MADISON, Wis. — After Wisconsin Republicans chose to abruptly end the 2025-26 legislative session only three months into the year without addressing a mountain of issues impacting their constituents, A Better Wisconsin Together examined the voting records of these Republican lawmakers compared to financial campaign support they received. A stunning pattern quickly emerged, which is outlined in a recent news report.
The voting patterns of key Republican legislators were compared to those of Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, who in addition to leading the Republican majority in the legislature also control the flow of campaign cash.
“Time and time again, GOP legislators voted against the best interests of their own constituents in order to vote in lockstep with Vos and LeMahieu,” said A Better Wisconsin Together Deputy Director Mike Browne. “Choosing to make life harder for the people you’re paid to represent all for money and selfish political gain is an abhorrent low even for Wisconsin Republicans.”
Issues in which Republicans voted against their constituents in order to mimic the GOP party bosses controlling their campaign cash include: voting against marijuana legalization, blocking adequate funding for public schools, voting against proposals that would lower healthcare costs, and more.
By the numbers, here’s what voting and campaign finance records reveal:
- Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville) voted with Vos 100% of the time and has accepted $2.4 million in Vos-connected campaign support.
- Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek) voted in lockstep with Vos 99.66% of the time and has accepted $2.1 million in Vos-connected campaign support.
- Bob Donovan (R-Greenfield) voted in tandem with Vos 100% of the time and has accepted $1.5 million in Vos-connected campaign support.
- Pat Snyder (R-Weston) voted 100% of the time with Vos and has accepted $1.2 million in Vos-connected campaign support.
- Shannon Zimmerman (R-River Falls) voted 100% of the time in lockstep with Vos and has accepted $1.1 million in Vos-connected campaign support.
- Ben Franklin (R-Green Bay) voted with Vos 100% of the time and has accepted $675,507 in Vos-affiliated campaign support.
- Clint Moses (R-Menomonie) voted with Vos 100% of the time and has accepted $255,008 in financial campaign support from Vos.
- Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) voted 98.84% of the time with LeMahieu and accepted $227,770 in LeMahieu-connected campaign support.
