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
Stepmom from hell accused of starving 35-pound teen daughter enters plea — could spend the rest of her life behind bars
The Wisconsin stepmother from hell accused of abusing her 35-pound 14-year-old daughter by depriving her of food and water has entered a no-contest plea in the twisted case.
Melissa Goodman, 52, now faces up to 46 years in prison if she’s handed the maximum sentence for charges of chronic neglect causing great bodily harm, chronic neglect causing emotional damage and false imprisonment.
She’s set to be sentenced on July 1.
Goodman, along with husband Walter Goodman, has been accused of starving her autistic stepdaughter.
Goodman’s daughter Savanna Goodman and her girlfriend Kayla Stemler were also charged over the alleged abuse, People reported.
The family is accused of locking the teen in a bedroom without a mattress, restricting her to only her room for years and depriving her of food and water, according to Wisconsin prosecutors.
The mobile home they lived in became a house of horrors for the teenager, who was mistaken for a 6-year-old when she was found by cops in August 2025 and rushed to the hospital.
Walter Goodman, the victim’s father, called 911 to report that his daughter was lethargic and ill.
Responding officers found her weighing just 35 pounds; she was hospitalized with multi-organ dysfunction, including respiratory failure and pancreatitis.

From 2020 until August 2025, the victim, whose name is not disclosed because she is a minor, was allegedly isolated in a trailer on Hattie Lane, in Oneida, Wisconsin.
Extended family members were told she was away on vacation or with other relatives to explain her absence.
Wisconsin
‘Song Sung Blue’ subject Claire Sardina playing Wisconsin State Fair
When “Song Sung Blue” – the biopic about Milwaukee Neil Diamond tribute act Lightning & Thunder – had a premiere at the Oriental Theatre in Milwaukee last December, star Hugh Jackman gave Claire Sardina (played in the film by Kate Hudson) an engraved bench honoring Lighting & Thunder to be installed at Wisconsin State Fair Park.
In August, Sardina will get to have a seat on that bench – and sing again on a State Fair stage.
Sardina will perform with tribute act So Good: The Neil Diamond Experience Aug. 9 at the Bank Five Nine Amphitheater, the largest stage at the fair featuring free concerts with admission.
For Sardina, it will be a return to a place central to Lighting & Thunder. The band performed in the Milwaukee area from 1989 until Mike Sardina, aka Lightning, passed away in 2006. The State Fair was one of their favorite places to play, and the couple got married there in 1994.
The couple’s wild story – from a performance at a Pearl Jam Summerfest concert to major health issues – was the subject of the documentary “Song Sung Blue” that inspired the biopic, and earned Hudson an Oscar nomination for portraying Claire Sardina.
Fair officials May 8 revealed the full headliner lineup for the stage, which includes:
- Aug. 6: Sixteen Candles
- Aug. 7 and 8: Here Come The Mummies
- Aug. 10 and 11: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
- Aug. 12: Hairbangers Ball
- Aug. 13: Too Hype Crew
- Aug. 14: The Gufs
- Aug. 15: Let’s Sing Taylor – An Unofficial Live Tribute Show
- Aug. 16: Pat McCurdy
All Bank Five Nine Amphitheater concerts are included with fair admission.
The lineup is also nearly complete for the Bank Five Nine Main Stage, with just a show on Aug. 11 to be announced.
Tickets are on sale for these shows at wistatefair.com and include same-day fair admission:
- Aug. 6: Hairball
- Aug. 7: Nelly
- Aug. 8: Bailey Zimmerman with Chandler Walters
- Aug. 9: Wynonna Judd and Melissa Etheridge
- Aug. 10: For King + Country with Rachel Lampa
- Aug. 12: John Mulaney
- Aug. 13: The All-American Rejects with Joyce Manor
- Aug. 14: Lindsey Stirling with PVRIS
- Aug. 15: AJR with Em Beihold
- Aug. 16: The Beach Boys
Wisconsin
Wisconsin universities and schools impacted by Canvas data breach
WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW/GRAY NEWS) – A ransomware group has claimed to have breached the learning management system Canvas, possibly exposing the personal information of students, teachers and staff across the country.
According to a statement from the Universities of Wisconsin website, they were notified of a nationwide security breach experienced by Instructure, the provider of Canvas. Universities of Wisconsin schools use the cloud-based management system.
UW-Stevens Point tells NewsChannel 7 they have not confirmed UWSP was involved in the breach, but did send communication that Canvas was down and students should not perform any asked actions if prompted, as it may not be legitimate while Canvas is down.
Instructure, the parent company of Canvas, posted on May 1 about a cybersecurity incident that had been reported and was under investigation.
The next day, Chief Information Security Officer Steve Proud wrote that the information involved in the attack included names, student ID numbers, messages between users and email addresses.
“At this time, we have found no evidence that passwords, dates of birth, government identifiers, or financial information were involved. If that changes, we will notify any impacted institutions,” he wrote.
The Wausau School District sent a letter to parents Wednesday regarding the cybersecurity incident. They said there is no evidence that passwords, single-sign-on credentials, financial information or social security numbers were impacted. They stressed that type of information is not stored in Canvas.
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