Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee’s mayor is making sure Wisconsin voters know how much their vote counts: ‘The swingiest of states’ – Washington Examiner
Cavalier Johnson, the mayor of Milwaukee, is gearing up for another high-stakes election in which his state could be the deciding factor.
Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin and Milwaukee County is one of the Democratic strongholds in the state. Wisconsin is a key swing state this election cycle and proves to be a state that could be a tipping point for a victory for Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump.
“That is rising in the consciousness here, that there’s only a handful of states that will decide the presidency, and chief among them is the state of Wisconsin. We’re the swingiest of swing states,” Johnson, a Democrat, told the Washington Examiner.
Wisconsin currently has a near-even split between voters registered as Democrats and Republicans. In 2020, President Joe Biden flipped the state blue by only 20,000 votes. In 2016, Trump flipped Wisconsin red for the first time since 1984 by a little more than 27,000 votes.
“Whether it’s Democrats or Republicans, Wisconsin, typically, is on the winning side of that equation, and whoever wins the state is, I believe, very likely to win the White House,” Johnson said.
Election integrity in Milwaukee County
In 2020, absentee ballots were a hot button issue in Milwaukee County and in other blue cities in swing states.
“The unfortunate thing from 2020 is that there was a false narrative that things were happening here that just were not,” Johnson said. “Unfortunately, what you had was a candidate who lost an election fair and square, and ultimately did not accept the results of those elections.”
The state of Wisconsin requires absentee ballots to be counted on election night and Democrats by and large utilized absentee ballots more than their Republican counterparts at the time due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Social media buzzed with conspiracy theories of large numbers of ballots being dumped in Milwaukee County, claiming voter fraud because so many ballots were counted in favor of Democrats that night. In reality, the sudden increase in ballots cast for Democrats were because the state requires all ballots to be counted on election night. In 2020, Milwaukee County reported 170,000 absentee ballots, most of which went to Biden.
Johnson was looking at a 2023 state bill, Assembly Bill 567, which would have allowed local municipalities to begin counting mail-in and early voting ballots before election day, in order to streamline the process and prevent these types of false claims.
Johnson said the bill had the support of Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a Republican. Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI) was prepared to sign such legislation.
“Gov. Evers for years has proposed allowing county and municipal clerks to begin canvassing absentee ballots the day before an election and is glad to see this effort finally has bipartisan support,” a spokeswoman for the governor told WisPolitics. “If AB567 passes in its current form as amended by the committee and without any poison-pill additions, the governor will sign it.”
Despite bipartisan support in the Assembly, the bill failed in the state Senate, but Johnson said “if it had [passed], then there wouldn’t be a situation here where we would have to provide those numbers later in the evening on Election Day.”
“I don’t want to see that. There are a number of reasonable Republicans who also don’t want to see that. But unfortunately, there just were not the votes in the state senate to combat that,” Johnson added
Still, Johnson is confident in the county’s and city’s election integrity.
“However, given that our processes in Milwaukee are always free, they’re always fair, they’re always transparent, and they will remain to be so in this election as well,” Johnson said.
Mobilizing voters in Milwaukee
After Biden exited the race, Harris’s first campaign stop was in Wisconsin, in West Allis a suburb of Milwaukee. Harris’s campaign kickoff further highlighted the importance of the Badger State ahead of November.
“It was electric. Incredibly exciting for the people here in Milwaukee, meeting thousands of people, jam packed to see the Vice President as she officially kicked off her presidential campaign here in Wisconsin,” Johnson said.
“When you look in that gymnasium where her campaign rally was held. I mean, you saw a cross section of America … folks on the ground here are really, really excited to see her and to support her,” Johnson said, adding “folks were saying that they haven’t seen this sort of energy on the Democratic side since Barack Obama launched his initial campaign back in 2008.”
Johnson was born and raised in Milwaukee and went to college at the state’s flagship university, UW-Madison. He became acting mayor after Tom Barrett, Milwaukee’s longtime mayor for nearly two decades, was appointed to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg.
In 2022, Johnson made history in a special election, becoming the first elected black mayor of the city. Now, he’s making sure fellow Milwaukee residents understand the importance of their vote.
“As I go out across the city, whether I’m going to festivals in Milwaukee or I go to a farmers market on Sunday, which I’ve been doing the past number of weeks, routinely, I run into somebody who is registering people to vote here in the city,” Johnson said.
“I’ve encouraged people to make sure that they interact with the people in their lives, who can vote, who should vote, but don’t vote in order to make sure that they know of the importance of the upcoming election,” Johnson continued.
He said Milwaukee residents are increasingly becoming more aware of their electoral standing compared to other parts of the country. During the 2000 presidential election, there were around 14 swing states. In 2024, there are only about seven swing states, heightening the stakes of a campaign losing even one state.
“Folks are starting to understand that their votes really, really count to determine who’s going to sit in the Oval Office,” Johnson said. “Milwaukeans are starting to understand that their participation in the electoral process determines who the President of the United States is going to be — the most powerful person, not just in our country, but on planet Earth.
Hosting the RNC
Following the Republican National Convention, which took place in Milwaukee last month, Johnson was thrown into the national political spotlight as the convention descended upon his city. Johnson was one of the leading voices originally pushing for the convention to be held there during the city selection process.
“Whether they were delegates or members of the media, everybody had a positive impression of Milwaukee and and therefore of Wisconsin, because for many of the people who came here, it was their first time ever in this state,” Johnson said.
Milwaukee doesn’t typically get the opportunity to host events that pique national interest like the Super Bowl or NCAA championships. In 2020, the Democratic National Convention was supposed to be held in Milwaukee, but was moved to a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Johnson saw the RNC as a way to put Milwaukee on the map of cities capable of hosting large events.
“I think it’s a wonderful thing for Milwaukee and a wonderful thing for the state of Wisconsin,” Johnson said. “The RNC is not the end — it’s the beginning. It’s the beginning for us to host large scale events, whether be they political, business, sports, entertainment, trade shows, and the like to come to Milwaukee.”
The day the Washington Examiner spoke with Johnson, he was with one-time Midwest mayor Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, formerly known as Mayor Pete. The pair were highlighting rail expansion in the state on Amtrak’s Borealis line.
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Johnson, like Buttigieg, seemingly has further ambitions in politics, but plans to stay in his home for now.
“I really value the opportunity to serve my community here in Milwaukee as mayor,” Johnson said. “When there’s an opportunity, when the time is right to run for governor, I certainly will take a look at that.”
Here’s what the huge Brewers Bob Uecker mural in Milwaukee looks like
See the completed 100-foot tall mural of Milwaukee Brewers play-by-play announcer Bob Uecker covers the Wintrust Financial Center in downtown Milwaukee.
Steve Czaban, a popular radio fixture on Milwaukee sports-talk airwaves, is back in the market with the announcement from the Wisconsin Sports Radio Network that he’ll host an hour-long morning show with Josh Albrecht soon.
The show will run from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on 105.7 FM and 1250-AM “The Fan” in Milwaukee. The network, established last October, also features stations in Green Bay/Appleton (99.7 FM, 101.9 FM), Wausau (93.9 FM), Madison (94.9 FM) and Duluth/Superior (710 AM).
Czaban, whose role as host of a morning show on 97.3 The Game was eliminated with iHeartRadio’s decision to end that station’s sports-talk format, hasn’t been on the air in Milwaukee since October.
His show somewhat takes the place of Trevor Thomas’s “Inside Wisconsin Sports,” a licensed property that will continue to broadcast within its usual 6 to 9 a.m. slot from its Green Bay home despite ending its partnership with the Wisconsin Sports Network, seemingly amicably. Thomas has been hosting with Albrecht, and their final show together was scheduled for June 30.
Thomas wrote on social media that he notified Audacy Milwaukee in March that he’d like to end the partnership, delaying his announcement until WSSP had a replacement lined up. Thomas said his show will still be heard on WNFL 99.7 FM in Green Bay and on YouTube.
“Changes are made in radio with little to no explanation because employees sign paperwork that, if they get let go, muzzles them in order to receive their severance pay. Probably not uncommon in other businesses as well,” Thomas wrote on X, responding to one commenter who noted it’s rare for changes in radio to receive full transparency.
“In this case, we created a brand, we own the trademark, our brand was hired to host a morning show, and I’m choosing to end the relationship with Milwaukee because it just wasn’t a fit. And it’s all good. I love those guys. Our show goes on our YouTube page, 99.7 WNFL, and other ‘spots’ to be announced sometime soon.”
Czaban has maintained a strong radio presence in Milwaukee despite unique circumstances; he has remained based in Washington, D.C. He had been a regular contributor to another wildly popular Milwaukee morning show, the “Bob and Brian” show on 102.9 FM, making appearances for two decades. At the time, Czaban also hosted an afternoon drive show at an ESPN affiliate in Washington, and he’s done nationally syndicated work for multiple high-profile outlets.
He joined The Game in 2019 and hosted a show with former University of Wisconsin basketball star Brian Butch.
Since “The Fan” itself ended local sports programming in 2022, it has resuscitated its presence in Milwaukee with shows featuring former Packers John Kuhn and Mason Crosby among its regular offerings, plus a drive-time show “Wisconsin Sports Daily” with longtime station voice Steve “Sparky” Fifer.
American barbecue is rooted in the South, in the culture of Black Americans who learned the art through practice, dedication and intuition. Although Milwaukee doesn’t have a specific BBQ style, we have something that still stands tall – a blending of traditions that celebrate the mysterious, transformative power of smoke.
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1501 W. CENTER ST. | 8718 W. LISBON AVE.
Ashley’s has an old-school barbecue pit, where chicken and cuts of pork and beef are smoked over hickory wood and charcoal. Thomas Ashley Jr. went from BBQ hobbyist to restaurant owner in 1960, using $350 he had borrowed from friends to open Ashley’s. His son Darnell runs the concept now and has expanded the Ashley’s footprint a few times in the past 14 years, pushing through losses that have included devastating restaurant fires. While the Center Street location is geared strictly to takeout (and is cash only), there’s the sit-down Ashley’s Que Too on the West Side with a more expansive menu and soul food on Sundays. Darnell also took over the local institution next door to Que Too, Champion Chicken, where he put in a bar and carries on the tradition of broasted chicken.
Darnell combines his dad’s legacy and what he’s learned over the years to develop the Ashley’s style – dry and wet rubs on meats that are also served sauced (tangy and sweet). The sliced shoulder dinner with white bread is what you want to order, or the slab of pork ribs – these are the fall-off-the-bone kind but still have a bit of chew. For a side, make it creamy – coleslaw or potato salad. $14-$33.
7412 W. GREENFIELD AVE.
When Mark Timber took over Double B’s on 74th and Greenfield in 2014, the community’s response made it clear that Stallis needed a BBQ joint. Timber used a smoker that was already on-site to jump-start the BBQ menu and soon added a food truck. Now Timber and his wife, Judy, are passing the torch over to new owners committed to keeping Double B’s just as it is. “We decided we were getting a little long in the tooth for day-to-day operations,” Timber said in April. The couple were planning to stay on for a bit to keep things “consistent and predictable,” he said.
That’s good, because some things can’t be tampered with. The brisket is moist and tender, with a dark, crusty, delicious ribbon of bark. Burnt ends – sticky bites of caramelized brisket and, yes, fat – are topped with French’s fried onions. And you won’t need sauce with the SmokeHouse wings and their juicy meat and charred, crispy skin. Before you get to those bigger-ticket items, you need to try the bacon ball appetizer – a pork, beef and bacon meatball, smoked, wrapped in bacon and deep-fried. Great balls of fire! Picking a side isn’t difficult – it’s the seven-cheese mac and cheese. The cavatappi holds onto the sauce, and the crusty cheddar crumb topping finishes the dish off just right. $13-$32.
Food Trucks
Mobile BBQ joints, often towing their fragrant smokers, offer a distinct, immersive dining experience. Here are five local ones to look for:
Brisket with an excellent bark, moist pulled pork. Look for specials like smoked lamb curry (so good!). Regular pop-ups at Hawthorne Coffee Roasters.
Outstanding brisket, pulled pork and pepper-crusted smoked turkey. The surprise standout? Crispy-skin pork belly with sweet-sour sauce. Pop-ups at Ope! Brewing and a regular this year at AmFam Field’s Alley Food Truck Park.
Owner Mike “Pops” Hester built this enterprise from scratch 22 years ago. His meats – smoky, succulent brisket and pulled pork – get everything they need from the dry rub. “This is how people find you,” he says. “They don’t want no barbecue sauce. They want to find out what you know.” Pops knows a lot! Appleton Avenue and Good Hope Road, Menomonee Falls. Thurs-Sat 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
The 10-year-old is a fixture on Fridays outside Woodman’s in Menomonee Falls (11 a.m.-5 p.m.). Matt Pagel’s pulled pork (get the sandwich with fried onion strings), brisket and smoked jerk chicken are all good.
Owner Alex Obradovich has been smoking his meats using fruitwood since 2012. His sizable menu includes the customary (brisket, St. Louis-style ribs, pulled pork) and the unexpected (spicy smoked Polish sausage, pulled chicken, pit ham). The brisket is the charm (moist, so smoky, good bark), with a side of thick, smoky baked beans. Locations in West Allis and Franklin.
Where There’s Smoke
The East Side storefront (2311 N. Murray Ave.), with exposed brick and a century-old walnut bar, adds character to the tasty food served up at Smokin’ Jack’s Bar-B-Que, which opened in early 2026. Owner Jack Holt applies the low-and-slow method to his meats and blends traditions, too.
I’m a sauce-on-the-side kind of person, and both his beef brisket (hickory smoked for a respectable 12 hours) and pulled pork are flavorful au naturel. If you want sauce, Holt offers two kinds of Texas-style sauces, along with creamy, peppery Alabama white, and competition glaze (thin, sweet and sticky a la Kansas City), which is the best of the four.
As good as the brisket and pork were, the real standout was The Smokey Bird, a smoked chicken thigh sandwich topped with pickles, red cabbage slaw and a lick of sweet BBQ sauce on a toasted bun.
’Que Demystified
The lowdown on “low and slow,” a rib primer, and other distinctions
Dry versus wet rub
Both are used for their impact on the texture and flavor of the meat. Dry refers to a mixture of spices, herbs, salt and more applied anywhere from an hour to a day before cooking. The rub helps create that much-desired crust (aka bark) on the meat’s surface. In contrast, pitmasters use a wet rub (dry spices, maybe sugar or honey, and a liquid like oil, vinegar or mustard) to add moisture to, say, chicken.
Spareribs
Fatty and flavorful, spareribs come from the belly side of the pig’s ribs and include the cartilage, sternum bone and rib tips.
St. Louis-style ribs
These are pork spareribs that have the tough parts (cartilage, sternum, tips) removed.
Babyback ribs
Shorter than spareribs and a leaner cut, these come from the top of the ribs closest to the spine, under the loin muscle.
Brisket
This cut of beef comes from the animal’s breast or lower chest – dense muscle tissue. Pork brisket (cut from the chest, as with beef) also exists, but it’s not a standard cut, so you rarely see it.
“Low and slow”
Refers to using indirect heat or hardwood smoke at a low temperature (200-275 degrees) for a longer period of time. That combination renders fat and breaks down connective and muscle tissue to tenderize the meat. Smoke is more deeply infused and a crusty bark develops.
The Sides That Matter
These accompaniments are staples with BBQ meats – and for good reason.
Mac and Cheese: A creamy, rich and mild counterpoint to all charred, spiced, saucy meat. Try: Pop’s BBQ truck
Baked Beans: Think harmony. Beans (navy, sometimes others) cooked in sauce – thick, sweet-savory, sometimes with smoky add-ins like bacon – hold their own with the robust meats in their midst. Try: SmokeHouse beans, Double B’s, 7412 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis
Potato Salad: The trio of cool, creamy and tangy balances out the hot, smoky meat. Plus, mayo’s acidity cuts the fat. Try: Dill pickle potato salad, Just Smokin’ Barbeque, 20316 W. Main St., Lannon
Slaw: Mayo- or vinegar-based cabbage slaw provides a cool crunch that is so good on a pulled pork or beef brisket sandwich. Try: Smokin’ Jack’s Bar-B-Que
Cornbread: There’s the more dense, savory Southern style, and the sweet, cake-like interpretation in Northern parts. A nice compromise is a little sweet, golden crusted and moist. Try Double B’s
Styles of Sauce
It can be hard to keep them straight, the iconic regional sauces, but here they are in a nutshell
- Texas: tangy and warmly spiced, deepened by the tomato, Worcestershire and cider vinegar
- Kansas City: a thick, sweet-savory base of molasses and ketchup gives it a sticky texture
- Carolina: includes three – vinegar-pepper, tomato-vinegar and mustard (“Carolina Gold”)
- Memphis: the rub is king, sauce (thin, ketchup-based) served on the side
- Alabama: tangy, mayo-based white
This story is part of Milwaukee Magazine’s June 2026 issue.
Find it on newsstands or buy a copy at milwaukeemag.com/shop.
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Milwaukee, WI
Brewers, Salvation Army pack hundreds of lunches for Milwaukee children through Feed the Kids program
MILWAUKEE—- The Milwaukee Brewers and The Salvation Army teamed up Monday to help fight childhood hunger by packing hundreds of lunches for children across Milwaukee County.
Brewers front office staff, volunteers, and community leaders assembled 600 lunches at American Family Field as part of the annual Feed the Kids summer meals program.
Each lunch includes a turkey sandwich with cheese, fruit, vegetables, and milk. The meals will be distributed to children on weekdays through August 21st at six locations throughout Milwaukee County while school is out for the summer. The locations include Salvation Army Citadel Corps, Cold Springs Corps, Tiefenthaler Park, Westlawn Gardens, Salvation Army Distribution Center, and Carver Park. The Salvation Army also reminds attendees that all meals must be eaten on-site in accordance with USDA policy.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, The Salvation Army of Milwaukee County Area Commander Major Beverly Gates, and Brewers players Andrew Vaughn and Chad Patrick joined volunteers during the event.
“While school is out, many children lose access to the meals they depend upon during the school year,” Major Beverly said. “Feed the Kids helps to fill that void, making sure that children have something nutritious to eat and reminding them that they are valued, that they’re important and that they’re supported.”
The Feed the Kids program began in 1990 and has provided more than 2.8 million meals to children facing food insecurity across Milwaukee County.
“I think just the act of making a sandwich may not seem like a lot, but really, for the kids across Milwaukee, it means a ton,” Mayor Johnson said. “For kids in Milwaukee and for kids in cities, the hunger really spikes when they’re no longer in school, when they don’t have, you know, that sort of structured programming around them. So the work that you’re doing today, it may seem pretty simple making a sandwich, but it really goes much farther than that.”
Organizers say the program helps fill the gap for families who rely on school meal programs during the academic year, ensuring children continue to have access to nutritious lunches throughout the summer.
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