In this update:

Election Updates
Administration Updates
Legislative Updates
Committee Schedule
Upcoming Events

Election Updates

Nass announces retirement

Senator Steve Nass (R-Whitewater), the longest-serving Republican in the Wisconsin Legislature, announced that he will retire from the state Senate at the end of his term.

“It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve in the Wisconsin State Legislature representing the people of Southern Wisconsin,” Senator Nass stated. “I have proudly fought for the taxpayers in my district with every vote that I cast for and against legislation.”

Senator Nass was first elected to the state Assembly in 1990, where he served 12 terms before winning election to the state Senate in 2014. Over more than three decades in office, he is stepping aside to allow new leadership to emerge in the solidly Republican 11th Senate District. “The time has come for a new fighter to take on the mission of preserving life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for the citizens of the 11th State Senate District,” he said, adding that he remains optimistic about the future of the state and the preservation of the American Dream in Wisconsin.

Senator Nass is the third lawmaker to announce they are not seeking re-election joining State Senator Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield) and Representative Dave Murphy (R-Hortonville) who previously announced.

Wisconsin Democratic Party outraises State GOP in federal fundraising

The state Democratic Party raised nearly six times as much as the state Republican Party through their federal campaign accounts in 2025, according to their year-end filings.

WisDems reported raising nearly $12.8 million and finished the year with $806,728 on hand and $38,897 in debt. The state GOP raised just under $2.2 million and ended 2025 with $535,974 in cash on hand.

Individual contributions accounted for $9.2 million of the Democrats’ federal fundraising, including nearly $3.3 million in unitemized donations from contributors giving less than $200. The GOP reported $810,836 from individuals, including $388,126 in unitemized contributions.

Separately, WisDems previously reported $15.4 million raised through its main state account and $271,130 through its segregated fund just under $14 million through its main state account and $407,697 through its segregated fund.

Cooke outraises Van Orden

Eau Claire Democratic Candidate for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, Rebecca Cooke outraised Republican incumbent Congressman Derrick Van Orden in the most recent reporting period, marking the first time she has done so this election cycle for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District.

Between October 1 and December 31, Ms. Cooke raised about $1.2 million, compared with approximately $931,000 for Congressman Van Orden. Ms. Cooke’s total included about $72,000 from political action committees and Democratic campaigns, while Congressman Van Orden reported about $100,000 from PACs and Republican campaigns.

Congressman Van Orden reported higher overall spending and cash on hand. He spent about $461,000 during the final quarter of 2025 and ended the year with nearly $3 million available. Ms. Cooke spent roughly $436,000 and finished the period with about $2.5 million on hand.

Congressional Delegation campaign finance Q4 reports

WI-01

Rep. Bryan Steil (R, incumbent)

Raised (Q4): $852K
Cash on hand: $4.9M

Challengers:

Mitchell Berman (D):

Raised (Q4): 108K
Cash on hand $90K

Randy Bryce (D):

Raised (Q4): $3K
Cash on hand: $7K

WI-02

Rep. Mark Pocan (D, incumbent)

Raised (Q4): $84K
Cash on hand: about $1.03M

WI-03

Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R, incumbent)

Raised (Q4): $931K
Cash on hand: $2.7M

Challengers:

Rebecca Cooke (D)

Raised (Q4): $1.2M
Cash on hand: $2M

Emily Berge (D)

Raised (Q4): $115K
Cash on hand: $69K

WI-04

Rep. Gwen Moore (D, incumbent)

Raised (Q4): $137K
Cash on hand: $47K

WI-05

Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R, incumbent)

Raised (Q4): $81K
Cash on hand: $1.2M

WI-06

Rep. Glenn Grothman (R, incumbent)

Raised (Q4): $145K
Cash on hand: $645K

Challenger: Bradley Smith (D)

Raised (Q4): $27K
Cash on hand: $23K

WI-07

Paul Wassgren (R)

Raised (Q4): $1.6M
Cash on hand: $1.4M

Jessi Ebben (R)

Raised (Q4): $321K
Cash on hand: $265K

Michael Alfonso (R)

Raised (Q4): $313K
Cash on hand: $279K

Kevin Hermening (R)

Raised (Q4): $38K
Cash on hand: $1M

WI-08

Rep. Tony Wied (R, incumbent)

Raised (Q4): $196K
Cash on hand: $353K

Knoke launches bid for 30th Assembly District

Democratic candidate Kevin Knoke announced his campaign for Wisconsin’s 30th Assembly District. Mr. Knoke spent 26 years teaching in the Hudson School District and served eight years in the Army Reserves. Mr. Knoke stated, “I am excited to announce my candidacy for the 30th Assembly District. I’m running for the State Assembly because I believe our state needs practical, principled leadership that puts people ahead of politics and problem-solving ahead of partisanship. My life experiences—as a teacher, veteran, outdoorsman, and parent—have shaped a clear understanding of what works, what doesn’t, and what Wisconsin families actually need from their government.”

Wisconsin’s 30th Assembly District is currently represented by Republican State Representative Shannon Zimmerman. Rep. Zimmerman was elected to the Assembly in 2016 and was last reelected in 2024 by a margin of 8.5 percentage-points. In 2024, President Donald Trump carried the district by 4.4 percentage-points and Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Eric Hovde won by 5 percentage-points.

Administation Updates

Evers, WisDOT announce new launch of new program to improve rural infrastructure

Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation have opened applications for a new round of grant funding aimed at repairing and replacing aging culverts and small bridges in rural communities.

The funding is available through the Local Small Structures Improvement Program (LSSIP), which was created as part of the 2025-27 state budget. The budget included $150 million for the Agricultural Roads Improvement Program, with $30 million set aside specifically for small bridge and culvert projects that support agricultural and forestry transportation.

WisDOT has spent the past two years working with local governments to inventory and assess small structures across the state. That process identified more than 16,500 culverts and small bridges, with structures rated in poor or severe condition eligible for LSSIP funding.

Local governments may apply for grants covering up to 90% of project costs. Applications are submitted through AccessGov, and the deadline is Friday, May 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

Since the Agricultural Roads Improvement Program was launched in 2023, it has funded 91 projects in 48 counties, supporting improvements to rural roads and structures critical to moving agricultural and forestry products.

Legislative Updates

The Assembly will hold floor sessions on Feb. 10th and Feb. 12th
The Senate is expected to hold a floor session on Feb. 11th
The State of the Tribes is on Feb. 10th

Assembly Floor Sessions

The Assembly will hold a floor session on Tuesday, February 10th and Thursday, February 12th. Click the link below to view the bills expected to be on the floor February 10th. The agenda for the session on the 12th has not yet been released.

February 10th Assembly Floor Session.

WisEye continues operations

WisconsinEye returned online after going dark on December 15 and resumed February production. The restart comes as lawmakers consider funding options for the network. While the Joint Committee on Legislative Organization unanimously approved $50,000, separate legislation moving through the Assembly would create an endowment to support WisconsinEye’s long-term operations. An Assembly committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing and vote on the bill today.

The bill, AB 974, has secured 49 Assembly co-sponsors and received a public hearing and executive session before the Assembly State Affairs Committee. The measure still does not have a Senate co-sponsor.

Network President Jon Henkes said three donors have pledged $175,000 contingent on the bill’s passage, which would fund roughly two additional months of operations. He declined to say how long the network could continue without legislative action

Committee Schedule

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, February 9

No meetings currently scheduled.

Tuesday, February 10

Assembly Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention

Executive Session at 9:15 AM

Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage

Public Hearing at 1:00 PM

Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

Public Hearing at 1:00 PM

Wednesday, February 11

No meetings currently scheduled.

Thursday, February 12

Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government

Public Hearing at 11:30 AM

Friday, February 13

No meetings currently scheduled.

Upcoming Events

Friday, February 13 - Capitol Chats with Rep. Joel Kitchens (virtual)

Monday, February 16 - Meet the Candidate with Joel Brennan

Monday, February 23 - Meet the Candidate with Congressman Tom Tiffany

ABOUT US

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