AGP Executive Report

Democratic Primary Showdown: Wisconsin’s Aug. 11 gubernatorial primary is down to the wire, with Democrats still split between establishment-backed David Crowley and progressive frontrunner Francesca Hong, as voters weigh electability and party direction ahead of the general election. Election Access: The Wisconsin DMV is extending ID service hours Monday and Tuesday so voters can get photo IDs needed for voting, with guidance on documentation and provisional options. Early Voting Update: Early in-person absentee voting has wrapped up, with more than 265,000 early voters statewide reported. Police Accountability: Wisconsin DOJ identified Madison officer Kiel Baitinger-Peterson as the officer who shot and killed Corey Ruiz on July 22, with the case now in the hands of the state investigation and Dane County DA review. Milwaukee Crime & Courts: A former Milwaukee Tool employee, Matthew Yang, was sentenced to five years for stealing more than $1 million in tools by manipulating the company’s ordering system. Public Safety Tech Debate: National attention continues on surveillance tools like Flock cameras, including how they’re used and where critics say they go too far. Local Economy Watch: Bank of America data finds domestic movers increasingly flocking to Milwaukee and other Midwestern metros, signaling continued regional pull. Health & Rights: A lawsuit challenges Wisconsin’s trans birth certificate law, arguing it improperly requires surgical procedures. State Fair Disruption: The Wisconsin State Fair reopened after a severe storm forced a brief shutdown, extending promotions as power outages were reported nearby.

Wisconsin Democratic primary pressure: Progressive candidates are making their final push ahead of Tuesday’s Wisconsin governor primary, ratcheting pressure on the Democratic establishment as the party tries to unite behind its nominee for the general election. Governor race spotlight: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shrugged off past “Woke 1” rhetoric tied to socialist candidates, telling voters to judge what candidates are saying now—an implicit response to renewed scrutiny of Francesca Hong’s earlier policing and “cancel Thanksgiving” comments. Election logistics: Coverage laid out what voters need to know for Tuesday’s primary, including polling hours and the slate of governor and congressional contests. UW-Madison lawsuit: Young America’s Foundation and the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty are challenging at least 20 UW-Madison scholarships and grants with race-based criteria, arguing the programs are unlawful. Tribal sovereignty in court: A Lac du Flambeau dispute over non-Native fishing rights is headed through federal litigation, with the tribe asserting sovereignty. Public safety & weather: A major storm system is driving flood and severe thunderstorm watches across the Chicago area, with Wisconsin storms moving east and leaving thousands dealing with outages.

Wisconsin Governor Primary: Francesca Hong keeps pulling ahead in the Democratic field, and her campaign is leaning hard into “permanent affordability” and a data-center moratorium as she tries to outlast scrutiny over old social media posts, including her Thanksgiving flip-flop. Campaign Finance & Elections: The Wisconsin GOP filed an FEC complaint alleging Democratic 1st Congressional District candidate Mitchell Berman missed a pre-primary filing deadline, setting up another transparency fight heading into Tuesday’s primary. National Politics, Senate Strategy: Senate Republicans ended a standoff over Trump’s proof-of-citizenship voting bill without passing it, with leaders signaling they may fold parts of the measure into a later budget package. Tech, Money, and Politics: A Wisconsin-based political action committee tied to Elon Musk’s push against ranked-choice voting in Alaska is drawing attention as outside megadonors pour in. Public Safety: Wisconsin authorities are investigating a meth-related death of a 3-week-old baby, with charges filed against the parents. Local Wisconsin: Milwaukee police and officials continue to deal with fallout from Flock camera mix-ups and related questions about accuracy and privacy.

Democratic Primary Push: Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley made a final Eau Claire pitch ahead of Tuesday’s governor primary, arguing Republicans left “no guardrails” on data centers and touting his record on housing, homelessness, child care, BadgerCare, and schools. Campaign Events: Wisconsin Democrats held the “Heart of the North” candidate potluck in Ojibwe, with local party leaders saying it helps voters meet candidates one-on-one. State Government & Elections: The U.S. Senate headed into August recess without passing the SAVE America Act, after a voter-ID push failed to reach the needed votes; Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson was among those involved. Disaster Relief: Gov. Tony Evers appealed the Trump administration’s denial of FEMA disaster aid for storm-impacted counties, including ongoing needs in Racine. Local Governance: La Crosse is moving toward an 18-month data center development pause while officials assess power, water, air quality, and neighborhood impacts. Public Safety & Community: Recovery rules after the July tornado in the Fox Cities keep street closures, a burn ban, and a nightly curfew in place. Justice: La Crosse County DA Tim Gruenke will act as special prosecutor in an election interference case tied to Elon Musk’s $1 million voting offer. Culture & Heritage: Madison launched the Teejop Community Art Project honoring Ho-Chunk history with Indigenous installations across multiple sites.

Election Law Watch: La Crosse County DA Tim Gruenke is investigating whether Elon Musk broke Wisconsin election laws after a 2025 Green Bay rally where Musk offered $1 million for votes in the state Supreme Court race. Local Elections: Green Bay city clerk Celestine Jeffreys resigned amid an Elections Commission probe into duplicate absentee ballots in April and again for the August primary. State Government & Public Safety: Gov. Tony Evers declared abnormal economic disruption in Outagamie, Winnebago, Forest and Vilas counties after July storms, enabling price-gouging enforcement; the Wisconsin State Patrol also reminded drivers that front and rear plates must be visible and registration current. Campaign Trail: With the Aug. 11 partisan primary days away, Washington County voters face a slate of governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state races, including GOP candidates Tom Tiffany and Andy Manske on the ballot. Wisconsin Politics & Money: Reports allege “smurfing” and inflated ActBlue donations tied to Wisconsin seniors, raising new questions about fundraising transparency.

Wisconsin Primary Politics: With four days left before the Aug. 11 governor primary, a new poll shows Democratic Socialist Francesca Hong leading the Democratic field, while campaign finance reports show Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley outraising her in the final stretch—setting up a late momentum test for the nomination. Election Administration: Kenosha County Clerk Regi Waligora is warning voters and candidates that ballot stickers aren’t authorized under Wisconsin law and can disrupt tabulators, a reminder as campaigns push for every vote. Public Safety & Policing: Milwaukee police say a Flock license-plate alert mix-up on I-94 was caused by human error after Brookfield officers detained two people tied to a Milwaukee homicide; the incident adds fuel to ongoing concerns about license-reading systems. Storm Recovery: Gov. Tony Evers declared a period of abnormal economic disruption in four storm-hit counties and ordered enforcement against price gouging on essentials and lodging, while also appealing FEMA disaster aid denials. Local Government & Housing: A Milwaukee nonprofit broke ground on Southside townhomes aimed at affordable homeownership, a sign of how housing projects are moving even as the political debate heats up.

Voting Rights: A Dane County judge ruled Wisconsin’s absentee voting system violates the ADA for voters with print disabilities, saying requiring them to rely on someone else blocks private, independent voting—though the court didn’t order electronic voting, making a fix before November less likely. Elections Administration: Green Bay City Clerk Celestine Jeffreys resigned amid a Wisconsin Elections Commission investigation after duplicate absentee ballots were mailed in back-to-back elections. Tribal & Energy Law: A federal appeals court upheld that Enbridge trespassed on the Bad River reservation in Line 5, ordering removal but giving the company more time to complete the reroute. Immigration & ICE Politics: U.S. Senate primary candidate Alex Vindman escalated criticism of ICE, backing funding cuts and sweeping reforms as ICE continues high-profile arrests. State Government & Federal Programs: The Trump administration proposed major Head Start deregulation, drawing alarm from Wisconsin early childhood groups that say rural communities could be hit hardest. Energy Infrastructure: Wisconsin regulators sent ATC back to the drawing board on a Port Washington data center grid connection after concerns about unclear, shifting plans. Local Public Safety: Monona police arrested a youth coach on felony child pornography charges; and a Juneau County inmate escaped work release and was later caught in Minnesota.

Wisconsin Governor Primary: With the Aug. 11 vote days away, Democratic frontrunner Francesca Hong keeps getting pressed on past comments, including a “cancel Thanksgiving” controversy she’s now trying to walk back, while Gov. Tony Evers questions whether she can beat Tom Tiffany in November. Election Operations: Eau Claire is seeing heavy turnout for in-person absentee voting as polling-site setup ramps up for Tuesday’s primary. Local Government & Courts: La Crosse’s Common Council is set to consider $90,000 to keep funding the city’s legal challenge to the Village of French Island’s incorporation. Public Safety & Health: Milwaukee Water Works cut fluoride levels in drinking water due to supply-chain disruptions, saying the water remains safe but the reduced supply may last only a few months. Workforce & Hiring: A Dodge County forum highlighted a shift toward skills-based hiring as unemployment stays low and employers struggle to fill roles. Higher Ed/Student Conduct: UW–Madison found an animal advocacy RSO not responsible for alleged burglary solicitation but issued a written reprimand for improper event postings. National Legal Watch: A report says nearly two dozen state AGs coordinated early to sue the Trump administration, raising questions about how far in advance litigation planning began.

US Senate Oversight: A Republican-led Senate panel voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during a COVID-19 hearing, with the committee also moving to refer the matter to the Justice Department. Wisconsin Gubernatorial Race: Francesca Hong is facing fresh scrutiny after walking back her “cancel Thanksgiving” comments, while SEIU Wisconsin and youth/progressive groups endorsed her for governor ahead of the Aug. 11 primary. Democratic Party Divide: Bernie Sanders said he doesn’t plan to endorse Hong, a remark that immediately fueled mockery and renewed questions about her electability. Primary Watch: Wisconsin’s GOP secretary of state field is set for Aug. 11, with four candidates vying to face Democrat JoCasta Zamarripa in November. Local Government & Public Safety: Wisconsin DNR announced phased parking lot reconstruction at Devil’s Lake State Park’s North Shore, with limited access during work. Child Safety Policy: A bipartisan Senate bill led by Tammy Baldwin to prevent youth suicide by restricting high-concentration sodium nitrite cleared the chamber. Courts & Criminal Justice: In Chippewa County, the case against a teen accused in the killing of Lily Peters is set for resolution Aug. 26 without a trial.

Religious Freedom Leadership: Watertown pastor Rev. Dr. Chris Ross was named chair of the Wisconsin Coalition for Religious Freedom, a Christians Against Christian Nationalism affiliate, framing Christian nationalism as a threat to First Amendment religious liberty. Democratic Primary Showdown: With Wisconsin’s Aug. 11 governor primary days away, polls and campaigning keep spotlighting the left-vs-moderate fight: Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley (Evers-endorsed) faces socialist Francesca Hong, who is also trying to blunt backlash over her past “cancel Thanksgiving” posts after walking it back to say Thanksgiving is her “favorite holiday.” Campaign Finance Snapshot: New reports show GOP Gov. candidate Tom Tiffany outraising the entire Democratic field, while Crowley leads Democrats in fundraising and Hong trails. Sports Betting Lawsuit: A new challenge argues Wisconsin’s online sports betting law is unconstitutional, targeting the state’s gambling restrictions and the 1993 constitutional amendment. Local Infrastructure & Housing: Oregon is set to receive $157,721 for bridge repairs, and Racine opened new apartments at the former Regency Mall site. Public Safety: Evers ordered flags at half-staff Monday for Eau Claire firefighter Bryce Jungbluth, who died in the line of duty. State Fair Prep: Wisconsin’s DSPS joined State Fair officials for standard ride safety inspections, including the new America 250 Wheel.

Disabled Absentee Voting: A Dane County judge ruled Wisconsin’s paper-only absentee ballot system discriminates against disabled voters by denying them private, independent voting, though he stopped short of ordering electronic ballots and set up a later trial. Tariff Fight: The Trump administration has paid about $100B in tariff refunds after Supreme Court strikes, but 25 states—including Wisconsin—are suing to block the new “forced labor” tariff duties as a pretext. DSA vs. Voters: A Marquette poll finds DSA is viewed more unfavorably than MAGA/Trump, raising fresh worries inside Democrats about whether DSA-backed candidates hurt electability. Surveillance Scrutiny: Flock ALPR use is drawing renewed backlash over accuracy, misuse, and privacy concerns after reported misreads and wrongful stops. Immigration Court in Milwaukee: A Wisconsin mosque leader, Salah Sarsour, faces deportation as his former Israeli attorney testified he was coerced into confessions; cross-exam is set for September. Elections Oversight: Green Bay ballot duplication errors are under review as a lawyer asks the Elections Commission to use subpoena power; the Wisconsin Supreme Court also brings “Justice on Wheels” to Chippewa Falls Oct. 13. Campaign Chaos: A new finance report details the chaotic end of Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez’s governor bid, including reimbursements and self-donations after she fired her manager. Data Centers & Energy: A Wisconsin town hall on a proposed Sandhill Solar project spotlights rising power costs and local control fights that are echoing in the governor’s data-center debate. Civil Unrest in Madison: Protesters clashed with police hours after Corey Ruiz’s memorial was cleared, with overnight fires and dumpster dumping reported.

Wisconsin Governor’s race: Democratic socialist frontrunner Francesca Hong again dodged a direct answer on CNN about whether she still wants to “cancel Thanksgiving,” pivoting to her personal background as a chef rather than walking back the post. Education policy: Hong says she would eventually eliminate Wisconsin’s private school voucher programs, a sharp contrast with Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and GOP Gov. hopeful Tom Tiffany, who oppose changing the Milwaukee voucher program. Elections & voting access: A Wisconsin judge ruled paper absentee ballots violate rights of certain disabled voters, while La Crosse County Clerk Ginny Dankmeyer urged voters to trust tested equipment and watch election processes if they have concerns. Campaign trail (CD-3): Rebecca Cooke campaigned in Eau Claire ahead of the Aug. 11 Democratic primary against Emily Berge, pitching lower costs, anti-corruption, small business support, and expanded Medicare benefits. Legal fights over data: Wisconsin joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s push for broad access to Social Security and other personal information tied to TANF recipients. Other Wisconsin governance: Green Bay’s duplicate ballot dispute heads toward action before the Aug. 11 primary, with a complainant asking the Elections Commission to reject the city’s latest filing.

Wisconsin Governor Primary: Francesca Hong, the Democratic socialist frontrunner, told CNN she’s open to “multiple views” on canceling Thanksgiving, reigniting scrutiny of her past posts as the Aug. 11 primary nears. State Elections: The Wisconsin Elections Commission urged voters to use MyVote for polling-place and ballot info, warned absentee ballots shouldn’t be mailed late, and reported 171,689 voters already cast ballots ahead of the Aug. 11 partisan primary. Madison Public Safety: Madison crews cleared the Williamson/Baldwin encampment tied to the Corey Ruiz police shooting; police detained multiple people and the area reopened to traffic after fires were reported. Federal Courts & Privacy: Wisconsin is among 25 states suing the Trump administration over new tariff authority, arguing the move is unlawful; separately, states challenge federal efforts to access sensitive welfare data. Food Assistance: Gov. Tony Evers pressed USDA to rescind a SNAP retailer rule he says could cut access for rural Wisconsin and small stores. Energy & Local Control: A resident coalition filed with the Wisconsin Public Service Commission seeking to revoke a “complete” finding for a transmission project tied to the Port Washington data center. Community Policing: Sun Prairie and other local departments are holding National Night Out events to build ties with residents.

Tariff Fight in Court: Wisconsin is among 25 states suing the Trump administration to block new, forced-labor-based tariffs, arguing the move is a pretext to recreate duties the Supreme Court already struck down and to refund money already paid. School Mental Health Funding: A federal judge temporarily halted the Education Department from cutting school mental health grants, keeping Wisconsin’s roughly $12M at stake in a lawsuit that challenges the terminations. Wisconsin Election Pressure: State officials are urging voters to mail absentee ballots ASAP due to USPS delays, and Wisconsin’s appeals court ruling could affect how future elections are handled. Governor’s Race Momentum: The Congressional Black Caucus PAC endorsed Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley for governor, adding to a growing list of backing as the Aug. 11 primary nears. Local Governance + Data Centers: Wisconsin Rapids postponed a planning commission meeting on a proposed data center after absentee voting drew crowds, while residents continue raising environmental and industry concerns. Law Enforcement + Fraud: FBI Director Kash Patel visited Eau Claire with Rep. Derrick Van Orden to discuss fraud and AI scams, while the political debate over voter lists and benefits data access continues.

Wisconsin Elections: Green Bay told the Wisconsin Elections Commission that duplicate absentee ballots were caused by reprinted mailing labels, with an interim clerk now in place after the city clerk went on administrative leave. Wisconsin Governor Primary: The Democratic field is in flux after Mandela Barnes exited; Francesca Hong is campaigning hard with high-profile allies while David Crowley, Joel Brennan, and Kelda Roys try to close gaps ahead of the Aug. 11 vote. State Senate Race: Sen. Dianne Hesselbein urged Republican Michele Magadance Skinner to end her campaign over tax-fraud allegations tied to claimed residency in Wisconsin and Georgia. Milwaukee Courts: A Milwaukee County jury convicted former city attorney Tearman Spencer of felony misconduct in public office. Public Safety: U.S. Marshals are searching for Mario Douglas, a Milwaukee man convicted of sexually assaulting a teen who disappeared after parole. Energy & Local Government: Dunn County is moving forward on a geothermal infrastructure plan for its Justice Center, aiming to cut long-term costs and qualify for direct-pay energy credits.

Wisconsin Governor Primary: Francesca Hong keeps building momentum in the Democratic race, including a Milwaukee rally with Ilhan Omar and streamer Hasan Piker, while the field scrambles after Mandela Barnes’ exit and other candidates’ shifts. Campaign Trail & Messaging: David Crowley relaunches his bid with stops in western Wisconsin, pitching himself as a bridge to independents and Republicans tired of MAGA, as Tom Tiffany counters with affordability and property-tax themes. AI Data Centers: Dylan Helmenstine renews calls for a one-year moratorium on new AI data center development, arguing for stronger public accountability, environmental safeguards, and community benefit rules. Immigration Courts: A 7th Circuit ruling rejects mandatory detention for immigrants in removal proceedings, potentially opening bond hearings for detainees in Wisconsin and neighboring states. TPS Fallout: Wisconsin’s Haitian community faces major disruption after Temporary Protected Status ends, with local impacts now playing out in courts and daily life. Madison Protest & Public Safety: Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway says the city will tow vehicles blocking streets tied to the Corey Ruiz memorial/encampment, as tensions continue around policing and protest space. Milwaukee Housing Reentry: Milwaukee County and a local nonprofit host landlord engagement events aimed at increasing rental access for people returning from incarceration. Legal/Criminal Justice: A Milwaukee jury convicts a former city attorney of misconduct, adding to the week’s focus on accountability in local government.