MADISON, WI - As part of continued programmatic changes made in the face of the public health threat posed by COVID-19, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin is announcing today significant changes to its National Delegate Selection Plan. DPW’s Administrative Committee passed the changes on March 18, which were then approved by the Democratic National Committee. 

A summary of the changes include:

• All County and Congressional District Caucuses will be moved from in-person events to virtual events.

• Virtual county caucuses will be spread out between three dates: April 26th (the original date), May 3rd, and May 10th. CD caucuses will remain on May 17th.

• Anyone who wishes to participate in a county caucus (either as a voter, a delegate candidate, or an observer) is now required to pre-register for the virtual caucus ahead of time, by 5:00pm on April 17th.

• Caucuses will use electronic ballots rather than paper ballots.

Ads are part of Priorities’ ongoing $7.6 million TV and digital ad buy that reaches voters in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/bernie-sanders-drops-2020-s5.pngWith no viable path to the nomination, Sanders says he will remain on the ballot in upcoming primary contests to assert influence over the party platform and functions.

MILWAUKEE - Many things have changed in the last few days when it comes to voting in Milwaukee.

• The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that in-person voting will go on as scheduled today, April 7th. Polls will be open from 7 AM-8 PM.
• All regular polling locations have been consolidated into 5 locations, to find your new polling site, go to: myvote.wi.gov or call 414-286-3491
• All Absentee ballots must be dropped off today by 8pm or mailed. It must be postmarked on April 7th to count.
• If you have NOT received your absentee ballot the you requested email the election commission at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call them at 414-286-3491

I hope that if you do go to vote today, you take care to maintain proper social distancing, wear a mask if you're able, and bring your own black pen.

If you need a ride, call us: 414-943-0756

Absentee Ballot Drop-off

(If you received a ballot in the mail - ONLY)

8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

City of Milwaukee voters who have completed their absentee ballot with certificate envelope can drop it off at any of the locations below. Election Commission staff are available to witness voter signatures.

Learn more at city.milwaukee.gov/election or call 414-286-3491

To keep up with the most recent information on COVID-19: govstatus.egov.com/wi-covid-19

The April 7th election should be postponed, say Shilling and Hintz. We are living in an unprecedented time. Republican inaction will disenfranchise thousands.

MADISON – Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) and Assembly Democratic Leader Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) released the following statement regarding the importance of election safety and public health.

“The April 7th election should be postponed by any means necessary. Having tens of thousands of people gathered at polling places around the state on Tuesday will result in the further spreading of the COVID-19 virus. This will increase the burden on our health care system and ultimately cost more lives. Postponing this election and moving toward mail-only ballots is the only way to ensure Wisconsinites remain safe. We need to act now. Forcing people to choose between their health and their right to vote is not an acceptable path forward. History will not judge those who allowed this to happen kindly.

“With state and federal guidelines, as well as countless public health officials, encouraging people to stay in their homes and avoid large gatherings to limit transmissions of the virus, postponing this election is the moral decision our state must make. With experts now stating that its possible COVID-19 can spread by droplets produced by talking or even breathing, the importance of stopping mass gatherings really is a matter of life and death.

“Every state with an April or May election has postponed it, and Wisconsin should follow suit before we walk into this public health disaster. We are living in an unprecedented time. Republican inaction will disenfranchise thousands of Wisconsin voters and worse, jeopardize public health.”

Political group takes a look at what folks across Wisconsin are saying about Trump’s failed leadership in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

MADISON - The number of Wisconsinites who’ve died from COVID-19 is nearing 40, the number of unemployment claims in Wisconsin is skyrocketing, and nonfarm jobs contracted by 701,000 nationally this month — the largest decline since 2009.

And many who recently lost their jobs will soon be without health insurance. As the pandemic rages on, Trump is turning his back on Wisconsinites by refusing to allow people to find insurance on the ACA marketplace.

It didn’t have to be this way.

Trump’s failure to take action early on has undoubtedly put our lives at risk. Just on Sunday, Trump claimed that the U.S. is doing more testing for coronavirus than any other country in the world. He has also claimed that “anybody that wants a test can get a test.” But proportionate to our population, that is simply not true. Meanwhile, many Wisconsin residents, including health care workers working on the frontlines, say they “have not been able to get tested despite having concerning symptoms — fever, coughing and sometimes shortness of breath.”

Wisconsinites are taking notice of Trump’s failed leadership, and are putting more of their trust in Governor Evers rather than the president, following a trend amongst battleground states. Voters’ approval of Evers’s handling of coronavirus is more than 20 points higher than Trump’s.

Take a look at what folks across Wisconsin are saying about Trump’s failed leadership in the face of the coronavirus pandemic:

• Wisconsin State Journal (March 25, 2020): Trump's inaction is leading to deaths -- Amanda Kemnitz
  
  “By the time flights were halted, the virus was already in our country. And due to the aggressive nature of its transmission, it had already spread. In the meantime, as recently as a Feb. 28 rally, President Donald Trump was calling criticism of his handling of the coronavirus a "hoax." This, as well as the lack of preparedness of the U.S. government, has clearly caused more deaths with many more to come.”

• Wisconsin State Journal (March 23, 2020): Trump's response has been a disaster -- David F. Olson
  
  “Surely his [President Trump’s] policies and decisions have had a negative influence during the COVID-19 pandemic. As soon as he took control of this country, President Trump abolished a program designed by the Obama administration to mitigate an epidemic. A few weeks ago, he blamed the Centers for Disease Control for the situation we are in today.”

• La Crosse Tribune (March 18, 2020): Steven Manson: Trump has botched virus response
  
  “Trump's leadership style of intimidation and misinformation may work with humans, but not against germs. Lesson learned - don't believe what he says.”

• Wisconsin State Journal (March 31, 2020): Trump's follies mislead our nation -- Jerome Jones
  
  “President Donald Trump's daily presentations on COVID-19 seem knowingly at odds with the truth of what's happening all around the country. Like Saigon's follies, President Trump's follies are dangerous and have and will cause Americans needless suffering and pain.”

• The County Line (March 11, 2020): Coronavirus is not Democrats’ ‘new hoax’ -- Lee D. Van Landuyt
  
  “This is just the beginning of this serious pandemic. Our president and all other world leaders have been aware of this for three months. Other leaders have taken action, but our administration has done precious little to plan and mobilize for this new pandemic, knowing the risks it posed to American citizens, especially our most vulnerable.”

• WisPolitics (March 30, 2020): Bill Kaplan: Trump downplays coronavirus in Midwest
  
  “Trump said: “Those (California and New York) are really two hotbeds. …(Y)ou go out to the Midwest … and they’re watching it on television but they don’t have the same problems.” Facts: there are many thousands of coronavirus cases and a rising death toll in the Midwest. Wisconsin cases doubled in a week to over 1,000.”

If you’re looking to talk to folks about their thoughts on Trump’s handling of COVID-19, please reach out so I can connect you. In the meantime, thank you again for your hard work, and stay healthy.

https://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/voterid_hand-s5.jpgCourt order extends time to request an absentee ballot through Friday, April 3 and relaxes witness certification requirement. Absentee ballots now must returned by April 13 at 4:00 PM.

Assembly Leader praises Jennifer Shilling on the great job she has done in Madison over the past 20 years and for her sense of humor and friendship.

MADISON – Assembly Democratic Leader Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) released the following statement on the decision by Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) to not seek re-election in the 32nd Senate District. Senator Shilling has served in the State Legislature since 2000.

“Senator Shilling has been a true public servant to her constituents over the past 20 years, advocating on behalf of the priorities important to people in Western Wisconsin while championing the values of opportunity and fairness. She has done it all in her time in office, including serving on Joint Finance and as Senate Democratic leader, where she has been an effective voice on behalf of working families throughout all of Wisconsin.”

“I appreciate that Jen has not let the job change who she is as a person. She has always prioritized family and being a member of her community that people can relate to. It has been a please to serve as leader alongside of her over the past two and a half years and in the legislature over the past thirteen. I value her sense of humor and friendship and wish her all the best in the future.”

Senator Shilling was first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2000. During her time in the legislature she has served as a ranking member on the powerful Joint Committee on Finance. In 2015, Senator Shilling was elected by her colleagues to serve as the Senate Democratic Leader. She was re-elected to this position in 2017 and 2019. Shilling has been a tireless advocate for her La Crosse community and the entire 32nd Senate District throughout her distinguished career of public service.

After 20 years of service, Democratic Leader looks to chart a new course.

Washington, DC—In response to America First Action announcing a $10 million ad buy, Priorities USA Action is expanding its original $6.6 million television and digital ad buy holding Donald Trump accountable for his failed response to the coronavirus pandemic and beginning to air “Better Prepared,” a spot contrasting the chaotic failed leadership of Donald Trump with the strong, steady leadership of Vice President Joe Biden. The spot will run alongside “One Week Later,” which uses Trump’s own words to show how he downplayed the crisis even as the number of infections grew exponentially. The Trump campaign has tried and failed to block TV stations from running the first two coronavirus ads that Priorities USA Action has run.

As an initial step, Priorities is adding an additional $1 million of ad time and extending by a week in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Priorities is also adding more digital ad time across these battleground states and Florida. Priorities is already running a contrast spot, “Steady Leadership,” online.

“Trump is failing the country as a leader during the biggest crisis of our lives. It has always been inevitable that the Trump team would attempt to cover up his dangerous incompetence by attacking Joe Biden,” said Guy Cecil, Chairman of Priorities USA. “With Donald Trump’s super PAC stepping into this race, we will not let Vice President Biden go undefended. We will do whatever we can to both hold Trump accountable during this time of crisis and help Joe Biden get elected in November.”