After a smooth 2026 election, a push to protect the vote

QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The fact that it didn’t happen is something that we should all be celebrating as a democracy matter. This is good, but that doesn’t mean that there was no possibility it would happen, and it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be taking it seriously.”

– Jeff Mandell, general counsel of the voting rights focused firm Law Forward, on preparations in Wisconsin to combat possible federal election interference

After months of Democratic anxiety and planning by election officials in case the Trump administration interfered with voters casting their ballots or officials counting them, Tuesday’s election in Wisconsin went off without a hitch. But voting rights advocates, lawyers and some Democratic legislators want to pass voting protections and nonpartisan redistricting while they have the chance. Henry Redman has the story.

An infant in Wisconsin has died of measles, the Department of Health Services reports. Erik Gunn covers the increasing number of infections in the state when vaccination rates have fallen and health officials’ statement on the first fatality from the preventable disease.

Senate Republicans chose Sen. Julian Bradley (R-New Berlin) as minority leader. He will take office when lawmakers return in January. Bradley succeeds Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg), who decided against running for reelection. He will lead a caucus of just 15 Republicans after Democrats swept the election on Tuesday night. Baylor Spears reports.

A project that provides support to at-risk adults in 11 Wisconsin counties is helping to keep people out of the criminal justice system, Criminal Justice Project Fellow Frank Zufall reports. The Wisconsin Deflection Initiative offers peer counseling, job skills and basic services to meet people’s needs and help them stay out of jail.

PLUS:

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