Wisconsin

Chaos at the Caucus: Republican infighting erupts in Wisconsin’s 8th District

Published

8 months ago

April 11, 2025

Chaos at the Caucus: Republican infighting erupts in Wisconsin’s 8th District

MADISON, Wis. (WSAW) – It was chaos at the caucus. The Republican Party of Wisconsin and the GOP’s 8th Congressional District spent more than $1,600 on security for a GOP Caucus meeting, where only Republicans were in attendance.

“That’s not normal. There were people who were afraid to attend the caucus,” Kirt Johnson, chair of the Kewaunee County Republican Party, said.

Johnson, who has worked in politics and public policy for over four decades, described this caucus as, “one of the most disgusting, shameful things [he has] ever witnessed.”

Both sides of the debacle labeled this caucus as the boiling-over point for the Republican Party.

“For us to be in a situation as volunteer grassroots activists who are just doing this because we love our country,” Doug Reich, chair of the Brown County Republican party, said. “To be faced with going to a meeting where there are literally county sheriffs there who have been told to potentially escort you out is beyond belief.”

It is the great divide in the party born in Wisconsin.

Ahead of the caucus, the Republican Party of Wisconsin was concerned rules were not followed for the county delegate selection process in Waupaca, Oconto and Brown Counties.

“In the past, the party and some parties will suspend the rules and just enable anyone to go to [the caucus to] represent the county,” Reich said. “In accordance with our own Constitution, we held an election.”

That election resulted in five delegates from Brown County being excluded from the caucus.

“They actually precluded certain people who were dues-paying members in good standing from actually going to the caucus,” Johnson said.

In addition, a spokesperson from the statewide party said they received complaints the three counties did not follow due process and/or submitted their list of delegates late.

As a result, the Eighth District Credentials Committee petitioned for the three county delegations to not be seated at all at the caucus, except for the five originally not elected from Brown County.

In response, the Waupaca and Oconto Republican Party filed a lawsuit against the Republican Party of Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District Committee, receiving a restraining order at 5 p.m. on a Friday, requiring all of the delegates to be allowed to join the caucus the next morning for a vote.

“The Republican Party was born in Wisconsin. It was literally born probably 30 miles from here,” Ken Sikora, the newly elected chair of the GOP 8th Congressional District. “Here we are, what, 150 years later… fighting for the right of our elected delegates to be represented at a caucus.”

During the caucus, there was a motion to adjourn in light of the legal battle.

“The idea at that point was we really can’t do the caucus until we clarify what the legal situation is, what the status of delegates,” Johnson said.

Joel Bartel, the GOP chair of Waupaca County, then began to “rile up the crowd,” Johnson described.

“I’m more boisterous, probably, than a lot of the chairs,” Bartel said. “I went out to all the caucus, all the delegates, and I said, ‘Hey! We’re having a meeting. Come on up.’ And the policemen wouldn’t let them come up, which I don’t understand why our executive committees are closed.”

With a vote, the caucus prevailed.

“The person who was running the meeting, I think, made the judgment that this could get out of control. We could have a riot. People could get hurt,” Johnson said. “We’ll just go ahead and do the caucus.”

Ken Sikora was overwhelmingly elected to chair the GOP’s Executive Committee for the 8th CD, beating the incumbent Stephanie Soucek.

“People love a fighter. We have a lot of people behind us,” Sikora said.

Another key contention point within the party is Sikora’s record. He was convicted of battery and disorderly conduct for domestic abuse. When asked if the convictions reflect on his ability to lead, Sikora responded, “No, not at all.”

“This is the same type of tactics that they used against Donald Trump in ‘16. Same thing against Ken,” Bartel added. “The establishment was trying to create this case that he’s a bad guy, look at his record, blah, blah, blah.”

Sikora did not refute his record, but said it was just “A story,” not “The story.”

Meanwhile, other long-term Wisconsin Republicans are dismayed at the turn of events.

“It’s embarrassing that it was the Republican Party,” Johnson said. “It’s just crazy, and like I said, it was mob rule.”

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Wisconsin

When does Wisconsin volleyball play again? NCAA tournament next match

Published

8 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

When does Wisconsin volleyball play again? NCAA tournament next match

Start time yet to be announced for regional finals match

AUSTIN, Texas – Wisconsin volleyball will be spending two more days in Austin.

The Badgers ensured that with a four-set win over Stanford on Dec. 12 in the NCAA tournament regional semifinals. It was the eighth consecutive win in the regional semifinals for Kelly Sheffield’s group and its first-ever win over Stanford in program history.

Here’s what to know about Wisconsin’s next match:

Who will Wisconsin volleyball play next?

Wisconsin’s next match will be against top-seeded Texas in the NCAA tournament regional finals, with the winner advancing to the Final Four.

What time is Wisconsin volleyball’s next match?

The Wisconsin-Texas match will be on Sunday, Dec. 14. A time has not yet been announced, but it will either be at 2 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. CT.

How to watch Wisconsin-Texas NCAA tournament regional finals match?

NCAA volleyball tournament bracket for regional finals

Creighton vs. Kentucky on Dec. 13 at 5 p.m. in Lexington, Kentucky
Purdue vs. Pittsburgh on Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in Pittsburgh
Wisconsin vs. Texas on Dec. 14 in Austin
Winner of Nebraska/Kansas vs. winner of Louisville/Texas A&M on Dec. 14 in Lincoln, Nebraska

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Wisconsin

How tariffs are affecting Wisconsin’s real and artificial Christmas trees

Published

20 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

How tariffs are affecting Wisconsin’s real and artificial Christmas trees

Nearly all artificial Christmas trees in the world today are made in China. And with that comes an up to 30 percent tariff rate on imported Christmas products — including artificial trees.

Kris Reisdorf is co-president of the Racine- and Sturtevant-based home and garden store Milaeger’s. On WPR’s “Wisconsin Today,” Reisdorf said tariffs are affecting their prices on artificial trees, but she’s mitigating most of the rate hike through negotiations with manufacturers and by taking on lower profit margins herself.

“We are doing our fair share in making Christmas affordable,” Reisdorf said. “When the average person is thinking 30 percent (tariffs), that’s not by any means what they’re really paying.”

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Milaeger’s “almost real” trees range from under $100 to well over $3,000. Reisdorff said she’s raised prices for all artificial trees by only around $20 compared to last year.

Residorf said tree sales are largely stable despite the uptick in tariff pricing.

An ABC News/Washington Post poll last year found that 58 percent of Americans were buying artificial trees instead of real ones. That’s up from 40 percent in 2010.

Greg Hann owns Hann’s Christmas Farm in Oregon. Hann also sits on the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association Board and is president-elect of the National Christmas Tree Association.

Hann told “Wisconsin Today” the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 created a surge in business for real evergreen trees and that demand has been holding relatively steady ever since. That said, Hann acknowledged real Christmas tree sales are up for him and fellow growers this year. He attributed the increase in sales to the tariffs and the fact that farmers’ supplies are finally catching up to the higher demand brought on by COVID-19. Nearly all real trees come from the United States or Canada, according to Hann.

Hann said a recent survey by the National Christmas Tree Association found 84 percent of Christmas tree growers nationwide have kept prices the same over the last two years, and that includes his own farm. Being grown locally in Wisconsin, Hann said his business is largely unaffected by tariffs.

“It’s kind of nice to have a good supply with a stable price in this economy,” he said.

Reisdorf said that some artificial tree manufacturers are moving operations outside of China to places like Cambodia. But most other countries in the east are also facing tariff threats.

Instead, Reisdorf said artificial tree importers are lobbying President Donald Trump to lower his 30 percent tariffs on Christmas products like trees and ornaments, because those kinds of goods aren’t coming back to be made in the U.S.

Meanwhile, Hann said his organization is lobbying to have tariffs on artificial trees increased to 300 percent. He said the added tariff costs help create an “even playing field” between real and artificial trees, since farmers have to pay farm staff and cover fertilizer costs.

But it isn’t always about the cost. Reisdorf said artificial trees have the benefit of lasting “forever,” essentially.

Hann said many of his customers come to the farm looking to keep up the Christmas tradition of picking out their own family tree.

“They’re looking for that fragrance of a real tree,” he said. “They want to start that tradition of the family together. They pick the tree, they take it into their house.”

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin loses starting offensive lineman to the transfer portal

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Wisconsin loses starting offensive lineman to the transfer portal

In a bit of a surprise, Wisconsin Badgers starting center Jake Renfro is using a medical hardship year and entering the transfer portal for his final season of eligibility.

Renfro, a sixth-year senior in 2024, battled numerous injuries this season, limiting him to only four games after having season-ending surgery. He was a full-time starter for Wisconsin in 2024 after missing the entire 2023 season except for the team’s bowl game due to injury.

Prior to his time at Wisconsin, Renfro had played for head coach Luke Fickell at Cincinnati for three seasons. He played in seven games as a freshman in 2020, making six starts at center. He then was the full-time starter as a sophomore in 2021, earning All-AAC honors before missing the entire 2022 season due to injury.

Now, he’s set to come back to college football for a seventh year, rather than turn pro, and will look to do so at another school.

“I want to thank Coach Fickell, the entire coaching and training staff, my teammates, and the University of Wisconsin for everything over the past three seasons,” Renfro wrote. “I am grateful for the support, development, friendships, and memories I have made during my time in Madison. After much prayer and consideration, I have decided to enter the transfer portal and use a medical hardship year to continue my college football journey. I will always appreciate my time as a Badger.”

Renfro was one of the biggest supporters of Fickell publicly, being a vocal leader on the team as the starting center.

With his departure, Wisconsin could need a new starting left tackle, left guard, and center next season, depending on whether Joe Brunner heads to the NFL or returns for another season.

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