Good morning.
Sunday in Whitewater will be partly cloudy with a high of 80. Sunrise is 6:03 and sunset is 7:53, for 13 hours, 50 minutes of daytime. The moon is a waning crescent with 34.3 percent of its visible disk illuminated.
On this day in 2008, American swimmer Michael Phelps becomes the first person to win eight gold medals at one Olympic Games.
It’s one year until the Wisconsin primary for the 2026 gubernatorial race, and fifteen months until the general election. Other than Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, no major candidate has announced in either party.
So far this summer, it’s been vanity statements about the possibility of running from Walker and Thompson, WISGOP long-shot announcements from Bill Berrien and Josh Schoemann, and now an announcement from beer vendor Ryan Strnad.
Those who have not followed every announcement (notably those from Walker and Thompson) have done themselves a favor. We’re a small state, and with relatively inexpensive media, there’s time and money enough to flood the Wisconsin many months from now.
When the field takes shape, it will be under the constant influence of federal issues and federal pressure. It’s hard not to see every competitive race in America as having that federal influence. Wisconsin’s 2026 gubernatorial race will be something like three-quarters Wisconsin and one-quarter federal (perhaps generously expressed in favor of Wisconsin).
All politics is local has become a quaint slogan.
Hurricane Erin – Air Force flies through the eye and see satellite views: