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In this update:
- Election Updates
- Committee Schedule
- Upcoming Events
| | Ziegler won’t seek reelection in ‘27 | |
Conservative State Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler has announced that she will not seek reelection in 2027 to a third term. Justice Ziegler, who was first elected to the court in 2007 and served as chief justice from 2021-25, said it was the right time for her to step away from the bench and spend more time with her family. In her announcement, Justice Ziegler noted “I am incredibly proud that in all my elections I had support from a broad spectrum of legal, civic, law enforcement and political leaders – both Democrats and Republicans – who believed in my commitment to fairness, ethics and the rule of law. I am also grateful to my colleagues on the Supreme Court, both past and present, for their faith in me by choosing me to serve as chief justice for two terms.”
Currently, there is a 4-3 Liberal Majority on the State Supreme Court. The earliest the majority could be back up for grabs is in 2028, if Conservatives retain their seats in 2026 and 2027.
| Barnes proposes utility rate freeze | |
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mandela Barnes has announced a “Freeze the Rates” plan as part of his Wisconsin Way agenda to block further utility rate hikes and promote lower energy costs for households across the state.
“Wisconsin’s utility monopolies rake in some of the highest profit margins in the entire nation while our bills skyrocket. That’s not a coincidence. Utility companies have rigged the system to boost their profits and pay for the massive salaries of wealthy executives while Wisconsinites have had to cut back on essentials like food and prescriptions to keep the heat on,” said former Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes. “As Governor, I will freeze utility rates and take on monopolies like WE Energies who are exploiting ratepayers to line their own pockets.”
Former Lieutenant Governor Barnes’ plan to lower energy costs:
- Freeze utility rates by appointing PSC commissioners committed to denying future rate hikes
- End the revolving door between regulators and utility executives
- Ban utilities from using ratepayer money for lobbying and political spending
- Cap executive pay while families face rising heating bills
- Close loopholes that force ratepayers to cover costs from closed coal plants
- Expand renewable energy, creating good-paying union jobs and lowering long-term costs
- Cut taxes for energy-saving home upgrades and eliminate reconnection fees for low-income households
- Fight Trump-era price hikes by challenging unfair grid and tariff costs
Former Lieutenant Governor Barnes’ utility plan builds on his broader agenda to make Wisconsin more affordable, including expanding BadgerCare, delivering universal child care, and cutting everyday costs for families.
| Reza announces bid for 9th AD | |
Mimi Reza, a member of the Milwaukee Public Schools Board of Directors, has announced she will run as a Democrat for the 9th Assembly District. “I’m running because our community deserves leadership that protects working families, strengthens public education, prioritizes public safety, and guarantees responsible property taxes,” Ms. Reza posted to Facebook. “Milwaukee residents deserve a representative they can trust — someone who listens, is present, and gets results.”
The 9th AD seat is currently held by freshman Rep. Priscilla Prado (D-Milwaukee), who was first elected in 2024 with 70% of the vote. Rep. Prado is the third member of the Assembly from Milwaukee County to face a Democratic primary challenge. The other two include Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez of the 8th AD and Rep. Ryan Clancy of the 19th AD.
| | Lazar releases documentary ahead of election | |
Judge Maria Lazar has released a new documentary intended to provide background on her personal and professional life. The Lazar campaign announced the release of Behind the Robe, a long-form video that outlines her career, judicial approach, and community involvement.
The documentary is positioned as a resource for voters seeking additional context about Judge Lazar beyond traditional campaign materials. It features an overview of her upbringing, her experience within Wisconsin’s legal system, and her perspective on the role of the judiciary and the rule of law.
The documentary includes sections on:
- Early life and background
- Legal and judicial career
- Community involvement
- Judicial priorities
| | Judicial Action Network launches ad supporting Taylor | | |
The progressive advocacy group Judicial Action Network began airing a new TV ad supporting liberal Judge Chris Taylor as “the best choice for State Supreme Court.” According to AdImpact, the ad was first tracked airing in the Milwaukee media market. To date, AdImpact has identified $2.5 million in TV advertising buys from Judge Taylor’s campaign and $1.2 million from the progressive group A Better Wisconsin Together. Meanwhile, conservative Judge Maria Lazar has not yet been on the air, but currently has $157,000 in buys reserved while the conservative group Restoration PAC has reported $40,000 in digital ads supporting Judge Lazar.
| | Cooke campaign releases new poll on 3rd CD race | | |
A new poll released by Impact Research shows Rebecca Cooke with a 43 point lead in Wisconsin’s third congressional district Democratic primary. Ms. Cooke leads the three-candidate field with 65% support, while candidate Emily Berge has 22% and candidate Rodney Rave has 1%. The poll also finds Ms. Cooke with at least 85% name recognition in every media market and strong favorability ratings across the district. Nate Silver rates Impact Research a B/C pollster.
A press release from the campaign notes Ms. Cooke has raised $1.1 million in Q4 of 2025 and began 2026 with more than $2.5 million cash on hand. Last month Ms. Cooke was named to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s 2026 “Red to Blue” program, recognizing top candidates poised to flip Republican-held seats.
Republican Congressman Derrick Van Orden currently represents Wisconsin’s third congressional district. Congressman Van Orden defeated Rebecca Cooke by about 2.8% in the 2024 general election.
| | Wassgren gives his campaign additional $1 million | | |
Republican candidate for the 7th Congressional District, Paul Wassgren, announced this week that he is committing an additional $1 million to his campaign. His press release notes that he ended 2025 with nearly $1.5 million cash on hand, which topped other candidates in the race. Mr. Wassgren promised that if elected, he would “fight every day in Washington to bring prosperity, economic development and safety to our communities and Make Wisconsin and America Great Again!”
Other GOP candidates in the race for the 7th CD include Keith Hermening, Michael Alfonso, and Jessi Ebben. The incumbent for the northwestern Wisconsin district is Congressman Tom Tiffany (R), who is running for governor.
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The following meetings have been noticed as of 2:00 pm Friday. Committee and Agency meeting notices are frequently updated and can be found here (for the Legislature) and here (for the Administration).
Monday, March 16
Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions
Executive Session at 10:00 AM
Tuesday, March 17
No meetings currently scheduled.
Wednesday, March 18
No meetings currently scheduled.
Thursday, March 19
No meetings currently scheduled.
Friday, March 20
No meetings currently scheduled.
| | Monday, April 20 - Meet the Candidate - Eric Toney | | |
If you would like any additional information about the above topic, or if you would like to find time to discuss the above matter in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact your Michael Best Strategies contact.
Have a great day,
Wisconsin GR Team
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One South Pickney Street, Suite 700
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608-257-3501
Fax: 608-283-2275
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