Wisconsin Right Now

  Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor died at 93 on Friday morning in Phoenix. O'Connor died because of "complications" with dementia and "a respiratory illness," according to the court's news release. She was appointed to serve on the high court by late President Ronald Reagan in 1981, and she retired in 2006. “A daughter of the American Southwest, Sandra Day O’Connor blazed an historic trail as our Nation’s first female Justice. She met that challenge with undaunted determination, indisputable ability, and engaging candor," Chief Justice John Roberts said in a news release. "We at the Supreme Court mourn the loss of a beloved colleague, a fiercely independent defender of the rule of law, and an eloquent advocate for civics education. And we celebrate her enduring legacy as a true public servant and patriot.” The former justice was born in Texas, but she spent much of her life in Arizona. In the 1960s she was the former

The next four years at the Wisconsin Capitol are likely to be the same as the last four years. Governor Evers took the governor's mansion. The Republicans held on to the legislature but fell just short of a supermajority. That means the same kind of split government that Wisconsin has seen for the past four years. “Republicans won't have a supermajority in the state Assembly. Gov. Evers' veto pen is secure,” Wisconsin Democratic Party boss Ben Wikler said on Twitter after Tuesday’s election. Republicans needed to flip one seat in the State Senate to get to a supermajority, they did that by winning Democratic Senate Minority Leader Janet Bewley’s seat in far northwestern Wisconsin. She didn’t run again. Republicans needed to take five seats in the Assembly in order to get a supermajority there. They grabbed three seats. The top Democrat in the Assembly, Rep. Greta Neubauer, said stopping a Republican supermajority is something to celebrate. “With the governor’s

Tony Evers celebrated his victory after winning a second term as Wisconsin governor early Wednesday morning by telling his supporters that some people called him boring during the campaign, but he said it didn’t matter. “You know what Wisconsin? As it turns out, boring wins,” Evers said. Evers comfortably beat Republican Tim Michels, grabbing 51% of the vote. Evers said Democrats “showed up” on Election Day. “You showed up for reproductive rights and the freedom for you and your neighbors to make their own health care decisions,” the governor said during his victory speech. “You showed-up for our kids, our educators, and our public schools…You showed up for LGBT folks and trans kids who want to be safe and who they are in our state. You showed up for conservation, for clean energy, to take climate change seriously, and a future that doesn’t treat protecting our environment and good-paying jobs like they are mutually exclusive.” Michels’ concession speech was brief, more of an

It’s all over but the official final count in Wisconsin’s race for U.S. Senate. Democrat Mandela Barnes conceded the race Wednesday morning. "Unfortunately, we didn’t get over the finish line this time," Barnes told reporters. "But just because we didn’t get across the finish line that doesn’t mean that it’s over." Barnes added "I've fought the good fight. I've run my race. I've kept the faith." Barnes’ concession came after the last votes were counted in Milwaukee County early Wednesday morning. Republican U.S. Senator Ron Johnson said while the vote total is not official yet, there are not enough votes for Barnes to snag a last-second victory. "There is no path mathematically for Lt. Gov. Barnes to overcome his 27,374 vote deficit. This race is over," Johnson said Wednesday morning. Johnson went to bed earlier Wednesday telling his supporters the same thing. “This race is over,” he said. Johnson’s victory keeps Wis

Wisconsin’s Republican U.S. Senator Ron Johnson says his proposed referendum on abortion is simple. Johnson, late Tuesday, released his suggestion for a ballot question that would allow voters in the state to decide on a new abortion law. "At what point does society have the responsibility to protect the life of an unborn child?” the question asks. Johnson then gives voters 10 options, ranging “From the moment of conception,” to “Never – an unborn child has no right to life.” Johnson told the crowd at Tuesday’s Rotary Club of Milwaukee campaign event that he believes the people of Wisconsin should be allowed to decide where restrictions on abortion belong. “Nine justices on the Supreme Court couldn’t decide. I don’t think 535 members of Congress should decide, I don’t think 132 members of the Wisconsin state legislature should decide this for Wisconsin,” Johnson explained. “I think it is time, after 50 years of delayed debate, that ‘We the People’ should decide.” Johns

  Thousands of racing fans flocked to Louisville over the weekend to celebrate the Kentucky Derby, and according to information from the city’s tourism bureau, Rich Strike wasn’t the only winner. This year’s race marked the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started that Churchill Downs was allowed to hold the race without restrictions on attendance. Gov. Andy Beshear told reporters at the track Saturday there was “a special buzz” surrounding the Derby this year. Churchill Downs officials announced 147,294 fans attended the Derby, and 100,188 fans attended Friday’s card highlighted by the Kentucky Oaks. That was about 9,000 fewer than the attendance for the 2019 Oaks and Derby race days, the last held under normal conditions. The weather, which included storms Friday and cool, overcast skies Saturday, dampened crowds slightly. However, the event still attracted a long list of celebrities and other high-profile guests. Those in attendance Saturday included former President D

Wisconsin’s Republican Party said Republicans flipped the county board in Kenosha as well. It’s being seen as one of the biggest upsets in Wisconsin and possibly a bellwether for the rest of the state. Voters in Kenosha County on Tuesday elected their first-ever Republican County chairman in the first local election since the 2020 riots that burned parts of the city of Kenosha to the ground. Samantha Kerkman beat Clerk of Courts Rebecca Matoska-Mentink by nearly 800 votes. [caption id="attachment_79519" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Samantha Kerkman[/caption] “Liberals and Tony Evers let Kenosha burn,” Republican candidate for governor Rebecca Kleefisch said on Twitter Tuesday night. “Now voters are taking back control and putting the county in a capable set of hands.” Wisconsin’s Republican Party said Republicans flipped the county board in Kenosha as well. “Like all Wisconsinites, residents of Kenosha are fed up with the failed polic

“My question is simple: What are Robin Vos and Kathy Bernier afraid of?” - Rep. Janel Brandtjen No one is any closer to an agreement on just what happened during the 2020 election in Wisconsin after the latest election hearing at the Capitol. The Wisconsin Elections Commission testified before the Assembly’s Committee on Campaigns and Elections. “A lot of the concerns about the November 2020 presidential election are based on assumptions that lack full understanding of election policies, laws, and technologies. Other concerns expressed to this committee have alleged startling claims of fraud without evidence,” WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe told lawmakers. “Nearly all of these concerns can be easily explained and understood once placed in context of how our election systems work.” Wolfe said WEC has worked hard to answer questions about the state’s voter rolls, vote count, and allegedly fake voters. On Wednesday the Commission said one of those accused fake voters, a man by t

The first question is what will Kevin Nicholson do? Wisconsin U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson has decided to run for a third term in the U.S. Senate. Johnson answered the state’s great unanswered question in the state with an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on Sunday. "Much as I'd like to ease into a quiet retirement, I don't feel I should,” Johnson wrote. His announcement ends months of speculation. It also starts a new round of political questions. Kevin Nicholson for Governor? The first question is what will Kevin Nicholson do? Nicholson, a longtime candidate and the head of the No Better Friend Corp ., was waiting for Johnson to make a decision so he could make his. “It's no secret that I'm considering a run for Governor. It is time for new leadership in Wisconsin. We deserve a Governor who shares our values, works for our kids, stands up for law enforcement, defends life, and secures our elections,” Nicholson said on Twitter on Sunday. “I do believe I