Governor Tony Evers delivered the keynote address Saturday night at the Wisconsin Democratic Convention, urging party unity as deep divisions over a failed budget surplus deal and a crowded gubernatorial primary loomed ahead of November’s elections.
Evers spoke at Monona Terrace Convention Center as the party grapples with rifts exposed by the collapse of a $1.8 billion bipartisan plan to distribute part of the state’s budget surplus. The proposal, negotiated with Republican legislative leaders, called for tax rebates, property tax relief and special education funding but failed in the Senate.
The deal’s demise highlighted tensions within the party. All Senate Democrats voted against it, along with most Democrats in the Assembly. Among them were several Democratic candidates for governor, who criticized the plan and took shots at Evers himself. In his address, Evers addressed the setback directly.
“Wisconsin’s kids and schools aren’t going to get the investments they desperately need this year because Tom Tiffany and a few Republican and Democratic lawmakers chose to blow up a bipartisan plan to invest in our K-12 schools, lower property taxes, and help working families afford rising costs,” he said, referring to the leading Republican candidate for governor.
“All because they’d rather do what’s best for the next election than what’s right for the people of our state. So many Wisconsinites feel left behind, frustrated, and disillusioned by politics these days because they think a lot of politicians in the Capitol are only here to serve themselves. And, today, they’re right.”
The governor, who is not seeking re-election, pushed back against criticism that the deal was fiscally irresponsible. He previously called Democratic objections “the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard” and stressed the need for immediate action on the surplus. On Saturday, though, sought to frame the convention as a moment to move forward.
“We’ve proven time and again that, here in Wisconsin, we’re capable of finding common ground and working together to get good things done for the people of our state,” he said.
Party leaders worked to project unity Saturday despite the recent intra-party friction. Evers’ speech served as a sendoff after two terms, with the governor emphasizing accomplishments on education and tax relief while calling on Democrats to rally against Republican opposition.
The surplus debate has carried into the campaign, with candidates using it to differentiate themselves. Some Democrats argued the deal failed to address long-term structural problems in school funding and property taxes, while others saw opposition as prioritizing politics over relief. Evers closed by reiterating his belief in dramatically increasing school funding.
“I’ve always said that what’s best for our kids is what’s best for our state,” he said.
