Citizen Action Weekend ’26 Newsletter, Friday, July 31st
Work for Citizen Action of Wisconsin
Early in-person voting has started for the August 11th Primary Election.
Citizen Action staff and volunteers are talking to community members about our issues and getting involved to help change Wisconsin!
Read more about Citizen Action’s Francesca Hong endorsement and read about other Fall Election candidate endorsements.
Volunteer with Citizen Action.
Governor Francesca Hong will lead on Healthcare!
Citizen Action Statewide Healthcare Action Update
Healthcare Leaders Across Wisconsin Ready to Build the Next Phase of the BadgerCare Public Option Campaign
Many healthcare leaders, members, coalition partners and new volunteers from across Wisconsin came together on July 14 for our Statewide Healthcare All Teams Meeting to learn, connect, and prepare for the next phase of our BadgerCare Public Option campaign.
The evening began with an overview of the BadgerCare Public Option, highlighting how this bold proposal can expand affordable healthcare for working families while serving as an important step toward our vision of healthcare as a human right. Participants also learned about the campaign’s accomplishments during Phase 1 and the ambitious organizing plan ahead.
During the All Teams Meeting, members heard campaign updates from around the state, celebrated organizing successes, and participated in a Mass Listening Training that will prepare volunteers to have meaningful conversations in their communities this summer. These conversations will help us better understand the challenges Wisconsin families face, gather powerful stories, and build the grassroots leadership needed to win transformative healthcare reforms.
The energy throughout the meeting was inspiring. Participants described the training as engaging, informative, and empowering, and many left excited to take action. Several attendees signed up to become active volunteers, joining teams focused on outreach, story collection, legislative advocacy, and coalition building.
As further federal attacks on our already broken healthcare system continue, our movement is growing stronger. Every new leader, every conversation, and every story brings us one step closer to winning the BadgerCare Public Option.Together, we’re building the grassroots power needed to win this fight and continue moving Wisconsin closer to universal healthcare.
Finally, a big thank you to the many member leaders who took leadership roles in this meeting: Jason Bennett, Joni Anderson, Linda Murphy, Lydin Atkelsky, Peg Isola, Kelly Leibold and Amber Kostecki.
You can take action today:
- Email your state legislators and urge them to co-sponsor the BadgerCare Public Option bill
- Attend your local Co-Op Healthcare team meeting
- Ask your local Co-Op organizer or Kristie Tweed, Healthcare Action Coordinator for petitions you can take to events
- Use this simple form to share your healthcare story – stories about rising cost of your healthcare, medical debt, importance of medicaid in your life all help us in our work. We won’t share your story without reaching out to you first!
- Join our Mass Listening project – contact Kristie Tweed or your local organizer for more information
For more information or to get involved, contact: Kristie Tweed, Healthcare Action Coordinator: 📞 608-317-1331; ✉️ kristie.tweed@citizenactionwi.org
Attend a Mass Listening Event in Hayward: Your Voice, Your Health, Your Future, Thursday, August 13th, 9am and 5:30pm
Join Citizen Action of Wisconsin for a Community Listening Session! Your voice matters. We’re bringing neighbors together to talk about the rising cost of healthcare, housing, groceries, utilities, childcare, low wages and the cost of making ends meet. We Want to Hear From You! Share your experiences, concerns, and ideas in a welcoming community conversation.
Your stories will help:
- Shape Citizen Action’s legislative priorities
- Advocate for affordable healthcare and lower everyday costs
- Hold elected officials accountable
- Inform candidate evaluations based on community priorities
Event Details:
Thursday, August 13th, 2026
Sherman & Ruth Weiss Community Library, 10788 WI-27 #77
Hayward, WI
Morning Session: 9:00–11:00 a.m.
Evening Session: 5:30–7:30 p.m.
✔ Free to attend
✔ Everyone is welcome
✔Snacks provided at each session
✔ Come as you are—your voice can make a difference!
Citizen Action in the news
Citizen Action’s Robert Kraig was on the Jeff Santos Show to make meaning out of our topsy turvy Governor’s primary. The nationally syndicated program airs in Wisconsin statewide on the Civic Media Radio Network 2 to 5 PM weekdays.
Watch the whole interview here (at 1 hour 34 minute mark of video)
Listen to “Meet Laurel Wales” Battleground Wisconsin Podcast
We welcome Laurel Wales, Citizen Action’s Managing Director, to the show as a guest panelist.
Following the tick report, we dive into the latest developments in Wisconsin’s governor primary election, including two new polls that show Francesca Hong surging into a commanding lead. How has Hong confounded the pundits and the experts to become the overwhelming favorite in the Democratic gubernatorial primary?
Our panel discusses a ruling by a conservative Wisconsin Appeals Court panel upholding Act 10, overturning a district court ruling. What is the basis for their decision and will the liberal-leaning Wisconsin Supreme Court see it differently?
We look at an important New report that raises the alarm bells that the threat of authoritarianism is not enough to attract more working class voters to the Democrats. What are the implications for the fall elections and the fight to prevent authoritarian consolidation?
We talk about why the G20 is coming to Milwaukee, in late September and debrief our visit to Superior for the Wisconsin Public Education Network’s Summer Summit.
Listen to the show.
Citizen Action endorsed Primary Election candidates
Read more about them and vote early or by Tuesday, August 11th.
