Grateful Governor Tony Evers continues to stand on the side of equality and fairness, especially when Republican politicians repeatedly target trans and gender nonconforming children.

Trump’s broken promise to lower costs is hurting Wisconsinites. Gas prices and energy bills are skyrocketing, homes are getting more expensive, and because of Republican failures in the legislature, we keep asking hard-working Wisconsinites to increase their property taxes to fund public schools.

I got to do one of my favorite things recently during Read Across America: read to kids at Milwaukee Parkside! I love listening to our future leaders, biochemists, artists, electricians, and speech pathologists like Tilly who gave me a great tour of the school!

Whenever there’s an opportunity to do the right thing and allocate money toward anything that helps public education, the Republicans in the Joint Finance Committee find a way to delay it.

Last year, I helped get a bipartisan win to expand healthcare access in Wisconsin. For years, I was the only Democratic author, with some of my Republican colleagues, on legislation to allow APRNs/Nurse Practitioners to practice to the full extent of their training.

For 30 of the last 32 years, Republicans have controlled our state legislature, and underfunded our public schools. Because of their financial mismanagement, property taxes are skyrocketing as schools struggle to keep teachers in classrooms and keep the heat on.

For the record, I’m against all illegal wars. Trump promised to lower the price of eggs. Instead he gave himself $4 billion, slashed your healthcare, unleashed a violent paramilitary to murder Americans in the street, and is illegally attacking other countries. #iran

Republicans are hiding their votes from the public. Why? Because they are advancing an extremist, right-wing agenda instead of listening to what their constituents actually want.

Today, we introduced legislation to raise Wisconsin’s minimum wage to $15 per hour with a scheduled path to reach $20 per hour by 2030.

Today in the CapTimes, I outlined my plan to stop property taxes from skyrocketing and fund our public schools so that our kids get a great public education like the one that drew my parents to build their family in rural Taylor County.

There is no substitute for experience. Wisconsin is facing a dire teacher shortage, yet retired teachers are often blocked from returning to work because of complex retirement and pension laws that punish retirees.

Today, I am proud to introduce legislation to legalize recreational cannabis in Wisconsin. We have long needed to reform our state’s outdated cannabis laws, and this is an important first step. Our midwest neighbors have already legalized cannabis. Now it’s our turn!

In yet another attack on immigrants, the Trump administration has cut funding for refugee resettlement agencies. These agencies help ensure that refugees fleeing war and violence have the resources they need to build their lives here in our state.

Spending time with kids always provides a lift. I had a great visit to Henderson Elementary yesterday!

ICE under the Trump regime is incompatible with a free society. ICE must be disarmed, dismantled, and prosecuted.

Around the state, school districts are facing a difficult reality, the state legislature has left them with significantly less money than they need to keep classrooms heated and competitive compensation for staff to ensure kids can thrive.

Republican politicians are using our money to attack and brutalize us. We are all less safe and less free because of Trump’s unaccountable paramilitary force.

Proud to lead on this bill. People in the care of the state deserve basic human dignity. Sen. Latonya Johnson is exactly right, “We have created a system where people must choose between staying clean and calling their children. Between deodorant and aspirin, between basic dignity and basic health.”

Today, I sent letters to the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation calling for an independent third-party investigation into the murder of Renee Good and for a suspension of ICE raids until our communities can be assured they are properly trained to obey our laws and respect constitutional rights.

The Trump regime has empowered a violent, untrained, unaccountable paramilitary force – and deployed them against American communities including Minneapolis. These agents should be investigated, charged and held fully accountable. In this country, no person can be above the law.

One year ago, we inaugurated four new Democratic senators, each one a champion for lower costs and reproductive freedom. Our first priorities were to address property tax increases, lower grocery bills for families with Healthy Schools Meals, and to lower the cost of prescription drugs.

Happy new year! Today is a great day to check your voter registration, update your address, and request absentee ballots be mailed to you for all elections in 2026! You can do all of the above at myvote.wi.gov. Don’t miss any of the important elections happening this year!

Rising energy costs are a driver of the affordability crisis. I am proud to stand with @wistatesenjodi.bsky.social to introduce legislation to create a statewide framework for data center development, to ensure families aren’t stuck with rising utility costs.

In September, I introduced legislation to prevent property taxes from increasing after another Republican-written budget failed to put our kids first. The state budget had no general aid increases for our schools for the first time since the Great Recession, which leads to property tax increases.

One year ago, the unthinkable happened in our community and reminded us of the unbearable truth: no community is immune from gun violence.

Everyone deserves to know what our government is doing, and to be able to hold decision makers accountable. Wisconsin Eye provides a critical public service, but it was set up to fail as a private entity.

Today, we announced the introduction of the SAFE Kids Act, which will ensure that the safety and wellbeing of children is paramount, and that social media companies abide by basic standards—no targeted ads or data collection on kids, no addictive algorithms designed to promote endless scrolling.

Across Wisconsin, I’ve heard concerns from people across the political spectrum about the challenges that data centers pose: unregulated corporate power running roughshod over local needs, huge increases in the price of electricity, and damage to our water supply.

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you to all who served this country and make it possible for us to pursue a more perfect union.

I will be hosting another "Coffee with Kelda" on Monday in McFarland. Register for more details!

The Trump regime’s fiscal incompetence and cruelty are causing health insurance premiums to skyrocket. Wisconsinites can’t afford MAGA policies, and we need to make our voices heard to demand that Republican politicians reopen the government and stop the premium hikes.

Another UW campus is shuttered, and I’m angry. My statement: “Campus closures and the march towards consolidation is a result of Republican politicians viewing higher education as a luxury good that only those who can afford it deserve. In their view, (1/2)

NO KINGS! Join me in rallying today in your community. Take courage from Thomas Paine, who knew the moral imperative to fight tyranny: youtu.be/wNOxnfSnzPA?... via @YouTube

At a Coffee with Kelda earlier this year, a constituent asked me to consider legislation to confront ticketing industry exploitation. We talked about it, we drafted a bill, and now we are building a coalition to ensure that live music and entertainment are for fans – not the profiteers.

Our farmers feed the world and they deserve to be paid for their crops. Trump policies keep making it harder for farmers to keep their farms and feed their own families. Meanwhile Trump is sending $20 billion of our tax dollars to prop up an Argentine authoritarian and bail out *their* farmers?!

We introduced The Building Families Act! Everyone deserves the freedom to build a family the way that makes the most sense for them. Infertility is a disease and it should be treated and covered just like any other diagnosis.

I was disturbed to see the news of an ICE raid in Madison yesterday. People come to Wisconsin because they know if they work hard, they can build a better life for themselves and their families. www.wkow.com/news/top-sto...

We announced the introduction of legislation to Stop Wildly Inflated Fees and Ticketing Industry Exploitation, the SWIFTIE Act. This legislation will stop unscrupulous scalpers, ban ticket bots, and ensure fair prices — because live events should be for fans, not profiteers.

Today, we introduced legislation to confront the onerous restrictions on abortion care that have made the Trump regime's Big Ugly Bill even more harmful for healthcare access in Wisconsin. While abortion is still legal, it's availability is significantly limited by anti-choice politicians.

Wisconsinites could block themselves from buying a handgun under Democratic proposal. @bspears.bsky.social reports.

My sincere condolences to Charlie Kirk’s family and loved ones. Every person deserves to live free from gun violence. I hope the perpetrator is swiftly brought to justice.

I don’t agree with Charlie Kirk on virtually anything, but I fully support his right to speak freely. Violence is NEVER an acceptable way to solve our political disputes. I hope he makes a full recovery and I hope our country rejects this dangerous rise in political violence.

As students return to campus, gun violence is top of mind for students who have grown up in a country that has not done enough to prevent gun violence. Our goal is to ensure that college campuses have the same gun-free protections as K12 schools, prohibiting guns on school grounds.

Wisconsin Dems introduce proposal to save the popular Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program via @henry-redman.bsky.social wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/08/26/w...

Hope to see you at an upcoming Coffee with Kelda!

Many people have many questions about the state budget. On Substack, I answered a few questions about the process, the product, and the impact it will have. Check out the first part:

I want to thank Tony Evers, not just for his two terms as governor but for his lifetime of service as an educator. I also want to thank him for something that is in short supply during these chaotic times: his abiding normalcy.

In Wisconsin, we shouldn’t let our neighbors get swindled by schemers. We protect each other from bullies and fraudsters trying to scam people out of their hard-earned money. I am proud to author legislation to set standards for crypto kiosks around the state.

Glad to see this important step toward holding Musk accountable civilly for his illegal attempt to bribe Wisconsin voters. Still waiting on any Wisconsin DA to prosecute him for his crime...

It's about freedom. I am proud to join @senkeldaroys.bsky.social, Representative Lisa Subeck, and my Democratic colleagues in introducing the Abortion Rights Restoration Act. There is no room for politics between a woman and her physician - full stop.