Wisconsin Conservation Voters is a nonpartisan organization building political power for a clean environment, healthy communities, and a thriving democracy, and for more than two decades it has tracked how state legislators vote on the issues that shape that work. Its biannual Conservation Scorecard tracks how legislators vote on clean water, clean energy, land protection, and voting rights, then turns those votes into a single score. Because it’s based on recorded votes rather than campaign promises, it’s one of the clearest tools for holding legislators accountable.
On this year’s scorecard, 59 legislators scored above 90%, and 43 reached a perfect 100% – the most in WCV’s 21-year history with the program. Legislators who reach that perfect score are recognized as Conservation Champions, and WCV spent this past week celebrating them with events in five cities across the state.
Team Knowles Nelson was honored to join two of these events, in Appleton and Milwaukee. Appleton’s event hit during a stretch of scorching summer heat. Milwaukee’s coincided with wildfire smoke drifting down from Canada and northern Minnesota, which pushed the region’s air quality to its worst levels on record, with Milwaukee’s AQI climbing above 600 and most of the state under a hazardous air advisory. Both were timely reminders of why land protection and climate resilience matter.
In Appleton, Rep. Lee Snodgrass spoke to what’s next for the Stewardship Program: “We were able to keep it from being destroyed, statutorily, in what its intention is, and we will be able to fund that properly when we’re in the majority next session.”
It will take legislators just as determined to get Knowles-Nelson across the finish line next session. Congratulations to all of this year’s Conservation Champions!
Featured photo by Peter Burress/Wisconsin Conservation Voters, 2026
