Wisconsin

Stevens Point resident Collin McNamara announces candidacy for Wisconsin secretary of state

Published

3 months ago

September 8, 2025

Stevens Point resident Collin McNamara announces candidacy for Wisconsin secretary of state

A primary will be held between members of the same party running for the secretary of state seat on Aug. 11, 2026. The general election will be held Nov. 3, 2026.

STEVENS POINT – Stevens Point resident Collin McNamara announced his candidacy Sept. 8 for Wisconsin secretary of state.

Secretary of state is a statewide office elected every four years in November partisan elections. The office maintains records of acts of the governor and legislature and keeps the Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin. The office also is responsible for issuing authentications and filing oaths of office and deeds for state-owned land and buildings, according to the office’s website.

Current Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, appointed by Gov. Tony Evers in March 2023, announced Aug. 20 she would leave the office following the end of its current term to pursue a run for lieutenant governor. Current Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez announced a bid for Wisconsin governor July 25 following Evers’ announcement he would not seek a third term in 2026.

McNamara is the third candidate and second Democrat to officially announce a run for the secretary of state office after Milwaukee Common Council alderperson and former state assemblyperson JoCasta Zamarripa announced her candidacy on Sept. 4. Green Party member Pete Karas announced his candidacy for the office earlier in 2025. No Republicans have yet officially announced candidacy for the race.

More about McNamara

McNamara previously ran for Wisconsin’s 24^th Senate District in November 2024 during which he lost to Republican State Sen. Patrick Testin, who won his third term in the seat since 2016.

Despite the loss, McNamara claims he overperformed in Republican areas of the 24^th Senate District in central Wisconsin and “won the trust of people from all walks of life,” according to a Sept. 8 news release announcing his candidacy.

“From Rhinelander to Racine, Wisconsinites deserve leaders who know the value of hard work, who will show up, and who will never quit no matter how difficult the odds may be,” McNamara said in the release. “I am used to defying expectations, and I will never stop fighting for a better future for you.”

McNamara grew up in Iola and has been an active member of the Democratic Party in both Waupaca and Portage counties since he turned 14, according to his campaign website. While pursuing his degree in political science at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point he was elected to president of student government. He helped lead student activists during a university campus budget crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and social and political unrest, according to his website.

“In every position I held, I earned a reputation for asking tough questions, challenging the status quo to achieve results, and collaborating with diverse individuals,” McNamara said of his time in student government. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2022.

More information about McNamara can be found on his campaign website mcnamaraforwisconsin.com.

When will Wisconsin residents vote for secretary of state candidates?

A primary will be held between members of the same party running for the secretary of state seat on Aug. 11, 2026. The general election will be held Nov. 3, 2026.

Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at epfantz@gannett.com.

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Wisconsin

Four-star receiver Jayden Petit decommits from Wisconsin football’s 2026 class

Published

13 hours ago

November 27, 2025

Press Room

Four-star receiver Jayden Petit decommits from Wisconsin football’s 2026 class

MADISON – Jayden Petit, one of the top-rated prospects in the Wisconsin football program’s 2026 class, changed his mind.

Wednesday, Nov. 26 the receiver from Naples, Florida, announced his decommitment from the Badgers.

He had been committed to UW since June. 26. His departure leaves the Badgers’ recruiting class at 13 players that include one receiver.

Petit, who lists himself as 6-foot-4 and 216 pounds on his X profile, attends St. John Neumann High School where he helped the football team reach the second round of the playoffs.

Petit is considered a consensus four-star prospect. He will play in he Navy All-American Bowl on Jan. 10 in San Antonio.

He announced his decommitment on X. It came hours after the Badgers received a commitment from former Boston College recruit Brady Bekkenhuis and one week before the beginning of the early signing period.

“This was not an easy choice,” he wrote. “I want to personally thank Coach Fickell, Coach Reid, Coach Grimes, Zach Zilm, Ethan Russo and Pat Lambert for believing in me, investing in me and taking the time to build a genuine relationship throughout the process. Every conversation, every visit, and every moment spent learning about Wisconsin meant a great deal to me and my family.”

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Wisconsin

AAA expects 1.5 million holiday travelers from Wisconsin

Published

1 day ago

November 26, 2025

Press Room

AAA expects 1.5 million holiday travelers from Wisconsin

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (WBAY) – Wisconsin is experiencing a winter storm as almost 1.5 million Wisconsinites are expected to travel this holiday week.

Wednesday is one of the busiest travel days of the year. AAA expects highways to be the busiest in the afternoon — all afternoon.

“We’re looking at 11 to 8 pm, so that entire afternoon stretch from around lunchtime to even after dinner time is when we’re expecting the critical mass of people to be out on the roads, so if you can leave safely before that, that’s the better option,” AAA Director of Public Affairs Nick Jarmusz said.

FIRST ALERT TRAFFIC: Highway traffic maps and links to airport arrival/departure times

Police remind drivers of the “If you can steer it, clear it” law. If you’re in a collision and your vehicle is still operable, move it out of traffic.

Jarmusz also says over 140,000 Wisconsinites are expected to fly to their destinations for Thanksgiving.

At the time of this writing Wednesday morning, the majority of departures in Green Bay, Appleton, Milwaukee and Chicago O’Hare were on-time.

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Wisconsin

Escaped Slender Man defendant Morgan Geyser will return to Wisconsin

Published

2 days ago

November 25, 2025

Press Room

Escaped Slender Man defendant Morgan Geyser will return to Wisconsin

Slender Man stabbing defendant Morgan Geyser will be returned to Wisconsin after her arrest in Illinois over the weekend for escaping from a Madison group home.

Geyser appeared in a Posen, Illinois, courtroom on Nov. 25, waiving her right to an extradition hearing and clearing the way for her to soon be returned to Wisconsin.

It’s not clear exactly when she will be back in the state.

Luciano Panici, the Illinois circuit court judge presiding over the hearing, indicated Wisconsin officials have 30 days to transport her and expressed the hope the task would be completed sooner.

Geyser’s court appearance follows a 24-hour search that began when the 23-year-old escaped from a Madison group home.

Geyser and Chad “Charly” Mecca, 43, were arrested at an Illinois truck stop on Nov. 23 after authorities say Geyser cut off her ankle monitor and left the Madison group home, YoYo Quality Care.

Geyser and co-defendant Anissa Weier were charged in 2014 with the attempted killing of their friend and classmate, Payton Leutner. Geyser stabbed Leutner stabbed 19 times.

All three girls were 12 years old at the time.

Geyser and Weier said they believed they were carrying out the bidding of Slender Man, a fictional online character.

They were found not guilty by reason of mental defect or disease in 2017 and sentenced to mental confinement, Weier for 25 years, and Geyser for 40 years.

Geyser was granted conditional release earlier this year after a judge he saw no risk to the public or to herself.

This is a developing story. Stay with jsonline.com for updates.

Chris Ramirez covers courts for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at caramirez@usatodayco.com.

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