Wisconsin State Senator Sarah Keyeski

🔔 Next Tuesday, August 11th we have a partisan primary election in Wisconsin.

This is an election where political parties select the candidate they want to run in the general, midterm election this November. 🗳️

Party candidates for Governor, Sheriff, federal and state legislature will be on the ballot.

🇺🇸 Make sure you are informed, have a voting plan and participate in our democratic process!!

📺 Tonight, I watched an interview with Rich Logis, a self described “unapologetic MAGA activist” who campaigned, volunteered, and wrote in support of the MAGA movement for six years.

🚨🎤 He recounts his journey from being a committed Trump devotee to making the emotionally difficult decision to break away from MAGA in 2022. Feeling isolated and alone after that decision, he started a nonprofit called ‘Leaving MAGA’ focused on “helping others who are questioning where they stand.” His online community is now a place for belonging and support.

➖Rich’s story was compelling.
➖His candor was refreshing.
➖His advice was insightful.

👉 If you’ve recently found yourself feeling disconnected or disillusioned with the direction of the MAGA movement, know that you are not alone and your changing perspective is completely valid. Walking away from a political identity can feel daunting, but there is a welcoming community ready to listen, respect your experience, and support you without judgment. It takes real courage to re-examine your beliefs, and whenever you're ready to take that next step, open arms and thoughtful conversations are waiting for you.

Rich Logis’ website is:
📕 https://leavingmaga.org/

✅ Also… I am very willing to have a good faith, (anonymous) personal conversation with anyone that is reconsidering their support for Trump and would like to have an open talk with “the other side.” You may have important questions for a Democrat and fair concerns that we can discuss.

Now, we will likely not agree on everything, but if we both recognize that Trump has broken his promises and is a threat to our rights and our democracy, I imagine we have a quite lot in common and can work together for a better future!! 💜😊

(🔗 Link to the YouTube video hosted by the wonderful Rural Urban Bridge Initiative with Rich Logis in the comments.)

📣NEW rural workforce grant opportunity announcement!!

🏥Last month, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced a new grant available to rural parts of the state called “The Workforce Innovation Grant: Healthcare Employment, Access, and Rural Transformation (WIG: HEART) Program.” This grant program will fund projects that address rural workforce challenges in healthcare. Up to $150 million will be available to nonprofit and government orgs over four years.

👩‍⚕️Specifically, the WIG:HEART Program will help connect employers and workers to each other. It will also help workers better prepare for high-quality jobs that pay family-sustaining wages by decreasing barriers to training and investing in programs focused on healthcare employment.

🩺 We know that many rural communities lack necessary healthcare access. In fact, even though nearly 30% of Wisconsinites live in rural areas, only 11% of physicians practice in rural areas. Out of 72 Wisconsin counties, 60 of those are designated as totally or partially underserved due to a shortage of physicians, and a majority of the underserved counties are rural. Sadly but predictably, these shortages lead to worse health outcomes for rural Wisconsinites. We must work to strengthen and expand our healthcare workforce to increase access for folks in our small, rural communities!

➡️ I encourage all interested and eligible entities in District 14 to apply!!

Applications are due by 3PM on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. To learn more and access the online application and related materials, visit the WIG: HEART grant webpage, provided here:

Workforce Innovation Grant: Healthcare Employment, Access, and Rural Transformation (HEART) Program The Workforce Innovation Grant: Healthcare Employment, Access, & Rural Transformation (HEART) Program will provide funding to Wisconsin’s healthcare workforce by supporting regions and communities in developing leading-edge, long-term solutions to workforce challenges impacting healthcare in rural...

🐄🌾 I had THE best time volunteering in the Farm Bureau stand with the Pardeville FFA at the Columbia County Fair yesterday!

The FFA students were not only hard workers with fun personalities, but many of them were surprisingly curious about my job as a state senator. They asked tons of great questions about the government, politics and current issues. I explained some basics, encouraged them to register to vote when they turn 18 and emphasized the importance of being an informed citizen/voter regardless of the party you align with.

The conversation may have started with me… but I slowly eased my way out - returned to washing dishes 😁 🧼 - and listened as some of the FFA students continued talking about politics while they worked - for over an hour!

They discussed so many topics that they had heard about on the news or on social media including: ICE and immigration, women’s reproductive rights and “trad wives”, Trump and the war with Iran, the instructional time cell phone ban in school by the legislature 😉 (yep! I got some slack about that!), the killings in Gaza & Israel, and how crazy expensive things are!

After my four hour volunteer shift, I left a little sweaty and with wrinkly fingers 💦 - but I also was filled with an uplifting hopefulness about our kids - they are paying attention and they are not going to just stand idly by - THEY will be tomorrow’s change makers!! 💕

📣 Sharing the below opportunity near District 14 for folks' awareness!

This weekend, there will be a FREE clinic offering medical, dental and vision care to anyone in need (no ID or insurance required) in Verona, Wisconsin. This will take place from Aug. 1-2 beginning at 6AM each day courtesy of Remote Area Medical and Wisconsin Care Collective. 🩺🦷👀

Clinic location: Verona Area High School. 234 Wildcat Wy, Verona, WI 53593.

Learn more:
☎️ Call 865-579-1530 between 8:30AM-5PM
💻 Website: https://www.ramusa.org/events/verona-wisconsin/?occurrence=2026-08-01

I recently wrote a column that encapsulates how I've felt while our communities have dealt with extreme weather, poor air quality, and the realities of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program expiring this summer. It was sent to local papers last week, and since World Nature Conservation Day was this week, I felt it was a fitting time to share here as well.

I hope you'll join me in advocating for policies that will help us, our kids, and our environment be healthy and resilient for generations to come. Below is a link to read the column on my website.

Column - Our Health, Our Environment, Our Collective Future: The Issues We Cannot Afford to Ignore | SENATOR SARAH KEYESKI If the news is making you feel anxious, concerned, or overwhelmed lately - you’re not alone. A lot has happened recently that may make one feel uneasy - from our state’s bipartisan environmental conservation program, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, expiring due to Republican inaction, to...

🎡Last Wednesday was a magical day in District 14!!!

The lovely State Rep. Karen DeSanto hosted a Legislative Day at Circus World Museum in Baraboo, WI!

A bipartisan group of legislators, staff, and their loved ones were invited to this fascinating and entertaining day learning about Circus World’s history, enjoying the programs and getting a sneak peek of some new restoration projects.

Circus World is 64 acres of circus history and fun which hosts between 40-60,000 visitors every summer and is a significant local economic driver! It was formerly home to the Ringling Bros Circus from 1884-1918 and has been owned and operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society as a museum since 1959.

💫 Here, visitors can take a magical step back in time to learn about the history of the American Circus and explore circus treasures, including the world’s largest collection of restored circus wagons! Their dedicated Executive Director, Scott O’Donnell, is a deep well of knowledge which he generously shares.

Our day started with a tour of the Ringlingville Restoration Projects supported by ‘Save America’s Treasures’ federal grants and state dollars.

Ringlingville served as the Ringling Bros’ winter quarters where equipment was repaired, props and costumes were made, animals wintered, show themes were developed, and poster art was created. Many of the winter quarters are now National Historic Landmark Structures!

🎪 We also attended the delightful Jubilee 250 Big Top Show which showcased stunning aerialists, talented jugglers, hilarious clowns, and impressive animal acts including goats, ponies, and llamas.

Circus World is just remarkable and a wonderful example of how important it is to preserve our unique and dynamic history. We are particularly lucky to have this global treasure right here in our state!!

➡️ If you are looking for a fun activity for the whole family, I highly recommend checking it out! You can learn more at this link: https://circusworld.wisconsinhistory.org/

🤔 Did you know that subsidizing childcare and smaller class sizes in early education has long-term benefits for society as a whole??

✅ greater educational achievement
✅ lower crime rates
✅ longer life expectancy
✅ lower rates of public assistance enrollment

⬆️ THIS is why I so strongly support programs that invest in our children’s stability and development - both in rural and urban areas!!

It’s not just the morally right thing to do, it is the economically SMART thing to do!!

Social care and fiscal responsibility CAN and DO go together!!!!

Last week…

While at a recent leadership training, I met a State Representative from Indiana who was part of the steering committee. His name is Rep. Ed Clere, he is a Republican, and he has served in the state legislature since 2008.

Rep. Clere had a commanding presence but also a very welcoming demeanor, so I sought him out to talk about the complex topic of leadership during this era of deeply divided politics under the Trump administration. I wondered how we navigate forward for the health and stability of our country while also acknowledging pain and harm.

Rep. Clere’s response acknowledged the toxicity of the shifting political landscape as he has had a ‘courtside’ vantage point for 18 years. He didn’t minimize it, but he also expressed hope in the future. He reflected on his deep belief in our democracy and highlighted his commitment to empowering healthy bipartisan leaders.

He even helped coordinate an impromptu discussion within our group of Republican and Democratic legislators - where we spoke candidly about the new world of politics and shared our perspectives.

One of the main points I heard from Ed through our personal conversations and the group discussion was the concept of GRACE. He focused on how we are all - Democrats and Republicans - just imperfect, frail humans trying to do our best to navigate the world, relying on the information we have. He highlighted the eroding effect of disinformation and propaganda on the civility of our interpersonal interactions, but believes strongly that honest, bipartisan, person-to-person conversations like the ones we were having are the way forward.

I wholeheartedly agreed. 💜

And then a curveball…

During our last conversation, Ed shared that he was not seeking reelection to the Indiana legislature this fall after 9 terms. Instead, he is going to run for New Albany mayor… as an Independent.

When I asked why, he said, “To paraphrase a quote, I am not leaving the Republican Party, the Republican Party left me.”

Honestly, I felt shocked and rather heartbroken to hear that. I felt the grief and sense of loss behind his decision. And I felt sad that the Republican Party was losing such a decent man. I could only imagine how hard that decision was - but he expressed contentment.

In the end, I suppose the question of good leadership is a hard one to define. It looks different for each of us.

Perhaps that leaves us with the question: Am I brave enough to be the kind of leader I believe I SHOULD be?

🌊 This week, I attended the Wisconsin Public Education Network’s (WPEN) 12th Annual Summer Summit, held at Superior High School.

The theme of the summit was “Thriving Public Schools, Thriving Communities” - Recognizing the interdependence of our schools and communities both culturally and economically is critically important!

I attended a wonderful public school in Cashton, WI. My children attend an exceptional public school in Lodi, WI. As a State Senator, I have constituents from 30(!) different school districts in my senate district - most of them are rural. I also proudly serve as a member of the Senate Committee on K-12 Education. As such, I’m a fierce supporter of our public schools and am working hard to ensure they have the resources needed to successfully serve students and families in their communities and that we fulfill our constitutional responsibility to provide an education to our children “as nearly uniform as practicable.” (Article X, Section 3)

WPEN’s Summer Summit was a wonderful learning opportunity with public education experts from across the state and country and an invigorating opportunity to connect with other public school champions as I prepare for our next legislative session.
🏫📚✏️📓

Let’s be very clear: Protecting public education protects our democracy!

“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.”
— President Franklin D. Roosevelt