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In this update:
- Election Updates
- Administration Updates
- Legislative Updates
- Committee Schedule
- Upcoming Events
| | Taylor raises over $820K in Q4 + new ad | |
Judge Chris Taylor’s campaign for the Wisconsin Supreme Court reports raising more than $820,000 in the latest filing period. Since launching in May, the campaign has brought in over $3.4 million and has more than $2 million cash on hand.
Judge Taylor released her first advertisement for the campaign. The ad marks the beginning of the campaign’s public communications effort ahead of the upcoming election.
Judge Taylor has received endorsements from over 100 current and retired judges, as well as Justices Jill Karofsky, Rebecca Dallet, Janet Protasiewicz, and Susan Crawford.
In the most recent reporting period, the campaign received contributions from more than 10,000 donors 68% of whom were from Wisconsin. The average donation was $77, and the report shows no transfers from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
| Lazar raisies $200K + ad buy | |
Judge Maria Lazar’s campaign announced two major updates. The campaign has launched its second statewide advertisement, “The Warning,” following its first ad, “Maria’s Path"," which began airing six weeks ago. The new ad is part of a six-figure media buy and will run on broadcast, cable, and digital platforms in major markets including Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay.
The campaign also reported raising nearly $200,000 over the past four weeks, with 357 new donors and an average contribution of $525. According to the campaign, Judge Lazar has been traveling across the state to meet with voters as part of its outreach efforts.
| Fredrickson launches bid for 92nd Assembly District | |
Jeremiah Fredrickson, owner of Jeremiah’s Bullfrog Fish Farm, has formally announced his candidacy as a Democrat for Wisconsin’s 92nd Assembly District. Mr. Fredrickson issued the following statement:
“I am excited to announce my candidacy for the 92nd Assembly District. As a lifelong Wisconsinite, I am proud to call this state and my community home. We look out for one another and we always lend a helping hand when needed. Rural Wisconsin is a beacon for how our legislature should act – lending support for those who need it and showing up when it matters most. I hear from so many of my neighbors that rural Wisconsin families are struggling – grocery prices keep going up, our local schools and hospitals are closing, veterans are left without critical services, good health care is out of reach, and small businesses can’t get ahead. This district needs a representative who will be an unapologetic advocate for rural Wisconsin. I’m running for the Assembly because something needs to change in Madison. The legislature is more focused on partisan bickering than helping working families. We need to listen to each other and work together to get things done. I’m excited to bring this vision to voters across the district and hear their priorities over the coming months.”
Republican Representative Clint Moses currently represents the 92nd Assembly District. Representative Moses has held the seat since 2025. He previously represented the 29th Assembly District before moving to the 92nd due to redistricting.
| | Evers urges lawmakers to support FoodShare | | |
A broad, nonpartisan coalition of more than 160 stakeholders, including AARP agribusiness, hunger relief organizations, and advocacy groups from across Wisconsin, sent a letter to members of the Wisconsin State Legislature urging them to approve critical investments aimed at protecting taxpayers. Without legislative action, Wisconsin could face up to $205 million annually in federal penalty fees tied to provisions in President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”
Under the new federal law, Wisconsin taxpayers are already expected to shoulder more than $284 million in additional costs in upcoming state budgets. In response, a diverse group of organizations, ranging from agricultural advocates and health care associations to food banks and social services providers, are calling on lawmakers to approve approximately $70 million in funding. These funds would enable the state to implement required program integrity measures and offset federal cuts to administrative support for Wisconsin’s FoodShare program resulting from the “Big Beautiful Bill.”
Failure to secure this funding, coalition members warn, could leave Wisconsin taxpayers responsible for more than $200 million per year in federal penalties. The Legislature has had this roughly $70 million request before it since August of last year. The Evers Administration has spent months following passage of the 2025-27 Biennial Budget, signed into law just days before the federal bill was enacted, pressing Republican lawmakers to approve the staffing and resources necessary to comply with the new federal requirements. During bipartisan budget negotiations, Republican leaders indicated a willingness to work with the governor to address the challenges posed by the bill. To date, however, those requested investments have not been approved.
In their letter, the coalition emphasized the urgency of action, warning that “additional delays in providing this funding will put Wisconsin taxpayers at risk of paying for increased costs and will negatively impact communities, businesses, and SNAP recipients across Wisconsin.” Governor Evers echoed that message earlier this year in his legislative priorities letter, similarly urging lawmakers to act swiftly.
Read the full press release here.
| | Evers urges support for 2026 legislative agenda | | |
As part of his 2026 Legislative Agenda, Governor Tony Evers is calling on the Wisconsin State Legislature to work across the aisle to reduce everyday out-of-pocket healthcare costs for families and seniors, combat prescription drug price gouging, and hold insurance companies accountable so Wisconsinites receive the coverage and care they pay for.
The governor’s push comes as healthcare costs are set to surge in 2026 following President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans’ decision not to extend premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act. As a result, many Wisconsinites are facing premium increases of thousands of dollars.
After two consecutive years of record enrollment, including a historic 313,579 Wisconsinites signing up for coverage during the 2025 Open Enrollment Period through the ACA marketplace, enrollment for 2026 had dropped by more than 24,000 individuals, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
In addition to the lapse in ACA tax credits, the president’s signature legislation, often referred to as the “Big Beautiful Bill,” includes sweeping changes to basic needs programs. The measure reduces Medicaid funding by an estimated $911 billion nationwide, adds new administrative hurdles that could result in roughly 270,000 Wisconsinites losing Medicaid coverage, and threatens the financial stability or rural hospitals. In Wisconsin alone, hospitals are projected to lose more than $264 million annually under the changes.
Governor Evers argues that while federal decisions are driving higher costs, Wisconsin can and should take action to ease the burden on households. His 2026 agenda outlines proposals to lower out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, prevent prescription drug price gouging, and strengthen oversight of insurance companies. Earlier this year, he sent a letter to legislative leaders urging them to build on the bipartisan progress achieved in 2025, including passage of a bipartisan state budget, and to continue working together to cut healthcare costs and protect consumers.
Read the full press release here.
| | Budget surplus discussions continue between Governor and Legislature | |
The Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) now projects Wisconsin will end the 2025-27 biennium with a $2.5 billion surplus, driven largely by higher-than-expected tax collections over the two-year period. The new estimate is $1.5 billion higher than last year’s projection, including nearly $1.4 billion in increased income and corporate tax revenues. With the Legislative session coming to a close, there have been increasing discussions between the Governor and Legislature on how to how to utilize the surplus funds.
Here are the initiatives currently being discussed:
Governor Tony Evers
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Wants the Legislature to pass a bill that would spend $200 million to increase reimbursements for special education and $450 million for general school aid. The additional reimbursement and school funding would in turn reduce the amount of funds districts can raise through property taxes.
- In exchange, the Governor would support putting $550 million into the school levy tax credit, helping lower what homeowners would otherwise pay in school property taxes. The Governor would also support allocating $97.3 million toward exempting cash tips from taxes.
- Gov. Evers’ spokesperson said that "Gov. Evers offered a compromise to Republican leaders on a plan that will provide tax relief while doing what’s best for our kids by increasing investments in public schools across our state."
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester)
- Although the Speaker had previously indicated any deal with the Governor on property taxes would need to address the Governor’s partial veto in the 2023-25 budget that allowed school districts to increase their per pupil spending limit by $325 annually for the next 400 years, he now says he would make a deal without repealing the veto.“I think the 400-year veto is wrong, but I also think the most important for us is to make sure that the surplus is given back to people to help with rising property taxes, rising electric costs and all the associated things dealing with inflation,” Speaker Vos said.
- Wants to use part of the $2.5 billion surplus for property tax relief. Was critical of the Governor’s initial proposal, saying the plan would “spend all the money on existing government.”
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg)
- Introduced a bill that would use $1.5 billion of the state’s surplus to send rebates of $1,000 to married couples and $500 to others. “You and your family know how to spend your hard-earned dollars best, not the state Government,” Sen. LeMahieu said regarding his proposal. “So, whether you need more room in your budget for groceries, or if Governor Evers’ 400-year veto sent your property tax bill through the roof, the State Senate intends to vote next week to return the surplus to the people who created it in the first place: you, the taxpayers.”
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Said he has been left out of negotiations between the Governor and Speaker and views the potential deal between the two as purely a political stunt meant to pressure the senate into taking action.
- Has said any deal with the Governor must address the Governor’s 400-year partial veto.
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Friday, February 20 - Capitol Chats with Sen. Rob Stafsholt (virtual)
Monday, February 23 - Meet the Candidate with Congressman Tom Tiffany
Monday, March 9 - Meet the Candidate with Joel Brennan
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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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