Badger Institute Unveils 2026 Policy Agenda for Madison

The Badger Institute launched its 2026 Mandate for Madison this week, releasing a comprehensive policy agenda designed to shape the state's political debate ahead of November's elections. The initiative will provide evidence-based recommendations on taxes, spending, education, healthcare, housing, and energy, with research rolling out incrementally through October.

The Mandate represents the institute's second major policy push in four years. The original Mandate for Madison, released in 2022, resulted in a 300-page book of recommendations that has already influenced Wisconsin legislation, including efforts to restructure the state's income tax system and address school funding disparities. Mike Nichols, president of the Badger Institute, said the new agenda aims to help candidates "focus on issues rather than insults," with every successful candidate receiving a copy of the complete Mandate upon taking office in January 2027.

The timing is strategic for Wisconsin voters and policymakers. The institute argues that over the past 15 years, Wisconsin has made meaningful progress toward greater economic freedom but that these gains remain fragile. The Mandate will help protect recent reforms while guiding future policy decisions, according to Ben Eisen, the institute's vice president of policy and research. Initial research from economist Jim Bohn analyzes border county data to demonstrate how market-oriented policies have benefited Wisconsin's economy compared to neighboring states.

For Milwaukee residents and Wisconsinites broadly, the Mandate offers a roadmap for the policy choices that will define the next legislative session. Whether the recommendations gain traction will depend largely on which candidates win in November and how receptive lawmakers prove to the institute's free-market approach to governance.