision barring any future use of the legislative maps in place for the 2022 elections prohibits recalling Assembly Speaker Robin Vos from the seat he was
Joint Finance Committee Co-chair Mark Born said today UW leaders are basically handing out “candy” to chancellors with the new round of raises approved this week, giving him pause about the system’s financial needs. “To be handing out a second
From WisPolitics … — The Assembly and Senate Dems’ campaign committees significantly outraised their GOP counterparts over the first half of the year, fueled by seven-figure donations from the state party. The Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee reported $2.8 million raised between Jan. 1 and June 30 through its main account,
TOP STORIES Hovde calls Baldwin ‘rubber stamp’ for Biden in RNC speech … In a five minute speech before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Hovde said Baldwin, a Democrat, shares responsibility with Biden for the national debt, inflation and “allowing criminals and terrorists to enter our country” through the
From WisPolitics … — A GOP strategist is telling Republicans to “avoid the happy talk.” Keith Gilkes, a GOP strategist who runs Platform Communications in Madison, told a WisPolitics event at Marquette University Law School yesterday that he worries when Republicans are talking about taking over the White House and
From WisPolitics … — GOP businessman Eric Hovde put another $5 million of his own money into his U.S. Senate campaign during the most recent fundraising period as he sought to keep pace with Dem U.S. Tammy Baldwin’s cash haul. Along with the $5 million of his own money —
TOP STORIES Wisconsin Republicans say party unified at RNC following Trump assassination attempt … talked about the events of Saturday in biblical terms as they met at the Hampton Inn and Suites just outside the U.S. Secret Service’s soft security zone perimeter downtown. * ex-gov Walker lewd a prayer, thanked
From WisPolitics … — Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who faced two failed recall attempts that allowed him to collect contributions in unlimited amounts, raised $638,893 over the first half of the year, according to his latest campaign finance report. The bulk of that came from the $500,000 donation that Illinois
From WisPolitics … — GOP U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde reported his net worth between $195.5 million and $564.4 million, which would make him one of the wealthiest members of Congress if elected. And his actual net worth could be significantly higher. The financial disclosure form he filed with the
TOP STORIES Trump arrives in Milwaukee day after assassination attempt … “Based on yesterday’s terrible events, I was going to delay my trip to Wisconsin, and The Republican National Convention, by two days, but have just decided that I cannot allow a ‘shooter,’ or potential assassin, to force change to
From WisPolitics … — Milwaukee police Chief Jeffrey Norman says authorities continue to “monitor what is needed” after Saturday’s assassination attempt targeting former President Donald Trump. Trump arrived in Milwaukee last night amid speculation he will appear as the convention opens today. “This is a national special security event,” Norman
Quotes of the Week I traveled all around the state last weekend and I heard concerns from Wisconsinites about whether or not the President has what it takes to do the job for four more years. I have passed on those concerns to the White House but at the end
TOP STORIES 2024 RNC host committee exceeds fundraising goal … Host Committee announced Thursday it has raised record $85M+ … [chair] Priebus noted WI-based organizations have played “an integral role” in the host committee’s fundraising efforts: “… they know that this convention is a great way to put Milwaukee on
From WisPolitics … — In this week’s GOP radio address, Sen. Rob Cowles celebrates tourism in Wisconsin ahead of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week. The Green Bay Republican touts the RNC as one of the largest events in Wisconsin in recent history, with tens of thousands of
From WisPolitics … — Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who has had a strained relationship with Donald Trump, will attend next week’s Republican National Convention as an official guest. That will allow the Rochester Republican to be in the arena during the official activities next week in Milwaukee. Vos told WisPolitics
TOP STORIES Secretary of State Godlewski settles open records lawsuit brought by conservative IRG … [IRG sought communications showing a pre-arranged La Follette resignation/Godlewski appointment, as reward for dropping her US Senate campaign] Godlewski did not respond to the request for 189 days. … initially said she … had no
From WisPolitics … — Conservative Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel raised $597,639 over the last six months, his campaign tells WisPolitics. By comparison, liberal candidate Susan Crawford raised $461,274 over the first three weeks after she got into the race last month, according to a draft cover sheet her campaign
From WisPolitics … — Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski agreed to tweaks in how her office handles open records requests after a lawsuit by a conservative group found records showing her predecessor used his personal email account to seek advice on the office budget. The Institute for Reforming Government today
TOP STORIES Judge rejects attempt to revive Vos recall Dane County Circuit Judge Stephen Ehlke ruled that the organizers’ attempt to force a vote under old legislative maps [AD63] violates the state Supreme Court’s order barring the use of those boundaries. … didn’t even address [sufficient signatures] issue because he
From WisPolitics … — Those seeking to oust Assembly Speaker Robin Vos are vowing to appeal a Dane County judge’s ruling rejecting their request to order a recall election. Judge Stephen Ehlke based yesterday’s ruling on the state Supreme Court’s December decision throwing out the maps used in 2022 and
From WisPolitics … — A Dane County judge today ruled the state Supreme Court’s decision barring any future use of the legislative maps in place for the 2022 elections prohibits recalling Assembly Speaker Robin Vos from the seat he was elected to under those old lines. The group seeking to
Joint Finance Committee Co-chair Mark Born said today UW leaders are basically handing out “candy” to chancellors with the new round of raises approved this week, giving him pause about the system’s financial needs. “To be handing out a second raise this year, it appears that there’s no shortage of