Politics and government news

What government is actually doing — laws and executive action, budgets and taxes, housing, schools, health, courts, public safety, transport, energy, voting and campaigns — across Washington, the states and city hall. Filter below or page through the full archive.

35 stories · page 1 of 2

Candidate profile · WI

Candidate profile: Rebecca Cooke in Wisconsin’s 3rd District

Elections and voting

Rebecca Cooke is a Democrat in the contested 2026 race for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District.

The Ballot Wisconsin Policy DeskOct 4, 2026

News · WI

Milwaukee County votes to remove Flock cameras from parks

Elections and voting

Milwaukee County approved removing Flock cameras from parks, moving the issue from a policy vote to implementation.

The Ballot Wisconsin News DeskOct 3, 2026

News · WI

Wisconsin DOJ highlights election protections

Elections and voting

The department reminded Wisconsinites that state and federal laws provide separate layers of protection for elections.

The Ballot Wisconsin DeskOct 3, 2026

News · WI

Three amendments will go before Wisconsin voters this fall

Elections and voting

The measures address government equity policies, the governor’s partial veto authority and closures of places of worship during health emergencies.

The Ballot Wisconsin Policy DeskSep 30, 2026

News · WI

Family sues Milwaukee over fatal police chase

Public safety

The civil case brings a fatal police chase involving Milwaukee before a court and raises a public-safety question about legal responsibility.

The Ballot Wisconsin Policy DeskSep 29, 2026

News · WI

On Sept. 25, 1961, Nelson signs Wisconsin seatbelt bill

Elections and voting

Gov. Gaylord Nelson signed a bill requiring all 1962 cars produced in Wisconsin to come equipped with seatbelts.

The Ballot Wisconsin DeskSep 27, 2026

News · WI

Baldwin bill would restrict federal agents near polls

Foreign policy

The Wisconsin senator’s bill would keep ICE, CBP and National Guard personnel away from polling places and routes used by voters.

The Ballot Wisconsin Policy DeskSep 27, 2026

News · WI

Data center votes draw scrutiny in Wisconsin campaigns

Economy and jobs

Incumbents from both parties are facing questions about earlier legislation on data center tax incentives and regulations.

The Ballot Wisconsin News DeskSep 27, 2026

News · WI

What to know about Wisconsin’s 2026 elections

Elections and voting

Wisconsin voters will decide statewide offices and all eight U.S. House seats on Nov. 3, 2026.

The Ballot Wisconsin DeskSep 27, 2026

News · WI

Wisconsin secretary of state primary results for 2026

Housing

NBC News projected Jay Schroeder and JoCasta Zamarripa as the Republican and Democratic primary winners.

The Ballot Wisconsin Policy DeskSep 26, 2026

Candidate profile · WI

Candidate profile: Jonathan Philip Peetz in Wisconsin’s 6th

Elections and voting

Peetz is a Republican in the contested 2026 race for Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District.

The Ballot Wisconsin News DeskSep 26, 2026

News · WI

Enbridge puts Line 5 leak cost at least $15.1 million

Energy and environment

Emergency response and property damage account for most of Enbridge’s estimated costs from the August leak in Iron County.

The Ballot Wisconsin DeskSep 26, 2026

News · WI

Past data center votes draw scrutiny in Wisconsin

Elections and voting

Wisconsin legislative candidates are facing questions about earlier data center votes, though no specific race is directly tied to the issue.

The Ballot Wisconsin Policy DeskSep 25, 2026

Candidate profile · WI

Candidate profile: Emily Berge in Wisconsin’s 3rd District

Elections and voting

Emily Berge is one of nine candidates in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District race, which concludes with the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The Ballot Wisconsin News DeskSep 25, 2026

News · WI

Toney, Kaul projected to advance in Wisconsin AG race

Housing

Eric Toney and Josh Kaul were projected as their parties’ Wisconsin attorney general nominees in uncontested primaries.

The Ballot Wisconsin DeskSep 24, 2026

Candidate profile · WI

Candidate profile: Laura S Benjamin in Wisconsin’s 3rd

Elections and voting

Laura S Benjamin is a Democrat in the nine-candidate contest for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District.

The Ballot Wisconsin Policy DeskSep 23, 2026

News · WI

Johnson presents proposed 2027 Milwaukee budget

Economy and jobs

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson has presented his proposed city budget for 2027.

The Ballot Wisconsin News DeskSep 22, 2026

News · WI

How Wisconsin’s fall vote could affect election rules

Elections and voting

Fall election results could influence who makes later decisions about how Wisconsin elections are run.

The Ballot Wisconsin DeskSep 22, 2026

News · WI

Crowley proposes prediction market ban for elected officials

Elections and voting

Crowley’s Wisconsin proposal would prohibit elected officials from participating in prediction markets.

The Ballot Wisconsin News DeskSep 21, 2026

Candidate profile · WI

Michael Thurow runs as an independent in Wisconsin's 6th

Elections and voting

Michael Thurow is one of 13 candidates in Wisconsin's contested 2026 election for the 6th Congressional District.

The Ballot Wisconsin DeskSep 20, 2026

News · WI

Wisconsin House members vote on high-profile issues

Elections and voting

The U.S. House used its final pre-midterm window to act on major legislation and record members’ votes on high-profile issues.

The Ballot Wisconsin Policy DeskSep 20, 2026

News · WI

Wisconsin sisters receive therapy for rare hearing loss

Elections and voting

Two Wisconsin sisters with a rare form of hearing loss have received a newly approved therapy.

The Ballot Wisconsin News DeskSep 20, 2026

News · WI

Tiffany, Crowley outline Wisconsin government oversight plans

Economy and jobs

The two Wisconsin governor candidates are emphasizing audits, transparency and accountability in state government.

The Ballot Wisconsin DeskSep 20, 2026

News · WI

Wisconsin midterms could reset path for election laws

Elections and voting

Unified control of state government could break years of stalemate, but constitutional limits would restrict some election-policy changes.

The Ballot Wisconsin News DeskSep 18, 2026

News · WI

Van Orden Backs Data Center Rate Protection

Elections and voting

Derrick Van Orden voted for an effort intended to protect Wisconsin families from electricity rate increases tied to data centers.

The Ballot Wisconsin DeskSep 18, 2026

News · WI

Supreme Court keeps Wisconsin absentee voting rules in place

Elections and voting

Wisconsin clerks will use existing absentee-ballot procedures after the Supreme Court blocked new federal requirements for the midterms.

The Ballot Wisconsin DeskSep 17, 2026

News · WI

Tax group says Tom Tiffany signed tax increase pledge

Economy and jobs

Americans for Tax Reform says Tom Tiffany promised to oppose and veto state tax increases if elected Wisconsin governor.

The Ballot Wisconsin Policy DeskSep 17, 2026

News · WI

West Allis Flock System Aided Police in Milwaukee Arrest

Public safety

West Allis police used Flock technology to help catch a Milwaukee man accused of stabbing his grandfather and to pursue shooting suspects.

The Ballot Wisconsin News DeskSep 17, 2026

News · WI

Crowley calls for repeal of Wisconsin fuel markup law

Energy and environment

David Crowley says repealing the state’s minimum markup law would lower fuel prices and blames federal policies backed by Tom Tiffany for rising costs.

The Ballot Wisconsin DeskSep 16, 2026

News · WI

Federal focus on Wisconsin elections continues after ruling

Elections and voting

The Supreme Court rejected voting changes, while federal officials remain focused on Wisconsin election administration.

The Ballot Wisconsin News DeskSep 16, 2026