Candidate lanes, campaign ads, ‘F-bombs’ and the 2026 race

Inside Wisconsin Politics

Candidate lanes, campaign ads, ‘F-bombs’ and the 2026 race

The Democratic field for governor gets tighter, campaign ads roll out in primary races, and Vice President JD Vance visits Milwaukee — Inside Wisconsin Politics takes the temperature of the election.

July 9, 2026

Francesca Hong holds a wireless microphone in her right hand and gestures with her left hand while standing and speaking in a room, with the backs of the heads of seated people facing her in the foreground.
Francesca Hong holds a wireless microphone in her right hand and gestures with her left hand while standing and speaking in a room, with the backs of the heads of seated people facing her in the foreground.

Elections

Hong’s candidacy tests how far left Wisconsin voters are willing to go in 2026

Democratic socialists have won elections in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Denver so far in 2026 — in Wisconsin, Francesca Hong's candidacy for governor is turning a primary race into a question of where Democrats in the state stand.

July 9, 2026

Multiple John Deere tractors are arranged in a line on multiple flat railcars in a railyard with multiple tracks.
Multiple John Deere tractors are arranged in a line on multiple flat railcars in a railyard with multiple tracks.

Courts

John Deere owners win right to repair equipment under settlement with FTC, Wisconsin and four other states

The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general of Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin have secured a "right to repair" settlement with the farming equipment company John Deere to provide diagnostic and repair tools to owners and independent shops.

July 9, 2026

Charles Carlin on funding for Wisconsin’s state parks system
Charles Carlin on funding for Wisconsin’s state parks system

Environment

Charles Carlin on funding for Wisconsin’s state parks system

Gathering Waters: Wisconsin's Alliance for Land Trusts Director of Strategic Initiatives Charles Carlin discusses how the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program funded outdoor recreation infrastructure.

July 8, 2026

Leonard Jurgensen on his collection of Schlitz beer bottles
Leonard Jurgensen on his collection of Schlitz beer bottles

History

Leonard Jurgensen on his collection of Schlitz beer bottles

Oconomowoc resident Leonard Jurgensen describes the history and innovations of bottling mass-produced beers through different types of Schlitz-branded bottles he has collected over half a century.

July 8, 2026

A hand-drawn and shaded sketch shows a depiction of Hannah Dugan sitting.
A hand-drawn and shaded sketch shows a depiction of Hannah Dugan sitting.

Courts

Dugan fined $5,000 for her federal obstruction conviction over a 2025 ICE arrest

A federal judge sentenced former Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan to a fine of $5,000 for her obstruction conviction over her ushering a Mexican immigrant defendant out of a courtroom to evade Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

July 8, 2026

From left to right, Annette Ziegler, Jill Karofsky, Brian Hagedorn and Susan Crawford sit in high-backed leather chairs at a judicial dais, with another row of high-backed wood and leather chairs behind them, in a room with marble masonry and a Wisconsin flag.
From left to right, Annette Ziegler, Jill Karofsky, Brian Hagedorn and Susan Crawford sit in high-backed leather chairs at a judicial dais, with another row of high-backed wood and leather chairs behind them, in a room with marble masonry and a Wisconsin flag.

Courts

Wisconsin Supreme Court rejects the release of guardianship records sought by conservative activist

The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled 5-2 that guardianship records are not public and therefore are not subject to the state's open records law in a lawsuit brought by a conservative activist in an effort to find ineligible voters.

July 7, 2026

Leonard Jurgensen on documenting the history of Schlitz beer
Leonard Jurgensen on documenting the history of Schlitz beer

History

Leonard Jurgensen on documenting the history of Schlitz beer

Oconomowoc resident Leonard Jurgensen describes collecting documents, photographs and breweriana that capture the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company's history during its early eras in the 19th century.

July 7, 2026

Vanessa Colchado wears a dental gown and surgical mask while using a mouse with her right hand to look at a computer monitor displaying a dental X-ray, in a room with cabinets on the back wall.
Vanessa Colchado wears a dental gown and surgical mask while using a mouse with her right hand to look at a computer monitor displaying a dental X-ray, in a room with cabinets on the back wall.

Education

When will Wisconsin students receive federal financial aid for career training?

Officials with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development say it could take years for students to access Workforce Pell grants, with aid initially available only in a handful of carefully scrutinized programs.

July 6, 2026

Michael Alfonso smiles while standing in a room with the out-of-focus stripes of a large U.S. flag serving as a backdrop.
Michael Alfonso smiles while standing in a room with the out-of-focus stripes of a large U.S. flag serving as a backdrop.

Elections

Sean Duffy’s son-in-law divides Trump-backing Republicans in primary for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is doing all he can to get his 26-year-old son-in-law Michael Alfonso — who has an endorsement from President Donald Trump — elected to his old congressional district in northwestern Wisconsin.

July 6, 2026