https://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/14/Keyeski, https://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/14/keyeski/resources/social-media-poli

Wisconsin State Senator Sarah Keyeski, 2 East Main Street, Madison, WI (2026)

09/09/2026

🚨NOTICE:

Today, I sent a joint letter to Midcontinent Grid Solutions (MGS) with the Assembly Representatives in my Senate District, Reps. Karen DeSanto, Tony Kurtz, and Maureen McCarville, asking MGS to postpone their Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) filing with the PSC for the BECI 765kV transmission line project until after a third round of open house meetings in the spring of 2027.

We made this request for a delay to give constituents more time to provide property specific feedback to MGS and to offer potential intervenors more time to prepare for the Public Service Commission review process. I am proud that this is a joint, bipartisan ask from all state representatives of Senate District 14. This emphasizes a shared commitment to all constituents we serve and belief that everyone who wishes to participate in this complex process has a fair opportunity to do so.

We are very hopeful MGS will consider our ask and choose to push back their application timeline to the spring of 2027.
———

“September 9, 2026
Brian Radday and Alan Ott
3902 Milwaukee St, PO Box 7426
Madison, WI 53714

Dear Mr. Radday and Mr. Ott,

We are writing to express our concern and opposition to Midcontinent Grid Solutions' (MGS) plan to file their Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin for the BECI 765-kV Transmission Line Project in early 2027. We would respectfully ask MGS, on behalf of the concerned constituents of Wisconsin Senate District 14, Assembly District 40, Assembly District 41, and Assembly District 42, who own or live near the land where the proposed line is sited, that MGS postpones their filing with the PSC until after a third round of open house meetings in the spring of 2027.

Over the past month, our offices have documented hundreds of constituent contacts regarding the proposed BECI transmission line. In addition, we have spoken in-person to hundreds more people out in our communities with valid and varied concerns about this project. A repeated theme from these conversations is people feel utterly blindsided and overwhelmed by the idea of this project, the scope of the proposed build and the speed at which this process is moving.
Specifically, our constituents feel the timeline for the BECI transmission line is too rushed given the tremendous impact it would have on their lives, properties, livelihoods, and communities.

Unfortunately, MGS only informed potentially impacted property owners very recently and the vast majority feel the feedback period is simply not enough time for them to learn about the scope and complexities of this project, identify the entities involved, understand where the route will go and how it might impact them, figure out the project timeline, get their questions answered about why this may be needed, make property-specific requests, and develop and share thoughtful feedback. As such, we strongly support our constituents' demand for more time to offer MGS their public feedback prior to their CPCN submission.

As the State Senator for Senate District 14 and the Assembly Representatives for Assembly District 40, Assembly District 41, and Assembly District 42, we were elected to uplift our constituents' voices and advocate on their behalf. As such, we would ask that MGS fulfill their stated goal to be a "good neighbor" and provide a feedback window of time until at least May 2027. During that time, we would encourage MGS to do more to reach out to affected communities, share information, listen to people's perspectives, and see first-hand how this would impact our constituents.

Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration of this request. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our offices with any questions you may have.

Sincerely,
Sarah Keyeski
State Senator
Senate District 14

Karen DeSanto
State Representative
Assembly District 40

Tony Kurtz
State Representative
Assembly District 41

Maureen McCarville
State Representative
Assembly District 42”

09/04/2026

👩🏻‍🦰👶🏼 Being a new parent, especially in today’s reality, is both beautiful AND can be very overwhelming and challenging! This is especially true if you don’t have access to a strong support system or necessary resources to help you and your newborn thrive during this new chapter of life. The Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) is a critical, evidence-based program which provides assistance to new moms during pregnancy.

On Tuesday, I had the privilege of meeting with nurses who run the Sauk County NFP program. 🥰 They started by giving an overview of NFP and home visiting in Wisconsin including eye-opening statistics about how impactful this program is on the future of infant participants (see image). This was followed by the opportunity to hear from dedicated nurses and staff and about a family’s personal experiences with the program and how it made a profound impact in their lives.

Through this visit, I learned that NFP is a free and voluntary program available to new moms who meet income requirements. Through NFP, registered nurses are paired with new moms during pregnancy to help them have a healthy pregnancy, create a safe and stable environment for their baby, and become a successful parent as they provide in-person support to the mom-baby pair (and interested dads) for two years post birth!! This covers everything from breastfeeding support, “child proofing” a home, navigating medical concerns, getting referrals for community support services like child care or job training for new parents and more.

⚠️ As a mental health provider myself, one thing I know for CERTAIN: Early experiences have a PROFOUND influence on the developing brain and an environment of chronic stress is toxic for a child - it LITERALLY changes a developing brain and has a significant, negative impact on their body (often seen later in life with chronic illnesses). **If you are interested in this issue, an eye-opening place to start is the research on ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and health and well-being.

BIG thanks to the nurses and staff with the Sauk County NFP for having me and for the critical work you are doing in our communities to help families be healthy and strong and give babies a beautiful start! 🩷🩵💜

{*There are 5 NFP programs in Wisconsin, including Sauk County’s. The other two NFP programs that serve residents of Senate District 14 are the Juneau-Adams County NFP and the Public Health Madison And Dane County NFP.}

09/03/2026

Happy Back to School!!!🚌🎒👩‍🏫🍎📓✏📚

09/03/2026

For over fifty years, Gloria Steinem poured her soul into a single, sacred promise: that women should be able to walk through this world as whole and equal human beings; owning their own bodies, speaking their own truths, holding their own financial freedom, and voting for their own representatives.

That is the core of feminism: Equality.

Sadly, she leaves behind an America that is ripping women’s rights away while threatening to take even more!!

Women and allies are now forced to work to reclaim the very ground she spent her lifetime conquering.

My personal heartbreak of her passing is compounded by the outrage toward an administration turning back the clock!!

Let us refuse to allow her legacy to end in silence or resignation. Honor her memory - not simply with polite tears, but with fierce, unyielding resistance to gender INequality!!

Equal rights. Equal future.

Let’s continue the FIGHT.

09/02/2026

💥 Local community engagement is growing and I am HERE FOR IT!! 💥

Monday night at a 765-kV Line Town Hall event held at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station regarding the proposed BECI Transmission Line Project, the seats were almost FULL!! 😃 I was there, too, and participated in a panel discussion which included community leaders, local activists, state and local lawmakers and political candidates, to discuss what we have done and what we will be doing in response to the proposed mega transmission line.

❇️ I shared my stance: I do NOT support the BECI 765kV transmission project as currently proposed by MGS!! Like most of you, I have felt blindsided by the size and scope of the BECI project and overwhelmed by the accelerated speed this process has taken! Even as a state senator in the region, I did not have a first contact with the builder, MGS, about their project proposal until July 28th!! Every day since then, I have worked diligently to learn the details of this proposed project, the complex process of Public Service Committee (PSC) approval and how I can use my role as a legislator to help advocate for the concerned voices of opposition by my constituents - from both sides of the aisle!!

➡️ In the past month, my office alone has received over 500 contacts from constituents – phone calls, emails, messages and letters – all about the BECI Project!!

And last night’s event was just the latest of many senate district 14 events I have attended in the last month where the BECI line has been discussed - including multiple county board meetings, towns association meetings, a Farm Bureau gathering, a No 765kV meeting in Arlington, and a Chamber of Commerce meeting. I will continue to attend district events to listen to and talk with concerned constituents about the BECI line as we navigate the future of this proposal.

NOTE:
✅ I have already signed on to Senate Bill 1125, authored by Sen. Pfaff (D) and Rep. Johnson (D) which would set standards for prioritizing where new mega transmission projects, like BECI, would go. The bill would bolster the requirement that, when feasible, mega transmission lines should follow existing utility corridors or follow highways or railroads.

✅ I will continue to do research to determine if something more can and should be done with our current policies to address the influx of new, mega transmission lines. (While the 2025-26 legislative session ended in March, my colleagues and I are working on getting appropriate legislation ready for introduction for the next legislative session, which begins in January.)

FINALLY:
✴️ The BECI Transmission Line route is NOT yet final, and the project has not yet been submitted to the PSC for their review - proposed timeline for submission is early 2027. The review process will take approximately 12-18 months so let’s keep learning, sharing, and working together as a community to thoughtfully address our state’s projected energy load increase - while also faithfully protecting our environment for future generations.

WE are the ancestors of tomorrow, so we must assume this responsibility with great care. 💚

08/31/2026

Last Wednesday, I had the opportunity to tour the Vernon Area Rehabilitation Center (VARC) campus in Reedsburg! VARC is a nonprofit organization that supports people with disabilities and other barriers in their lives by offering clients a wide range of services that help build long-term independence, inclusion with the community, and job skills.

VARC is also an important local employer that cares deeply about their employees and the communities they serve!

VARC’s services include trainings for job readiness and daily living skills as well as access to transportation, childcare, and opportunities for children and students to engage in skillbuilding, too. A main part of VARC’s work is to help connect clients to employment opportunities and to serve as a workforce development partner.

During my visit, VARC staff outlined some of the challenges they are up against - including rising costs, issues recruiting and retaining qualified staff, accessing local services for clients in rural areas, and funding that does not always match the true cost of these individualized support services. It’s imperative that we work to dismantle these barriers so folks can continue to have access to the services and resources needed to live safe, successful, and independent lives in our communities.

I also got to meet a number of delightful clients that have found purpose, community and growth at VARC! 🥰

In the upcoming legislative session, I am committed to ensuring the state provides robust support for disability services. This includes pushing for sustainable state funding for Wisconsin’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Medicaid and service funding that reflects the actual cost of services, and strategies that will help us build a stronger disability services workforce.

I am a deep believer in this truism:
As an interconnected society, “we all do better when we all do better!!” 💚

08/28/2026

On Thursday, I had the opportunity to tour Madison Area Technical College’s Surgical Technology Program and see a surgical smoke evacuation demonstration, hosted by the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) and the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)!

My Democratic colleagues Senators Ratcliff and Representatives McCarville, Joers, and Hysell also attended the informative visit. Through our tour, I was able to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the critical and challenging work of surgical technologists and the superb education they receive at Madison College!

What exactly do Surgical Technologists do??

✅ Surgical technologists work alongside surgeons in the operating room and assist with the responsibility of ensuring the surgical environment and equipment is clean, safe, and working efficiently to ensure patients have the best possible experience. Their work is vital for patient safety! It has been predicted that employment of surgical technologists will grow by 6% between 2023-2033, which is faster than average job growth. This means surgical technology is a good career path to consider for folks who want to ensure they can *almost* secure a job after getting their degree.

Madison College offers a two-year, full time surgical technology program that puts a priority on real-world, hands-on experiences. When it comes to graduates finding employment within 6 months of graduation, Madison College boasts an over 90% success rate, and 88% of graduates are employed in Wisconsin. It is vitally important for the success of our state that people who receive their education in Wisconsin stay in Wisconsin to help us strengthen our communities.

Further, we learned during our visit that surgical smoke is a carcinogen that poses dangers to those who are exposed to it in an operating room. Surgical smoke is the byproduct of surgical instruments interacting with human tissue. The demonstration put on by AORN members showed how evacuation equipment can help protect those who work in operating rooms from harmful health impacts.

Thank you for inviting us and helping us learn about your important profession!! 💛

08/27/2026

Be clear Wisconsin:
Trump is
hot-to-trot
on data centers!! 😔

08/26/2026

🗓️ Today, August 26th is Women’s Equality Day, and the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote! On August 26, 1920, the 19th amendment was certified into law. 👏

It is not lost on me that had it not been for the hard work and sacrifices of so many women who came before me, I would not be able to be a State Senator today! I am so grateful to those who have fought for women’s equality both in the past - and for those who I stand beside in the current fight!

🖼️ In my State Capitol office, one of the pictures I have hanging up from the Wisconsin Historical Society is a beautiful poster called “Woman Suffrage,” which was made by Evelyn Rumsey Cary in 1905 (see photo). The text on the bottom says “Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates” (the final verse of Proverbs 31:31 in the Bible).

When I look at this piece, I’m reminded of the goal of equality - that BOTH men and women should equally benefit from their labor and be recognized for their important contributions to society.

I’m also reminded of how far we’ve come in expanding women’s rights - and how far we STILL NEED TO GO in areas like the wage gap, bodily autonomy, and violence against women.

I hope you’ll join me in both reflecting on and celebrating Women’s Equality Day today - let us protect women’s current rights with dedication and zeal - and work to advance women’s equality into the future! 💛

08/26/2026

Lately, life has been flying so fast… and with a full calendar of Senate responsibilities, plus private practice clients to see, fall campaigns to help, a son on colleges tours to attend, twins playing volleyball to support and household duties to (try) to keep up with…

I’ve had to resort to writing myself car notes for important reminders… I’m sharing this in case you’ve gotten a little over your head, too:

CALL MOM!!
🩷

———
(*Call both your parents if they are both still with us!)

Wisconsin State Senator Sarah Keyeski

09/09/2026

09/04/2026

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

09/02/2026

08/31/2026

08/28/2026

08/27/2026

08/26/2026

08/26/2026

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