Alberta Darling

Madison plaintiffs and FFRF legally challenge unconstitutional property tax exemption

District 8 Becoming More Democratic. Its Senator Isn’t.

State Sen. Dan Knodl votes like MAGA Republican in a nearly evenly divided district.

8 Questions About State Government

Think you know how our state Capitol works? Try answering these questions.

The Impact of Impeachment Threats

Republicans seek to scare Justice Protasiewicz and elections overseer Meagan Wolfe into following their dictates.

North Shore Special Elections Show Impact of Gerrymandering

Packing-and-cracking allowed Republicans to keep control of seats that were trending Democratic.

Election Shows Shifting Demographics

The WOW counties delivered less wow for the Republican Party.

Dan Knodl Declares Victory in 8th District Senate Race

Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin hasn't conceded. Republican supermajority at stake.

8th Senate District Race Will Decide GOP Veto-Proof Majority

Republican Rep. Dan Knodl, Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin compete for open seat.

Knodl Beats Trump-Backed Candidate in 8th Senate District GOP Primary

Brandtjen loses. Republican Dan Knodl will face Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin in April.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Candidates

Plus: Three aldermanic races and a north shore state senate race.

Early Voting Push Underway For Spring Primary

Early voting runs through Saturday.

Meet The Candidates Seeking Open State Senate Seat

Three Republicans, one Democrat running for seat held by retiring Sen Alberta Darling.

Would Ranked-Choice Voting Reduce Partisanship?

Alaska's experience offers fascinating lessons for those who care about democracy.

First Democrat Enters Race To Replace Sen. Darling

Attorney Jodi Habush Sinykin declares for race that already has four Republicans.

Jodi Habush Sinykin Announces 8th Senate District Candidacy

Longtime district resident and attorney enters race as a Democrat.

Brandtjen, Leading Election Denier, Will Run for Open Senate Seat

Rep. Janel Brandtjen, kicked out of the Assembly GOP, wants to succeed Alberta Darling.

Republican Rep. Knodl Announces Run To Replace Retiring Sen. Darling

Republicans would lose super majority if Democrats take seat.

Gov. Evers Orders Special Election in the 8th Senate District

Special Elections Called For 3 Council Seats

Northside races called to replace Chantia Lewis, Ashanti Hamilton and Nikiya Dodd.

Rep. Deb Andraca Thanks Senator Alberta Darling, Declines Opportunity to Run for the 8th State Senate District Vacancy

Sen. Alberta Darling Is Retiring

Veteran Republican will resign Dec. 1. Special election will decide if GOP keeps supermajority.

Fitzgerald Statement on Retirement of Senator Alberta Darling

State Superintendent Says Public Education Needs More Funding

Superintendent Jill Underly discussed challenges including mental health and racial disparities.

Convention Center Expansion Costs Grow By $36 Million

It's now a $456 million project, with $20 million in additional borrowing.

Record Number of Legislators Retiring

At least 31 incumbents, one quarter of state Legislature retiring, highest since 1942.

Workers Seeking Raises Find Open Ears, Empty Pockets

Pension cliff and stagnant wages are pushing city toward a 'tipping point.'

Use of Paper Ballots Soared in State Senate

Maneuver used in hundreds of bills to bar any debate or amendments to proposed bills.

City-County Sales Tax Proposal Dead

Push for state legislation will have to wait until 2023, MMAC leader says.

Farrow, ‘Margaret Thatcher of Wisconsin,’ Dies At 87

First women Lt. Governor in state history had five-decade career in public service.

GOP plan to dismantle public education would raise taxes by over $577 million

Liberal Group One Of Top Outside Spenders

A Better Wisconsin Together, backed by unions, spent $5.2 million on 2020-2021 races.

Legislature Considers Breaking Up MPS

Republican bills create four to eight smaller districts, remove income limits from school choice.

Breakup of MPS Is The Wrong Answer

Yes, improvements are needed, but breaking up the district won’t accomplish this.

State Senate Votes on Guns, Vaccines, China

Against vaccine mandates and China and for guns on school grounds.

Legislators, Citizens Battle Over Election Bills

Senate Elections committee debates: Do GOP bills enhance voting ‘integrity' or unleash 'war on voters’?

MPS Is Still a Capitol Football

Latest proposal to break up school system is latest of such proposals going back decades.

School Voucher Lobby Wants More State Funding

Pushing for more public funding of private schools.

Republicans Offer Slate of Election Bills

They won’t suppress votes, Bernier and other GOP legislators promise. Democrats skeptical.

Planned Parenthood Spends Big On Elections

But little influence on legislation in face of Republican domination.

Senate Passes New Reading Test for Early Grades

Modeled on Mississippi plan. Democrats call it meaningless without more spending on education.

Redistricting Plan Seeks Republicans’ Gain Of Another Congressional Seat

The GOP uses Stevens Point "like a football,” non-partisan group complains.

Bill Ends Criminal Penalties for Minors Engaging in Prostitution

Sen. Alberta Darling wants minors being trafficked to be treated as victims.

Democrats Lose Experience In Legislature

10 years of Republican control helps creates Legislature with less experienced Democrats.

Flood Control Helps Milwaukee Watershed

MMSD, conservationists have preserved 11,000 acres to help reduce flooding caused by climate change.

Wisconsin Agricultural Education and Workforce Development Council Announces Membership, Sets Ambitious Goals

Evers Offers GOP a Second Chance to Fund Schools

Newly revised federal guidelines could take away pandemic aid to state unless education funding increased.

Police Union Gets Change in Legislation

Milwaukee union, frequent donor to legislators, gets bill regulating police use of force weakened.

Senator Bradley: Passing elections bills a ‘top priority’

State Senate Considers Absentee Voting Restrictions

GOP-sponsored legislation limits drop boxes, restricts qualifying as indefinitely confined.

Kerr Supports Voucher Program, Decentralizing DPI

State superintendent candidate Kerr has been an ardent supporter of reopening schools.

Senate Passes Bill To Prevent Rape Kit Backlog

Bipartisan bill passed one year ago, but Assembly resisted.

Kerr, Underly Strike Sparks In Debate

Candidates for state school superintendent reveal very different views on voucher schools, other issues.

Bipartisan Support For Teaching The Holocaust

As incidents of antisemitism rise in state, bipartisan bill mandates Holocaust education.

Where Are Act 10 Players Today?

Governor and three-fourths of legislators engaged in 2011 battle over law crushing public unions have moved on.

Will Budget Hearings Be Superspreader Events?

Mask wars pit Democrats against Republicans in Legislature.

11 Bills Would Change State Voting Laws

One is bipartisan. The others are not.

Republican Bill Makes Voting Harder

List of restrictions will make it less likely that disabled, nursing home residents and others vote.

Expunging Records Gets Bipartisan Support

Wisconsin has one of nation’s strictest laws on expunging criminal records.

It’s Kerr and Underly for State Superintendent

Field of seven candidates narrow to two, with Underly the anti-voucher school candidate.

Medical College of Wisconsin Applauds Mental Health Investments

7 Seek State School Superintendent Job

Who are they and what are the key issues in the February primary race?

Criminal Record Expungement Bill Is Back

Bipartisan bill pushed by Rep. Evan Goyke nearly passed in last session.

State Superintendent Candidates Raise $200,000

Which candidates have raised the most and who are the top donors?

LeMahieu Struggles in Vos’s Shadow

New Senate majority leader a surprise choice who's trying to resist the dictates of Robin Vos.

New Finance Co-Chair Expects Challenges

Republican Rep. Mark Born expects partisan disagreements, expects compromises will be reached.

Gwen Moore Positive for COVID-19

The congresswoman is a cancer survivor and recently contracted the virus.

Unemployment System Audited After Pandemic Failures

Massive delays in claims, duplicate payments and an unreliable call center among issues found in report.

State Rep. John Nygren Resigns

Surprise decision by Finance Committee member from Marinette known for his work on opioid crisis.

Kaul Sues Legislature Over Lame Duck Laws

Lawsuits can’t be settled, consumers lose out on potential settlements, AG charges.

Outside Groups Spent $10 Million on Legislative Races

Special interest groups backing Democrats spent more of it, about $5.5 million.

Purple Wisconsin Still Has Dark Red Legislature

Republican legislators continue to win big with minority of state's vote.

Americans for Prosperity-Wisconsin Congratulates Newly Elected and Re-Elected State Lawmakers

No Veto-Proof Majority for Republican Legislators

They flipped two of three seats needed to get two-thirds majority in Senate.

Your Guide to Down Ballot Races

Trump versus Biden isn't the only ballot item. Here's information on 13 other races across the county

$1 Million Legislative Races Now Common

For a job paying $52,000. This year the Democrats are out-spending Republicans.

Neal Plotkin Statement on Alberta Darling’s Comments Regarding Legislative Inactivity

Darling stated, “We don’t need to come in.”

Surplus Property Law Results in Just One Vacant Milwaukee School Sale to Charter School

WILL Policy Brief revisits how state law was thwarted by local actors for the last five years

Did Brad Schimel Break the Law?

He emceed political fundraiser. State law prevents judges from all political activities.

Ron Johnson Positive for COVID-19

Johnson spoke Friday at Republican fundraiser in Ozaukee County, is third GOP senator to test positive since Trump announced he had virus.

State Budget Survives First COVID-19 Test

End of fiscal year budget total shows 1% gain. But more pandemic tests to come.

Republican Senators Offer 8 Police Bills

One requires cities in Wisconsin to maintain current police funding or lose state aid.

Legislative Donors Give Record Amount in 2020

$7.1 million showered on legislative races in first half of 2020, shattering 2016 record of $5.1 million.

Ten Years After Act 10

Most of those who voted for it are gone. How has the Capitol changed?

Darling Dodges 100 Days of Work

COVID-19 Cases and Deaths Rise as Republicans Ignore Crisis

15+ Wisconsin Lawmakers May Attend ALEC Annual Meeting in Orlando Amid Spiking Coronavirus Cases

Senator Darling is Part of the Problem

Co-Chair of Joint Finance Committee history of blocking measures to address racial disparities

Enbridge Energy Looks to Reroute Pipeline

Campaign donor wants to seize private property in North Woods for crude oil pipeline.

Neal Plotkin Announces Historic Nomination Signature Total

Plotkin for Senate campaign gathered over 1,200 signatures to earn a place on the ballot

GOP Lame-Duck Law Blocks COVID-19 Aid

State GOP was warned of unintended consequences to their law in 2018.

Some ‘Tougher on Crime’ Bills Passed

Gov. Evers vetoed most, but signed a few.

Federal Policing Money Flowing to City

Relentless Pursuit grant, Tougher on Crime grant, DNC funding lead the list.

GOP Adds More “Tougher On Crime” Legislation

New bills increase penalties for offenses like car theft and reckless driving.

GOP Lawmakers Push “Tougher on Crime” Legislation

Package of bills draws major criticism and concern from committee, citizens.

Who’s the Most Partisan?

Republican legislators suddenly embrace bipartisan peacemaking, blast Evers as partisan.

Republicans Bash Evers Before He Speaks

Condemn governor as too partisan, but his State of State speech is mostly conciliatory.

Neal Plotkin Announces Endorsement of Campaign by Fox Point Trustee Liz Sumner

Local business owner, citizen-legislator and committed leader endorses

GOP Legislators Push “Tougher on Crime” Bills

Stiffer penalties on variety of crimes even as Evers moves to reduce prison population.

Senator Darling Lacks Compassion Amidst the Christmas Season

Republican Leaves Children, Families and Veterans Out In the Cold

Robin Vos Stonewalls on Public Records

John Q. Public can’t get anything from Assembly Speaker

How Homeless Got Frozen Out

With no explanation, Fitzgerald stopped bipartisan bill providing grants to homeless shelters.