Our comprehensive list and schedule of all upcoming political fundraisers.

In this update:

Election Updates

MU poll recap
State Assembly and Senate
New Senate ads
U.S. President
New polling
U.S. Senate
New polling
New ads
U.S. House of Representatives
New ads targeting Cooke
Underly announces reelection campaign

Legislative Updates

Study Committee on AI meeting

Upcoming Events

Coffee with the Candidates: Melissa Ratcliff and Ben Franklin
Meet the Cabinet: DSPS Sec. Hereth

Election Updates

MU poll recap

Marquette University Law School Poll released a new statewide poll on Wednesday, September 11th. Looking ahead to the November Elections, the poll found that:

52% of registered voters support Vice President Kamala Harris and 48% support former President Trump. When third party candidates are included, Harris received the support of 47% and Trump 43%.
Among likely voters, VP Harris is at 52% and former Pres. Trump is at 48%.
52% of registered voters support U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, while 48% back GOP U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde.
Among likely voters, Sen. Baldwin receives 52% and Mr. Hovde receives 47%.
ICYMI: For an in-depth analysis of the poll from Michael Best, click here.

State Assembly and Senate

Habush Sinykin releases first TV ad

8th Senate District candidate Jodi Habush Sinykin (D-Whitefish Bay) released her first TV ad of the campaign. In the ad, Ms. Sinykin pledges to support investments in schools, workforce, and public safety. Her campaign has $1.8 million in ads reserved between Labor Day and Election Day, while Democratic groups supporting her have $2.4 million reserved. Meanwhile, incumbent 8th SD Sen. Duey Stroebel (R-Cedarburg) has not yet reserved any TV time, while GOP groups supporting him have $234,272 in reservations.

Watch the ad here.

Keyeski launches first ad

14th Senate District candidate Sarah Keyeski (D-Lodi) released her first TV ad of the campaign. The ad claims incumbent 14th SD Sen. Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) wants to ban all abortions with no exceptions. Ms. Keyeski has $853,902 reserved through Election Day while Sen. Ballweg and GOP groups supporting her have $1.1 million reserved.

Watch the ad here.

Wall releases first TV ad

30th Senate District Candidate Jamie Wall (D-Green Bay) released his first TV ad, claiming he will “put in the hard work so maybe you don’t have to work quite so hard.” The ad features Wall saying growing up on a farm taught him about hard work, but today “too many people have to work way too hard just to make it,” and he says working families need a tax cut and lower housing costs.

Watch the ad here.

U.S. President

New presidential polling for Wisconsin

CBS News/YouGov and Platform Communications both announced polling results finding a close race for president. CBS News/YouGov found 51% of likely voters favored Vice President Kamala Harris, and 49% supported former President Donald Trump. They polled a sample of 958 voters from September 3-6. The margin of error was +/- 4 percentage points. FiveThirtyEight rates YouGov 2.9 stars out of three.

Consulting firm Platform Communications reported 48% of likely voters back Vice President Harris and 45% favor former President Trump. They also polled the public’s view of each candidate. 49% had a positive view of Vice President Harris and 47% had a negative view. Former President Trump had 41% of respondents with a positive view and 56% with a negative one. Platform Communications worked with BK Strategies to conduct the poll. BK Strategies polled 600 likely voters using live telephone calls to landlines and cell phones between August 19-21. The margin of error was +/- 4 percentage points. FiveThirtyEight rates BK Strategies 1.3 stars out of three.

View FiveThirtyEight’s data.

View RealClearPolling’s data.

U.S. Senate

New senate polling

Platform Communications and CBS News/YouGov both announced polling results and found U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D) ahead of GOP candidate Eric Hovde. Platform Communications survey showed Sen. Baldwin ahead with 49% support while 44% backed Eric Hovde. They also survey favorability and unfavorability. Sen. Baldwin had a 47% favorable view and 43% unfavorable one. Eric Hovde’s split was 32-41. Platform Communications worked with BK Strategies to conduct the poll. BK Strategies polled 600 likely voters using live telephone calls to landlines and cell phones between August 19-21. The margin of error was +/- 4 percentage points. FiveThirtyEight rates BK Strategies 1.3 stars out of three.

CBS News/YouGov found Sen. Baldwin ahead of Eric Hovde 51-43 among likely Wisconsin voters. They polled a sample of 958 voters from September 3-6. The margin of error was +/- 4 percentage points. FiveThirtyEight rates YouGov 2.9 stars out of three.

DSCC releases new ads

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) released four ads this week targeting U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde (R).

The first ad says Hovde is a “jerk” because he wants diabetics and those who are overweight to be charged more for their healthcare. The narrator adds, “And what kind of jerk would repeal the Affordable Care Act and let health insurance companies deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.”

Watch the ad here.

The next ad features a Milwaukee business owner frustrated that Hovde “thinks rich people like him should be the first in line for a tax break.” The ad also includes a clip of Hovde saying, “I'm bad because I'm the 1 percent?”

Watch the ad here.

In another ad, a woman who owns adult family group homes says Hovde suggested most of her residents should not be permitted to vote. The ad then features Hovde saying those in nursing homes typically have a life expectancy of five to six months and “almost nobody in a nursing home is at a point to vote.”

Watch the ad here.

DSCC launched another ad later in the week calling Hovde a “jerk” again. The ad features Grandma Kim saying, “Mr. Fancy California banker said he’d absolutely cut Social Security and raise the retirement age.” To close the ad, she holds up a picture of Hovde with “JERK” written on the photo.

Watch the ad here.

Fix Washington PAC launches new ad

Fix Washington PAC released a new TV ad targeting U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D) for not disclosing assets jointly owned with her partner. The ad claims she is a “Wall Street wealth adviser to the ultra-rich,” and Sen. Baldwin “fails” to report their jointly owned assets or her partner’s clients who “get rich off industries that Tammy regulates.”

Watch the ad here.

U.S. House of Representatives

3rd CD Race

NRCC runs hybrid TV ad opposing Cooke

The National Republican Congressional Committee is out with a new hybrid TV ad opposing 3rd CD candidate Rebecca Cooke (D-Eau Claire). The ad was released in cooperation with incumbent 3rd CD Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien) and claims that Ms. Cooke is a “political operative bankrolled by the liberal elite.” Hybrid spots enable groups such as NRCC to take advantage of lower rates available to candidates, but the ads must contain equal references to the candidate and the party. Additionally, the candidate and the group must split the cost.

Watch the ad here.

State Superintendent

Underly announces she’ll seek reelection

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly announced she will seek re-election in April 2025. She was first elected to the position in 2021. Superintendent Underly said in her announcement, “All kids belong in our schools, and deserve the support and resources they need to succeed. We also need to support our hard-working professional educators, and all the support staff and administrators who make Wisconsin’s schools go.”

Superintendent Underly won in 2021 with 57.7% of the vote after Carolyn Stanford Taylor did not seek a full term.

Legislative Updates

Study committee on AI holds meeting

The Legislative Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence held a meeting this week in Wausau. Chair of the study committee state Sen. Julian Bradley (R-Franklin) opened with an overview on the purpose of the meeting. In addition, the Legislative Council shared its second memo. Meanwhile, Director for Wisconsin Department of Justice – Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Jake Jansky delivered a presentation on the impact of generative AI images on ICAC investigations. He said he was concerned predators are using AI to depict abuse and are utilizing ChatGPT to discover methods to access children, the dark web, and create phishing schemes.

Waukesha County Chief of Police Daniel Thompson also highlighted ways law enforcement is encountering AI: deepfakes, misinformation, AI generated complaints to department inboxes, cyber-attacks, and phishing emails. Chief Thompson also talked about programs available to law enforcement, such as predictive policing and crime reporting and data transparency tools. Marathon County Sheriff Chad Billeb and Bayfield County District Attorney Kimberly Lawton also provided presentations on their encounters with AI.

To read Michael Best Strategies’ memo on the meeting, click here.

Upcoming Events

Coffee with the Candidates:
Friday, September 20th at 8:30 AM: 16th Senate District candidate Melissa Ratcliff (D-Cottage Grove) virtual
Friday, September 27th at 8:30 AM: 88th Assembly District candidate Ben Franklin (R-De Pere) virtual
September 25th at 11:30AM - Meet the Cabinet: Department of Safety and Professional Services Secretary Dan Hereth (virtual and in-person options available)
RSVP to Barb Stevenson at Barb.Stevenson@michaelbest.com if you'd like to attend these events

ABOUT US

If you would like any additional information about the above topic, or if you would like to find time to discuss the above matter in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact your Michael Best Strategies contact.

Have a great day,

Wisconsin GR Team

Government Relations Team

Our Team | michaelbeststrategies.com

Get weekly Wisconsin political news & insight from MBS

One South Pickney Street, Suite 700

Madison, WI 53703

Phone: 608-257-3501

Fax: 608-283-2275