Milwaukee, WI
Cost of living, economy key issues in Milwaukee as Republicans try to court black voters
WATERTOWN, Wis. — With VP Kamala Harris as its presidential nominee, the Democrat Party is expected to lock up the black vote — just like it’s been doing for 60 plus years.
But in Wisconsin’s key urban centers that could make or break a Democrat, some black voters say the Biden-Harris economy has brought pain to their pocketbooks.
Milwaukee conservative activist Chris Lawrence told The Post that when dealing with black voters, Donald Trump and Republicans need to focus on how people are faring financially after four years of the Biden-Harris administration.
“Have their lives improved the last four years under Joe Biden? What will change from Harris to Biden in the next four years?” he asked.
“If nothing will materially change–why would you continue to support that?”
Lawrence also said he hasn’t seen any on the ground engagement or contact with voters from either campaign.
His advice for the GOP and Donald Trump?
“Highlight what the Democrats haven’t done — the promises they made to black voters that haven’t come through,” Lawrence said.
A CBS News/YouGov national poll of likely black voters at the end of July found Harris has picked up about 8% more of the black vote than Biden had in July before he stepped down, 81% to Trump’s 18%.
The same poll found 74% of black registered voters say they will “definitely vote” this November, compared to 58% in July, also before Biden backed out of the race.
A higher black voter turnout in the majority minority City of Milwaukee could have a major impact on which candidate wins Wisconsin’s ten electoral votes this fall.
While liberal Dane County’s turnout helped push the state into Biden territory in 2020, Milwaukee also saw an uptick in turnout.
Will Harris as the nominee change the calculus for black voters this November?
“That remains to be seen,” Lawrence said.
Will Martin, a Racine businessman and Republican leader, has lived in Milwaukee for 25 years.
He says families of color have been hit disproportionately by double-digit rent increases in Milwaukee, and wages have not kept up with that kind of increase.
Out-of-state investors are buying up housing in predominantly black neighborhoods and boarding up some of the units to artificially increase rents, Martin added.
Voters like Sharon Gray are still feeling the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced her to shutter her small business in Milwaukee.
She now works at a warehouse, and is supporting Donald Trump this November.
Kalan Haywood Sr., a Milwaukee businessman and developer, told The Post that having black outreach events is a good thing, but that what’s more important is coming back to follow up with folks rather than simply pandering in an election year.
Charlene Abughrin is a Republican and a small business owner in Milwaukee.
She told The Post that the black community “hasn’t been inspired to vote in a long time,” a sentiment reflected in a decline in turnout in black majority wards in the city.
Describing the crime in her neighborhood — a fact of life for Milwaukee residents — Abughrin said it’s “4th of July every day and night,” adding: “I hear so much gunfire I think I have gotten desensitized to it.”
Abughrin has not seen much Republican voter outreach in her community and says the complaint she hears often is that Republicans only show up during voting season.
She did, however, mention Republican Senate candidate Eric Hovde’s visit to the Juneteenth celebration and several other events.
Black voter outreach has been a big priority for the Trump Campaign. Last month Martin took part in an RNC event with South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt, an experience he called “empowering.”
“So often the media portrays black conservatives as being few in number,” said Martin, a GOP Executive Committee member. “It was really exciting to see so many conservatives coming together.”
Republican state Senator Julian Bradley represents a district containing several Milwaukee suburbs, and he believes the Democrats may face a political reckoning from black voters.
“Democrats have taken the black vote for granted for decades,” Bradley told The Post.
“Their years of overpromising and under delivering for the black community is catching up to them.”
“Republicans are reaching out and showing that not only do we care, but we have solutions to the high cost for gas and groceries, we have solutions for crime and underperforming schools that have kept kids from achieving the American Dream, and we have solutions for securing our border and stopping the flow of fentanyl into our streets,” Bradley continued.
MILWAUKEE, Wis.– The debate continues during the final public hearing for the Milwaukee Public Schools budget proposal.
The Committee on Strategic Planning and Budget met Tuesday night to discuss the budget proposal ahead of Thursday’s vote.
MPS Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius proposed a $1.6 billion budget for the 2026-2027 school year.
“This is a budget not just for this year,” said Dr. Cassellius. “But the year ahead and the further years where we could be facing a $400 million deficit if we don’t take significant action now.”
The billion dollar proposal addresses the $46 million budget deficit from 2024-2025 that MPS is now facing.
The Milwaukee School Board voted to cut 263 non-classroom jobs back in March to counter the deficit.
A majority of the layoffs were assistant principals and administrative positions.
“Our budget proposal is focused on redistributing limited resources from our central office and administrative roles into our classrooms as much as we can,” said Dr. Cassellius.
The proposition includes adding over 150 teaching positions with a 2.63% pay increase for all teachers.
The district is also adding 414 paraprofessionals roles.
Dr. Cassellius said that the additional positions will reduce class sizes, and create a more personalized learning experience for students.
Community members are concerned that the teachings positions will go unfilled by the start of the school year.
“The goal is to have zero vacancies when the school year begins,” said Chief Human Resources Officer Dominick Maniscalco. “It is very difficult in an organization that has 11,000 employees to say we want to be 100% filled.”
Maniscalco said the district is facing 91 vacancies out of 4,500 teaching positions in May 2026.
“It’s not perfect and we could always do better,” said Maniscalco. “But it’s also not a bad position to be in.”
Speakers at the public hearing voiced concern for teachers impacted by the assistant principal layoffs.
“When that support is reduced, teacher stress increases, contributing to burnout and staff turnover,” said Administrators and Supervisors Council Executive Director Steven Lubar. “At a time when we all know retaining and recruiting educators is a daunting challenge.”
Retired MPS assistant principal Michelle Oxman questioned the board on why the thought of cutting assistant principals was even considered.
“I wish that every administrator, staff, and student body of the schools that are supposed to be losing assistant principals, would walk out,” said Oxman.
The Milwaukee School Board will vote on the budget proposal on Thursday, May 28.
Christian Yelich says Jacob Misiorowski is ‘1 of 1’
Christian Yelich calls Jacob Misiorowski ‘1 of 1’ while discussing his dominance in a 5-1 Memorial Day victory over the Cardinals.
The Milwaukee Brewers are going for a sweep over the division rival St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field on May 27, looking to put even more distance between the rest of the National League Central and first place.
The Brewers came into the game with a 3½-game lead over second-place St. Louis, an advantage that grew by allowing just one run over two games in back-to-back victories. The red-hot Brewers are 16-6 in May and have won 19 of their last 26.
After elite performances from Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison, Wednesday will present a different challenge with the team lacking a true starting pitcher; Logan Henderson went on the injured list with a back ailment May 26, and though the team recalled starter Coleman Crow, the club said Crow would start Friday in the series opener in Houston. That meant a bullpen game May 27.
What time is the Brewers game today?
Time: 12:40 p.m.
What channel is the Brewers game on?
Channel: Brewers.TV
Brewers announce starting pitcher for finale against Cardinals
With Henderson landing on the injured list, the Brewers are employing a bullpen-game strategy against St. Louis on May 27. The first guy out of the bullpen: Chad Patrick.
Patrick (2-2, 2.63 ERA) started the year in the rotation but has been huge out of the bullpen. He hasn’t allowed a run in his last five outings, covering nearly 10 innings.
Expect to see Shane Drohan at some point, as well.
The Cardinals will send out right-hander Dustin May (3-5, 5.00 ERA).
Brewers 2026 record entering Wednesday
32-20
National League Central standings
The Central remains the only division in baseball with all five teams above .500. The Cubs, having lost 10 consecutive games, have fallen into a tie for last place after leading the division before the skid began.
- Milwaukee Brewers, 32-20
- St. Louis Cardinals, 29-24 (3.5 games back)
- Cincinnati Reds, 29-25 (4 games back)
- Chicago Cubs, 29-26 (4.5 games back)
- Pittsburgh Pirates, 29-26 (4.5 games back)
Brewers lineup
- Christian Yelich DH
- Jackson Chourio LF
- Brice Turang 2B
- William Contreras C
- Jake Bauers 1B
- Garrett Mitchell CF
- Luis Rengifo 3B
- Sal Frelick RF
- David Hamilton SS
Cardinals lineup
- JJ Wetherholt 2B
- Iván Herrera DH
- Alec Burleson 1B
- Jordan Walker RF
- Nolan Gorman 3B
- Masyn Winn SS
- Bryan Torres LF
- Pedro Pagés C
- Victor Scott II CF
Brewers probable pitchers, schedule
The Astros have not announced their probable pitchers for the weekend series against Milwaukee. Former Brewers pitcher Jason Alexander last threw May 26 but has struggled (1-1, 9.33). Beleaguered MLB newcomer Tatsuya Imai pitched May 25, throwing six innings at the front end of a combined no-hitter for the Astros. He has a 6.17 ERA through six outings, though.
The Brewers will quickly return home after the weekend series in Texas.
- Brewers at Astros, May 29, 7:10 p.m. CT: Milwaukee RHP Coleman Crow (0-0, 2.61 ERA) vs. Houston TBA. TV – Brewers TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
- Brewers at Astros, May 30, 3:10 p.m. CT: Milwaukee RHP Brandon Sproat (1-3, 5.84 ERA) vs Houston TBA. TV – Brewers TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
- Brewers at Astros, May 31, 1:10 p.m. CT. Milwaukee RHP Jacob Misiorowski (5-2, 1.83 ERA) vs. Houston TBA. TV – Brewers TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
- Brewers vs. Giants, June 1, 6:40 p.m. CT. Pitchers TBA. TV – Brewers TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
Milwaukee police are seeking help in locating a critically missing 15-year-old girl.
Kan’liya N. Hillard is described as a Black girl who is 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 108 pounds.
She was last seen near West Michigan Street and North Eighth Street at around 1:30 p.m. on May 26. At the time, her hair was in braids on the left side and curly full hair on the right side. She was wearing glasses and her school uniform shirt, which is a light colored polo, along with khaki pants and white shoes.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Milwaukee Police Department District 7 at 414-935-7272.
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