Wisconsin Politics

The US Supreme Court's 2010 decision to remove limits on political campaign financing dealt a heavy blow to American democracy, a documentary screened at the Sundance Film Festival claims.

A Wisconsin appeals court on Friday unanimously ruled the state's domestic partnership registry to be constitutional. A Wisconsin appeals court on Friday unanimously ruled the state's domestic partnership registry to be constitutional. The legislation extends a limited number of protections for gay and lesbian couples, but opponents argued that it violates the state's 2006 voter-approved constitutional amendment banning marriage and anything substantially similar to it for gay couples. The 4th District Court of Appeals noted that lawmakers who supported the amendment repeatedly assured colleagues that it would not prevent gay couples form receiving some benefits. The campaign to approve the amendment made similar claims. The state's largest gay rights advocate, Fair Wisconsin, defended the registry in court. ?It demonstrates that Wisconsin really is about trying to treat people fairly,? the group's executive director, Katie Belanger, is quoted as saying by the AP. ?That's what we belie

Six openly gay candidates were elected to Congress on Tuesday, with a seventh leading. Six openly gay candidates were elected to Congress on Tuesday, with a seventh leading. Senator-elect Tammy Baldwin won her Wisconsin race against former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson. She edged out her Republican competitor with a larger lead than expected, 51.5 to 45.9% with 99.6% of precincts reporting. Baldwin becomes the first openly gay U.S. senator. (Related: Tammy Baldwin wins Senate seat; First openly gay senator.) Mark Pocan, a small business owner and a Wisconsin state representative, won his bid to fill the 2nd Congressional seat being vacated by Baldwin. His Republican challenger, Chad Lee, ran an unsuccessful bid against Baldwin in 2010. The 48-year-old Pocan married his husband Phil in Canada in 2006. Richard Tisei is the only upset so far among the 8 openly LGBT candidates. He lost his bid to become the House's first openly gay Republican. Massachusetts voters decided instead to re

Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin on Tuesday defeated her Republican rival to become the nation's first openly gay senator. Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin on Tuesday defeated her Republican rival, former Governor Tommy Thompson, to become the nation's first openly gay senator. The AP called the race for Baldwin around 10PM ET. Baldwin replaces retiring Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl. ?The people who had faith that this was possible made it possible,? Baldwin said before voting in Madison. The 50-year-old Baldwin announced her decision to enter the race in an email to supporters, ending months of speculation. Baldwin first ran for Congress in 1998 after serving 8 years in the Wisconsin Assembly. While Baldwin is a perennial favorite among the constituents in her district, her highest hurdle in running for the Senate was lack of name recognition outside her district. That is something Thompson has in spades, having served as United States secretary of health and human services under George W. Bush

Senate candidates Tammy Baldwin and Tommy Thompson recently discussed their differing views on gay marriage. S?enate candidates Tammy Baldwin and Tommy Thompson recently discussed their differing views on gay marriage. Thompson and Baldwin are competing to replace retiring Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl. Thompson, the former governor of Wisconsin, and Congresswoman Baldwin spent part of their first debate Friday night sparring over marriage equality. ?71 out of 72 counties voted for a constitutional amendment in Wisconsin and I support those 71 counties,? Thompson, a Republican, stated. ?It's an issue left up to the states and that's where it should be.? Baldwin, who if elected would become the nation's first openly gay senator, said she supported marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples. ?I believe in principles of equality and I certainly support marriage equality,? she answered. ?I recognize what the voters of Wisconsin decided back in 2006. But we know that every year people are th

A Wisconsin judge on Friday struck down key provisions of a law that conservatives have hailed as necessary to trim runaway spending but liberals slammed as a "union-busting" measure.

Wisconsin Representative Tammy Baldwin will address the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Thursday. Wisconsin Representative Tammy Baldwin will address the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Thursday. The 50-year-old Baldwin would become the first openly gay U.S. senator if she captures the seat being vacated by Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl. Her Republican rival, Tommy Thompson, is a former governor of Wisconsin. Baldwin has been given a prime speaking slot: on the convention's final evening and in the same stadium where President Barack Obama will accept the Democratic nomination. ?We've seen Paul Ryan and Scott Walker on the national stage. I'm going to talk about the Wisconsin I know,? Baldwin told the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel. ?We've increasingly seen wealthy, powerful interests gain power in Washington and, frankly, in Madison, and write their own set of rules. Hardworking families deserve a shot.? Last month, LPAC, the political action committee formed earli

America's political class was Wednesday learning a new lesson in the power of money -- and the possibly decisive impact of unfettered millions of dollars on November's battle for the White House.

The White House on Wednesday shrugged off the victory of Wisconsin's Republican governor in a closely watched election, and denied it is a bad omen for President Barack Obama's reelection prospects.

The union-busting Republican governor in the US presidential battleground state of Wisconsin on Tuesday survived a recall election aimed at ousting him mid-term, US media projected.

Voters in the presidential battleground state of Wisconsin head to the polls Tuesday to decide whether their union-busting governor should be recalled and replaced with a Democrat.

Surrogates of Rick Santorum ran robo-calls in Wisconsin accusing Mitt Romney of advancing gay marriage. Surrogates of Rick Santorum ran robo-calls in Wisconsin accusing Mitt Romney of advancing gay marriage. The robo-calls, which first appeared a day before voters in Ohio headed to the polls on Super Tuesday, feature Brian Camenker, who heads the Massachusetts-based anti-gay rights group MassResistance, and were paid for by the conservative group Jews and Christians Together. On MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show, host Rachel Maddow noted that the calls were sent out in advance of Tuesday's primary in Wisconsin. ?If you believe as we do that marriage and sexuality should only be between a man and a woman, please help us stop Mitt Romney,? callers are told. ?As governor, Romney signed Gay Youth Pride Day proclamations, promoted homosexuality in our elementary schools, and unconstitutionally ordered state officials to make Massachusetts America's first same-sex marriage state. Romney support

MADISON, Wisconsin (Reuters) - Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker will not challenge any of the more than one million signatures gathered by opponents to force a vote to recall the Republican, saying that his campaign did not have enough time to review them.

MADISON, Wisconsin (Reuters) - Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker will not challenge any of the more than one million signatures gathered by opponents to force a vote to recall the controversial Republican, saying that his campaign did not have enough time to review them.

MADISON, Wis (Reuters) - Longtime Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette said Wednesday he intends to take the first step toward running for governor against Republican Scott Walker if there is a recall.

MADISON, Wis (Reuters) - Wisconsin Democrats on Wednesday got a candidate with a famous name to challenge controversial Republican Governor Scott Walker in a recall election when Doug La Follette, a relative of well-known Wisconsin progressive "Fighting Bob" La Follette, said he would run for governor.

SHEBOYGAN, Wis (Reuters) - The mayor of a Wisconsin town whose heavy drinking last summer sparked pressure to step down lost a special election on Tuesday to a former Democratic state representative.

SHEBOYGAN, Wisconsin (Reuters) - The mayor of a Wisconsin town whose heavy drinking last summer sparked pressure to step down faces a special election on Tuesday against a Democratic former state representative.

MILWAUKEE (Reuters) - A Wisconsin judge Friday denied Governor Scott Walker extra time to review the estimated one million signatures submitted last month to the state in an effort to recall him.

MILWAUKEE (Reuters) - A Wisconsin judge Friday denied Governor Scott Walker extra time to review the estimated one million signatures submitted last month to the state in an effort to recall him.