December 18, 2025

MILWAUKEE — Yesterday, Judge Hannah Dugan, a dedicated public servant was convicted in a case that raises serious concerns about federal overreach and judicial independence. This jury verdict sends a troubling message about the consequences faced by judges who act to protect due process in their courtrooms.

8.22.26

We Need Your Input on Wisconsin's Future
Wisconsin stands at a pivotal moment.

For more than a decade, we've seen what happens when volunteers, community members, and organizations advocate for people-focused policy, nearly all of which has broad support across the state and political spectrum.

Dear Milwaukee Leaders:

We are a broad coalition of Milwaukee organizations, faith leaders, advocates, and community members deeply concerned about the human consequences of federal immigration enforcement and the role private corporations play in supporting those efforts. We write today because the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District is considering awarding one of the largest public contracts in our region to Jacobs, a corporation with longstanding business ties to Palantir Technologies, whose software supports U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.

Posted 7.15.26

MILWAUKEE — Community members, immigrant rights advocates, labor organizations, and concerned residents will gather on Monday, July 20 at 5:00 p.m. outside the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District to oppose the potential selection of Jacobs Solutions for MMSD's wastewater operations contract. Advocates are raising concerns about the company's partnership with Palantir. 

posted 7.2.26

In response to the NRSC v. Federal Election Commission decision from the Supreme Court, Wisconsin organizations released a joint statement to call out this harmful decision and affirm our commitment to reining in big money in politics. 

The Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition is hosting a day of statewide rallies on Thursday, June 4. Why? Because Our Maps, Our Say!

Despite Wisconsin’s status as a closely divided battleground state, conservative candidates for the Wisconsin State Supreme Court are continuing to lose by wide margins. In 2026, that dynamic was especially striking because, unlike in 2025, independent expenditure groups spent relatively little to support conservative candidate Maria Lazar.

As WDC noted in its earlier analysis, Lazar was significantly outraised and outspent throughout the race. On April 7, she lost to liberal candidate Chris Taylor by a whopping 20 points.

Join Wisconsin Democracy Campaign for our ANNUAL GATHERING on Friday, May 15. 

posted 4.3.26

With just days remaining before Election Day, let’s take a closer look at the money shaping this year’s Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Voters are choosing between liberal-leaning candidate Chris Taylor and conservative-leaning candidate Maria Lazar. 

As noted in our previous analysis, the lower stakes of this race have led to significantly less overall spending compared to last year. However, even with reduced totals, one side is out-fundraising and outspending the other by substantial margins. Let’s get into the data.

posted 3.18.26

Wisconsin is a little over one month away from the April 7 State Supreme Court Election, where voters will choose between liberal-leaning candidate Chris Taylor and conservative-leaning candidate Maria Lazar. Unlike the last few years, we are not going to see record-breaking spending. At this point last year, independent spending had already reached $24.7 million. As of today, it stands at just $638,300 – under 3% of last year’s total.

As Wisconsin voters head to the polls this April for pivotal races — including the Wisconsin Supreme Court and critical local offices — the stakes couldn’t be higher. If we believe that power belongs to We the People, then showing up matters: the direction of our state and our democracy is shaped not just in Washington, but by who holds power in our courts, our counties, our cities, and our schools.

2.23.26

So far in the Wisconsin state legislative session, nearly 850 unions, corporations, nonprofits, and trade and ideological groups have spent time and/or money communicating with government officials or performing other lobbying-related activities, according to figures from the Wisconsin Ethics Commission.

New figures released break down the time and money spent for the second half of 2025. Groups spent more than $23.3 million and 80,000 hours lobbying the state government. 

Posted 2.6.26

Nearly 4,700 Janesville residents stepped up and did exactly what Wisconsin law allows and expects citizens to do.

They organized their neighbors.
They collected signatures.
They submitted a lawful petition.
And the City Clerk certified it as valid.

Their request is straightforward: before moving forward with a massive development at the former GM/JATCO site, let the people of Janesville decide at the ballot box.

Posted 2.4.26

In response to a suit brought by voters who were disenfranchised in the November 2024 election, the City of Madison is arguing that because the voters cast absentee ballots, they don’t have a constitutional right to have their votes counted.

*posted 10.27.25

No matter our race, zip code, or background, Wisconsinites believe the government should serve the people not those with the deepest pockets. In fact, 88% of Wisconsin voters are concerned about money's influence over government. What else (besides our love for the Packers!) has that sort of agreement?

While Wisconsin families stretch to pay bills and put dinner on the table, greedy corporations and out-of-state billionaires pour dark money into our elections like it's a board game. We can create a better Wisconsin where THE PEOPLE call the shots. We can rewrite the rules, starting with disclosure laws so voters know WHO is spending WHAT in our elections. Sign our pledge!

October 8, 2025

Thank you, Chairperson Maxey, Vice-Chair Krug and other distinguished members of this Committee, for this opportunity to speak before the committee.

My name is Beverly Speer, the operations and policy director for the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. I’ll be speaking for information only, not for or against this proposal.

Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, as a nonpartisan political watchdog organization, has been tracking and exposing money in Wisconsin politics and advocating for a full range of pro-democracy reforms for 30 years.

Assembly Bill 385 has been sold as a proposal that has bipartisan support at the federal level and in other states. Requiring online contributions to committees to include credit card CVV numbers and a U.S. address included with any contribution seems like common sense based on existing law. WDC supports increased transparency and accountability, but this bill will have a limited positive effect if not potentially create more problems than it resolves.

We are concerned that this is not a good-faith effort to regulate campaign money.

Posted: October 7, 2025
Updated: October 29, 2025

The Wisconsin Legislature may be preparing to adjourn before the holiday season, but policymakers have been busy, introducing pro-democracy bills and circulating proposals.

Among them are several measures that directly address money in politics and the influence of special interests. These proposals — five in particular — aim to strengthen voter participation, increase transparency, and restore balance in our democracy.

October 1, 2025

In just the first six months of 2025, 868 unions, corporations, nonprofits, and trade and ideological groups spent more than $24.8 million lobbying the Wisconsin state government.

From January to June, these organizations spent nearly 100,000 hours communicating with government officials or performing other lobbying related activities, according to figures released by the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. To put that in perspective, that’s the equivalent of over 4,000 full days — or just under 11 years of time — spent trying to influence state policy.

Posted: September 18, 2025

Join WDC and partners for Our Wisconsin, Our Constitution statewide tour, a free, nonpartisan community event focused on how constitutional amendments are reshaping Wisconsin’s democracy.

Posted: September 10, 2025

How much does it take to win a nonpartisan Wisconsin Supreme Court seat? The new price tag has shattered records: over $100 million.

Between the candidates, PACs, individuals, and independent expenditure committees, the 2025 state Supreme Court race cost over $100.8 million.

Posted: September 4, 2025

Join WDC for a Dark Money Campaign kickoff event with civic-themed trivia! We will have a prize for the winning team. A portion of Delta's food and drink sales this evening will go toward supporting WDC and our mission to advocate for transparency and accountability in government. 

Posted: August 13, 2025

The heat is on this summer as 2026 candidates for Wisconsin’s highest court and governor’s office pull in record-setting money towards their campaigns for elections in 2026. 

State Supreme Court 

Wisconsin will hold a Supreme Court election every spring through 2030, with the next contest in April 2026. Eight months out from election day, candidates are already fundraising serious cash for their war chests. Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor of Madison, the liberal candidate in the race, set a new fundraising record in her first fundraising report. Justice Rebecca Bradley, the conservative incumbent who recently stated she would run for a second term on the court, has raised $0. 

August 11, 2025

MADISON, WI – Under President Trump’s urging, Texas Republicans are trying to further gerrymander and lock down Congress before 2026. It's the latest in a broader scheme to erode our democracy and consolidate power. Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition Organizing Director, iuscely Flores, released the following statement:

“The Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition stands in solidarity with voters and advocates in Texas who are facing yet another wave of extreme, partisan gerrymandering designed to entrench power and deny communities fair representation. Let me make this clear, as a native Spanish speaker, gerrymandering translates to three words: manipulating election results. We will not allow voters to be undermined.

posted July 2, 2025

While the dust has begun to settle since the April 2025 Election, newly released financial reports continue to reveal the enormous impact of money in politics in Wisconsin. 

From February 4 to March 17, 71 contributors–each spending $10,000 or more–gave a whopping nearly $1.28 million to Supreme Court and Superintendent candidates. That’s 71 individuals exerting tremendous influence over statewide elections. The top contributors, many of whom gave  the maximum amount of $20,000 during this brief two-week timeframe, are listed below:

Posted: 5.29.25
Updated: 6.2.25

Open letter to the members of the Joint Finance Committee, co-chairs Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) and Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam)

The joint organizations represent folks from northern Wisconsin to Milwaukee from rural, suburban and urban areas. We work on a variety of issues, including voting rights, conservation, labor, and more. We engage Wisconsinites of all ages, races, and backgrounds.

As voters, we expect accountability. Ahead of the budget, nearly 1,000 Wisconsinites showed up and spoke out in overwhelming support of funding for education, healthcare, childcare, and more. Instead of listening to those who vote them into office and pay their salaries, the leaders of the JFC cut 612 provisions from the proposed budget.