🗳️ Your guide to the August election

⚖️ Civil Rights Group Files Complaint Against Officer Who Shot Corey Ruiz

• Blacks for Political and Social Action of Dane County has filed a formal complaint against the Madison police officer who killed Corey Ruiz with the city of Madison Police and Fire Commission.
• The group called on the commission to immediately strip the officer of his police powers. Both the state’s Division of Criminal Investigation and Madison’s Office of the Independent Police Monitor are conducting parallel investigations of the July 22 shooting.
• City Council President Sabrina Madison said that in the wake of the shooting, several proposed amendments that critics say would have weakened the independence of the police monitor’s office and Police Civilian Oversight Board have been withdrawn.
• 🎧 Dig deeper: Matthew Braunginn has been here before. The Madison artist and co-founder of the Young Gifted and Black Coalition that organized protests in 2015 following the police shooting of Tony Robinson. Braunginn is on the City Cast Madison podcast today to share his feelings on the last few days in Madison and how this week’s events compare to a decade ago. [WKOW, City of Madison, 🎧City Cast Madison]

⛔ Concerts on the Square Canceled Again This Week

• The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra announced Monday it will cancel this Wednesday’s Concerts on the Square performance at the Capitol in the wake of the July 22 police shooting of Corey Ruiz.
• “Our community is hurting,” orchestra CEO Joe Loehnis said in a statement. “After listening to our community, we believe stepping back from this week’s performance is the right decision.”
• Last Wednesday’s performance was canceled after hundreds of protesters arrived at the Capitol shortly before the concert was set to start. [Instagram]

🚧 Expect Travel Delays on West Johnson Street

• Starting Tuesday, construction crews will be installing sanitary sewers for a development at 306 W. Johnson Street. The construction will occasionally require lane closures and shifting, and city officials said motorists should expect travel delays on Johnson between North Brooks and North Mills streets.
• The work is expected to continue until Aug. 21. [City of Madison]

The statewide Aug. 11 primary is just two weeks away. Knowing what you’re voting on and when and where to vote can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s what you need to know 🗳️

What’s On My Ballot?

On the ballot for all of Wisconsin is the gubernatorial primary race. There are two candidates on the Republican ticket and seven on the Democratic one. (Technically. Only five are still in the running. Missy Hughes and Sara Rodriguez have both suspended their campaigns but their names remain on the ballot.)

🎧 Go deeper: City Cast Madison has had a chance to talk to a majority of the candidates on our podcast. On the Dems’ side, we’ve had conversations with State Sen. Kelda Roys, State Rep. Francesca Hong, and former Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Administration Joel Brennan. We have an interview with Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley dropping this week and an ask out to former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes’s campaign. (Hey, Team Barnes, email us back!)

On the Republican side, we have an interview with the underdog in the race, Andy Manske, and multiple asks out to U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany.

Meanwhile, voters in the 76th Assembly district have a consequential primary on their ballots. Five Democratic candidates are vying for the seat currently held by gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong. The winner of the primary will face off with Republican candidate Nina Chat in a district where Democrats are heavily favored.

👀 Where do the candidates stand on the issues? We asked the five democratic candidates to fill out a questionnaire. They are compiled here. They also participated in a June forum hosted by the SASY Neighborhood Association, Indivisible Madison East, and Williamson Marquette Business Alliance, moderated by Isthmus.

Other statewide primaries will also appear on your ballot, but the races are determined by which political party you choose to cast your votes for. A full breakdown of what voters in all primaries will see on their ballots can be found at myvote.wi.gov.

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