Wisconsin
Wisconsin doesn’t need Trump running our elections | Opinion
Wisconsin elections should be run by the citizens of Wisconsin, not bureaucrats in Washington who have no stake in our communities.
Trump calls on Republicans to ‘nationalize’ elections on podcast
In an appearance on The Dan Bongino Show, President Donald Trump called on Republicans to seize control of elections from the states.
Finding an issue on which Republicans and Democrats agree is a rare feat in recent years. But we saw a moment of unity recently when President Trump threatened the sovereignty of Wisconsin and other states by suggesting the federal government should take control of our elections.
The Constitution reserves the right to administer elections to the states, rather than delegate that power to the federal government in the 10th amendment. Wisconsin elections should be run by the citizens of Wisconsin, not bureaucrats in Washington who have no stake in our communities, our values or what makes our state unique. We are no stranger to close elections, over multiple election cycles we have repeatedly elected both Republicans and Democrats statewide. And Wisconsin has voted for the eventual presidential winner in every election since 2008.
Simply put, Wisconsin is a bellwether for a nation that has become increasingly divided. Why? Because Wisconsinites value independence. We value neighbors who dedicate their time to public service. And we vote for what we believe is best for our state and our country, not simply to uphold a party line.
Our election system reflects that same streak of independence.
Wisconsin elections are safe and decentralized
Wisconsin’s elections are among the most decentralized in the nation. With thousands of units of local government, more than 1,800 municipal clerks and 72 counties, our state has deliberately built a system that keeps election administration close to home. This ensures local leaders, your neighbors and members of your community, are the ones making sure your ballot is counted, protected and secure.
That isn’t a weakness. It is a strength.
That commitment to local control and fair play is why we serve on the Wisconsin board of the Democracy Defense Project. DDP is a bipartisan organization dedicated to defending free and fair elections and restoring trust in democracy. Our board doesn’t always agree on policy, but we agree on the fundamental rules of the game. We believe in calling balls and strikes, standing up for election integrity and defending the local officials who administer our elections.
Now imagine the chaos if Washington attempted to assume that responsibility, not just in Wisconsin, but across multiple states with completely different election laws.
The federal government would suddenly be responsible for managing a patchwork of rules: voter registration requirements, ballot deadlines, absentee voting procedures, postmark standards, voting equipment protocols and security regulations, all of which vary from state to state. Instead of elections being administered by experienced local officials who understand their communities, decisions would be made by distant federal agencies unfamiliar with the realities on the ground.
Every law governing Wisconsin elections was passed by a Wisconsin legislature, signed by a Wisconsin governor and implemented by Wisconsin residents. This is the system Wisconsinites have chosen over our state’s 178-year history. It has served us well, and we will continue to improve it ourselves, not by having our process dictated by outsiders.
Any attempt to “nationalize” elections is not only unconstitutional, it is an insult to the millions of Americans who dedicate their time to ensuring elections are run fairly and securely.
In Wisconsin, elections are administered by hardworking clerks and election officials who take their responsibilities seriously, regardless of party. These public servants deserve our respect, not political attacks or reckless threats that undermine their work.
Before any candidate or elected leader casts doubt on Wisconsin’s election process, we challenge them to learn how it actually operates. Tour an election facility. Speak with clerks and administrators. Observe the safeguards in place. Do the work required to understand what makes our system function.
Elections resilient against outside interference
Wisconsin’s elections are free, fair and secure and they are resilient against outside interference. But we cannot be complacent. The only way to ensure our elections remain secure is to build on our successes and rebuild the trust that has been damaged by years of misinformation and political cynicism.
Republican or Democrat, it is essential our leaders tell the truth about our elections. Wisconsin voters deserve confidence in the system and Wisconsin deserves the right to run its own elections, as we always have.
Tom Barrett, a Democrat, is a former mayor and Congressman from Milwaukee. Scott Klug, a Republican, is a former Congressman from Madison. Mike Tate is the former chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. JB Van Hollen, a Republican, is the former Wisconsin Attorney General. All four serve on the Wisconsin board of the The Democracy Defense Project.
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde reflects on early March Madness exit
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde said the Badgers ‘thought we could do so many things’ in the NCAA Tournament before it ended abrupty with an upset loss.
Wisconsin men’s basketball has added a sharpshooting wing via the transfer portal.
Miami (Ohio) transfer Eian Elmer has signed with the Badgers, the team announced April 18. The 6-foot-7 wing will join UW with one year of eligibility remaining.
Elmer averaged a career-high 12.7 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 49.8% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range in 2025-26. His production helped the RedHawks go 32-2 and earn an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.
“We are really excited to add another excellent addition to our spring signees,” UW coach Greg Gard said in a release. “Eian brings a wealth of experience and scoring punch as a 6-7 wing. … A terrific shooter, his skillset and production fit excellently into our plan as we build out next year’s team. Throughout our evaluation process, our staff loved his size, power and skill and truly believe he will thrive in our system.”
Elmer is Wisconsin’s third transfer portal addition since the end of the 2025-26 season, joining former George Washington guard Trey Autry and former Hofstra forward Victory Onuetu. UW also added Australian guard Owen Foxwell.
The additions of Autry, Onuetu and now Elmer leave Gard’s staff with three more roster spots to fill ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Badgers are looking to replace much of their production from a 2025-26 team that went 24-11. Nolan Winter is expected to be the team’s only returning starter after John Blackwell and Aleksas Bieliauskas entered the transfer portal and Nick Boyd and Andrew Rohde exhausted their eligibility.
MILWAUKEE – Friday’s severe storms have passed. And with that, the threat of any severe weather has also passed for the immediate future as no storms or rain are expected for several days.
However, plenty of damage remains across southeastern Wisconsin as of Saturday morning, in addition to the ongoing flooding threat.
Several area rivers are at flood stage, and there are multiple river flood warnings in effect.
FOX6 Weekend WakeUp on Saturday begins at 6 a.m.
On the scene in the morning
What we know:
Farmstead damage in Franklin
FOX6’s Hayley Spitler is in Franklin on Saturday morning, April 18, getting a daylight look at the damage from last night’s storms.
Storm damage in Caledonia
Friday’s storms left quite the mark across southern and southeastern Wisconsin, including at L and L Farms and Greenhouse in Caledonia.
FOX6 Weather Extras
Local perspective:
Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following:
FOX6 Storm Center app
FOX LOCAL Mobile app
FOX Weather app
Maps and radar
We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly — to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view — it’s all there.
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School and business closings
When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin.
FOX6 Weather Experts in social media
The Source: Information in this post was compiled by the FOX6 Weather Experts.
How Aleksas Bieliauskas has grown in first season with Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin coach Greg Gard has high praise for Aleksas Bieliauskas about a month into the Lithuania native’s freshman season.
MADISON – One of Wisconsin men’s basketball’s departing transfers is headed to an SEC program with some connections to the Badgers.
Ex-UW forward Aleksas Bieliauskas has committed to South Carolina, he announced on April 17.
Bieliauskas left the Badgers after appearing in all 35 games as a freshman and making 28 starts. He averaged 4.9 points and 4.4 points in 20.2 minutes, and highlights of his freshman year included his five 3-pointers in UW’s upset over eventual national champion Michigan.
He’ll join a program with plenty of Wisconsin ties. South Carolina head coach Lamont Paris was an assistant coach at Wisconsin from 2010-17 on Bo Ryan and Greg Gard’s staffs. South Carolina assistant coach Tanner Bronson and director of video services Roman DiPasquale also are UW alumni.
Bieliauskas is the second of UW’s four departing transfers to commit to a new school. Reserve forward Jack Robison committed to North Dakota State on April 15. Starting guard John Blackwell and reserve forward Riccardo Greppi have not announced their next schools yet.
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