Evers talks about his belief in kids, and says Scott Walker is “the most anti-education governor our state has ever seen.”

MADISON – With just under a week and a half before the primary election on August 14, Tony for Wisconsin is releasing it’s latest TV ad, “Best.”

Evers has led every single poll since January and most recently was shown having strong leads over both incumbent Governor Scott Walker and the entire Democratic primary field.

The ad begins with Evers talking about his own inspiration for Wisconsin’s future, “I’ve always believed that what’s best for our kids, is what’s best for our state. That’s why I got into teaching.” Evers goes on to say that Scott Walker is “the most anti-education governor our state has ever seen.” He ends the ad by promising, “I’ll never play politics with our kids or their schools, because their future is Wisconsin’s future.”

Watch the TV ad, “Best” here: https://youtu.be/5YRXtW2eXR0 or below.

It will air in markets across Wisconsin on television and digital channels.

Endorsements come within a week of two polls announcing Evers with healthy lead over Governor Scott Walker.

MADISON – State Superintendent Tony Evers is proud to announce the endorsements of State Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton), State Senator Janis Ringhand (D-Evansville) and State Senator Bob Wirch (D-Somers) for Evers’ campaign for Governor. These come within a week of two polls announcing Evers with healthy leads over both Governor Scott Walker and the democratic primary field.

“Potholes are consuming our roads and our healthcare costs are skyrocketing – we have to get back to basics as a state. Four more years of Scott Walker will just be more of the same and Wisconsinites will again be left holding the bag. I’m supporting Tony Evers because we need a leader that is focused on solving our problems, not picking political fights,” Erpenbach said.

“Tony Evers is the only candidate who can beat Scott Walker. I applaud him for being the first candidate to call for a clean campaign pledge in the Democratic primary. As we enter the final two weeks, I hope that all candidates and their supporters follow Tony’s lead and run strong, positive campaigns,” said Ringhand. “I’m supporting Tony because he will bring needed commonsense to the Governor’s office. It’s time for a change.”

Evers has already been endorsed by State Senator Mark Miller, State Representative Dana Wachs, State Representative Sondy Pope, State Representative Don Vruwink, State Representative Daniel Riemer, and State Representative Tod Ohnstad.

“Local control has been absolutely decimated under Scott Walker’s watch. Instead of trusting our local elected officials to make the decisions that are best for our communities, Gov. Walker has decided that he knows better. It’s time for us to return power to the people of Wisconsin and Tony Evers will do just that,” said Sen. Wirch.

“We need to make sure healthcare is universally available”

MADISON, WI - Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kelda Roys released her second ad, Again, focused on her experience in expanding healthcare access and her plans to continue working to provide healthcare to every Wisconsinite.

A transcript of the ad can be found below, a fact sheet has been included alongside this release, and the ad itself can be viewed here.

“Every single Wisconsinite deserves high-quality, comprehensive, and affordable healthcare,” said Roys. “That’s what I fought for as vice-chair of the Assembly Health and Healthcare Reform Committee, where I was proud to expand access to healthcare. As governor, I will work tirelessly to ensure every single Wisconsinite has access to the care they need at prices they can afford.”

Again Transcript:

Kelda Roys: “We have a long way to go on healthcare. We do. Wisconsin was a leader at one time in expanding access to health care and we can be again. I'm Kelda Roys. When I was in the legislature, we strengthened BadgerCare, and at the end of that long process, about 80,000 more Wisconsinites had access to great healthcare. We need to make sure that healthcare is universally available and that everyone can buy into a great plan like BadgerCare at an affordable cost. And the good news is we have that within our grasp. We can do that.”

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Kelda Roys, 39, is a small business owner, attorney, former state representative, and past head of NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin who has been standing up for women and families throughout her career. In the Assembly, she stood out as an influential and effective lawmaker, delivering results for working families and helping lead the opposition to Governor Scott Walker’s divisive agenda. As a parent and step-parent of four girls, Roys will fight for paid family leave, affordable childcare, great schools, and quality healthcare for all. In a year in which Wisconsin voters are ready for change, Kelda Roys provides the clearest contrast to Scott Walker.

Ad highlights vision needed to beat Scott Walker. Watch it here.

MADISON – Fresh off last week’s NBC News and Marist Poll showing Evers with a double-digit lead over both the Democratic primary field and Governor Scott Walker, Evers is releasing his first television ad which will begin airing Tuesday, July 31. There are just over two weeks until the August 14 primary.

The ad begins with Evers saying, “If we’re going to beat Scott Walker, we need a stronger vision for our future.” He goes on to highlight his experience as State Superintendent and his vision to provide a quality education for every kid in Wisconsin, no matter their zip code. Evers outlines his support for strong investments in early childhood education, our public schools and training for Wisconsin’s workers.

Watch the TV ad, “Vision” here: https://youtu.be/evIIeTz6bd8

It will air in markets across Wisconsin on television and digital channels.

The out-of-state billionaires who say they "expect something in return" for their political donations have already spent more than $5.1 million to beat Tammy Baldwin and buy a U.S. Senator who works for them.

MADISON - According to a new report from the Washington Post, the out-of-state billionaire Koch brothers are convinced that both Leah Vukmir and Kevin Nicholson would work to advance their corporate special interest agenda in the U.S. Senate. Via The Post:

"In a private presentation to donors, AFP officials identified six Senate candidates in addition to Blackburn as potential candidates whom they view as supportive of the network's free-market policy priorities: Rick Scott of Florida, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Matt Rosendale of Montana, Patrick Morrisey of West Virginia, Leah Vukmir of Wisconsin and Kevin Nicholson of Wisconsin."

The billionaire Kochs say that both Vukmir and Nicholson are "supportive" of their "priorities" -- virtually guaranteeing that the Kochs add to the more than $5.1 million that they've already spent trying to beat Tammy Baldwin and buy a Senator who works for them.

The Koch spending that either Vukmir or Nicholson will benefit from comes with strings attached. In their own words, the brothers "expect something in return" for their prolific political spending. 

Here are some Koch "priorities" that they can count on both Vukmir and Nicholson to advance:

• Deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid -- Both Vukmir and Nicholson have endorsed Republican efforts to cut Wisconsinites’ Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits. Since the 1980s, the Kochs have spent millions trying to abolish Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
• Tax giveaways for wealthy billionaires like the Kochs and large corporations -- Vukmir and Nicholson support the GOP tax law that sends more than 80 percent of benefits to the richest 1 percent and large corporations like Pfizer, and which has the two Kochs each set to become $1 billion richer -- each year. The Kochs no doubt want to keep the tax cuts coming.
• Gutting pre-existing condition protections and stripping health care away from millions -- Vukmir and Nicholson support the Kochs' years-long campaign to repeal the Affordable Care Act and take away millions of Americans’ health care access. Vukmir and Nicholson want to replace the ACA with a Republican health care plan that take coverage away from as many as 30 million Americans, gut protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and let insurance companies charge seniors more.

MADISON - Mike McCabe’s grassroots campaign for governor will begin running ads on Hulu starting Wednesday, August 1, 2018. The ad, which is 1 min and will play until the August 14th primary, stresses the need to break away from the current theories of what makes a candidate viable and instead dare to dream of a better politics and a cleaner government.

Here is a sneak peak of the ad which will begin playing tomorrow on Hulu in select markets around Wisconsin. To view video, click on the graphic below:

MADISON – Today, Senator Caleb Frostman announced his first three Legislative listening sessions as part of a Legislative Lunchtime Listening Session series.

These events will provide an opportunity for residents of the 1^st Senate District to meet with Senator Frostman and share their thoughts and concerns about the upcoming Legislative session or request assistance in working with state agencies.

See below for times and locations.

Additional listening sessions will be scheduled all throughout the 1^st Senate District in the coming weeks and months.

3 months ago, Kooyenga promised to reimburse taxpayers $30,000 for a legal settlement over unlawful removal of a anti-Trump sign he found personally distasteful. What excuse will he make this time?

MADISON - Three months after state Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R - Brookfield) promised to reimburse taxpayers $30,000 for a legal settlement over Kooyenga’s unlawful removal of a sign he found personally distasteful, Kooyenga still hasn’t written a check.

“Wisconsinites expect better out of their elected officials,” said George Gillis, Democratic Party of Wisconsin executive director. “Dale Kooyenga has made excuse after excuse for this costly and completely avoidable episode, and now three months later, he still hasn’t followed through on his promise to pay back taxpayers. He should be ashamed.”

Kooyenga has changed his account of the events in May 2017 several times, each excuse more strange and dubious than the last. At one point Kooyenga claimed he removed the sign out of fear for children who would see it, then he suggested his military training demanded he remove the sign.

“Here’s the truth Dale Kooyenga won’t tell us: he was offended by a sign that was critical of his party, so he removed it. Dale Kooyenga didn’t care that the owner of the sign had a legal and constitutional right to post it, and he doesn’t seem to care now that his recklessness has cost Wisconsin taxpayers $30,000.”

Son of immigrants and director of River Alliance of Wisconsin believes Madison deserves leadership equal to our aspirations and undaunted by our challenges.

MADISON, WI - On July 27th, 2018, Raj Shukla announced his candidacy for Madison Mayor. Shukla chairs the city's Sustainable Madison Committee and led the push to be the first community in Wisconsin to commit to 100% renewable, net-zero carbon energy. He serves as executive director of River Alliance of Wisconsin, a state-wide clean water policy and advocacy agency.

“I am the son of immigrants and my parents raised me to believe dreams can come true, as theirs did. But achieving dreams demands hard work and the support of a community,” said Shukla. “As a nonprofit executive, social entrepreneur, civic leader, and environmental activist I’ve shown people how to reach higher and accomplish more. I want to do the same for the city I love.”

“Madison deserves leadership equal to our aspirations and undaunted by our challenges. In the most progressive, dynamic city in Wisconsin, everyone has a role to play in our success. We can make Madison more affordable. We can keep our neighborhoods healthy and vibrant. We can make sure everyone is safe in our rapidly changing city. But only if we have the courage and political will to find pragmatic solutions to persistent problems.”

“I appreciate Mayor Soglin’s long service to our community. I am running for mayor to lead Madison to become all we know it can be. I've helped businesses, nonprofits and governments live up to their ideals. I will do the same for our city.”

As executive director of River Alliance of Wisconsin, Raj Shukla leads the fight against some of Governor Walker’s worst ideas, like the financially and environmentally damaging Foxconn deal. His vision also forged new, market-based programs that work with farmers to limit pollution that hurts lakes and streams. Raj is also an active member of the Downtown Rotary, and he recently served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in the Dane County foster care system.

Raj Shukla is the spouse of a doctoral candidate at UW-Madison and their three girls attend Madison public schools. He’s a graduate of UW-Madison and a die-hard Badger.

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Learn more about Raj Shukla at www.rajshukla.com

Mike is a different kind of gubernatorial candidate at a time when this state needs some different approaches to our issues.