Menominee’s Bad Bets on Democrats Catch Up To Them

Copied!
President Joe Biden and Menominee Chairwoman Gena Kakkak
(Facebook.com)

For the last two and a half years, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin – along with their partner the Seminole Tribe of Florida – have been trying to woo the Kenosha community and elected officials to get approval for their latest attempt to open an off-reservation casino in Kenosha. That’s not particularly surprising – they need elected officials’ and community support in order to get their casino application approved.

Paid Advertisement

However, taking a closer look at the Menominee Tribe’s efforts show that they actually spent the last two and a half years catering to Democrats and helping get them elected in an effort get their off-reservation casino application approved.

Paid Advertisement

Just look and some of the high profile actions the Menominee Tribe has taken since announcing their latest casino proposal.

Paid Advertisement

The Menominee Tribe announced their plans to build a new off-reservation casino in Kenosha in July 2022. Only three months later, the Menominee hosted two “Get out the Vote” events on their reservation. The events, held on October 17 and 19, 2022, were only three weeks from the November 8 General Election in Wisconsin.

Paid Advertisement

The featured guests included the Democratic candidates for Governor and United States Senate – Tony Evers and Mandela Barns. No Republican candidates for office were present at the events.

Paid Advertisement
October 24, 2022 Menominee Nation News

At the rally, Menominee Tribal Chairman Ron Corn heaped praise on Democratic Governor Tony Evers. Said Corn, “When a governor reaches out to the native communities like Governor Evers has, good things happen.” And adding, “We owe a lot of gratitude to the Governor.”

Paid Advertisement

Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chairman Ben Winkler was also at the rally, reminding tribal members how many Democratic votes come out of Menominee County and how important they are to helping Democrats win statewide.

Paid Advertisement

“There’s no county in Wisconsin where more people voted for Democrats than in Menominee county. In Milwaukee County 69 percent of the voters cast ballots for Democrats. In Dane County, Madison, where I live, 76 percent of voters cast ballots for Democrats. In Menominee County, it was 82 percent, a statewide record,” said Winkler.

Paid Advertisement

The words of encouragement at the rally from Menominee tribal leadership, Governor Tony Evers, and Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chairman Ben Winkler paid off. In the 2022 General Election, Menominee County continued to generate Democratic votes at eye-popping percentages.

Tony Evers won Menominee County with a staggering 78.7 percent of the vote. Just like 2020, no other county – including Dane and Milwaukee – voted for Democrats at a higher percentage than Menominee County.

And while Mandela Barnes didn’t win the race for U.S. Senate, he overwhelmingly won Menominee County with 78.5 percent of the vote. Again, the highest percentage of Democrat votes in the state.

Democrat Tony Evers won re-election to a second term in 2022. Following his victory, Menominee Tribal Chairman Ron Corn issued a statement saying,

“On behalf of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, I extend our sincere congratulations to Gov. Tony Evers on winning reelection to serve another four years as the state’s chief executive. We offer our best wishes for his success as he continues his service to Wisconsin. The Menominee have been proud to host the governor for several visits to our reservation over the past number of years, and we consider him a friend and someone who understands our culture, our history, and our needs. The next four years will be important both for Wisconsin and the Menominee Nation, and we look forward to working with Gov. Evers on the issues of economic development, elderly services, education, health care, and other topics and challenges facing both the state and our Tribe.” – Menominee Chairman Ron Corn, November 9, 2022

Having helped secure some significant statewide victories for the Democrats in 2022, the Menominee then turned their sights on the 2024 election and worked to ensure that a Democrat would retain the White House.

And once again, the Menominee Tribe backed the Democratic candidate and turned out in force to support Vice President Kamala Harris. In late October, two weeks before the November 2024 election, Menominee Chairwoman Gena Kakkak traveled on Air Force One with Democratic President Joe Biden.  

On election day, more than 80 percent (80.5%) of Menominee County voted for Kamala Harris. Again, no other county voted for Kamala Harris at a higher percentage than Menominee County. And while tribal reservations around the country saw significant increases in votes for Donald Trump, Menominee County was one of the exceptions.

However, despite the Menominee Tribe’s best efforts in the 2024 election, Republican Donald Trump won both Wisconsin and nationwide. And with some key wins down ballot around the country, Republicans will also control Congress. A Republican Administration will now also control the fate of their proposed Kenosha casino.

Given the Menominee Tribe’s history and past actions to support and elect Democrats, Republicans should be weary of the Menominee’s intentions. The Menominee Tribe has put in a lot of effort to help Democrats over the years, but it looks like their history of bad bets have finally caught up to them.

Author

Copied!
LATEST NEWS

Kenosha CNA Accused of Assaulting Elderly Resident at Care Facility

Kenosha, Wis. — A Kenosha woman stands accused of abusing a 73-year-old man at a local care facility where she worked, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kenosha County Circuit Court. Jahnix A. Medina, 27, was charged with one count of physical abuse of an elder person, intentionally causing bodily harm, a Class H felony. If convicted, she faces up to six years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. According to the complaint, officers

Read More »

Maine Man Accused of Violent Robbery in Kenosha; Bail Set at $10,000

Kenosha, Wis. — A Maine man is facing felony charges in Kenosha County after allegedly assaulting a woman and robbing her of a necklace in a violent altercation last fall. On Wednesday, Court Commissioner William Michel II set bail at $10,000 cash for Lewis A. Covington, 32, who is charged with robbery with use of force and substantial battery—both with domestic abuse enhancers. According to the criminal complaint, the incident occurred on October 12, 2024, when

Read More »
MORE TOP STORIES

Village Administrator Lawyers Up Amid DNR Wetland Investigation

Salem Lakes, Wis. — The Village of Salem Lakes’ top administrator is under scrutiny after the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) launched an investigation into potential illegal wetland disturbances on municipal property. The property in question is zoned C1. Lowland Resource Conservancy (C1) zoning is intended to prevent the destruction of valuable natural resources, including wetlands, shorelands, and areas subject to flooding. This is among the most restrictive zoning in the County. Cassandra Hiller, the

Read More »

Kenosha Alderman Accused of “Playing Cop” Again, Raising Concerns Over Overreach: Video

Kenosha, Wis. – Alderman Rollin Pizzala is facing renewed scrutiny after being spotted once again engaging in actions that appear to be outside the scope of his duties as a city legislator. On Thursday afternoon, a tip-off to Kenosha County Eye (KCE) reported Pizzala actively patrolling the 43rd Avenue neighborhood north of 60th Street, raising concerns among residents about his actions. Pizzala was reportedly “inspecting” properties in the area for code violations, such as property maintenance,

Read More »

Racine Officer Shoots Armed Suspect During Home Invasion: Investigation Underway

Racine, Wis. — An officer with the Racine Police Department shot and injured a suspect during a tense encounter inside a residence Tuesday night following a reported armed home invasion. The incident occurred in the 1100 block of Hamilton Street and has triggered an outside investigation, officials confirmed. According to a news release from the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office, Racine officers responded to the scene on April 22 after receiving reports of a home invasion involving

Read More »

Kenosha Man Accused of Strangling Girlfriend, Causing Severe Facial Injury

Kenosha, Wis. — A 56-year-old Kenosha man is facing multiple criminal charges after allegedly assaulting his live-in girlfriend, choking her and striking her in the face hard enough to require stitches and cause temporary vision loss. Allen S. Meyer was charged in Kenosha County Circuit Court with substantial battery, strangulation and suffocation, and disorderly conduct — all with domestic abuse enhancers. The alleged attack occurred on March 21 at Meyer’s upper unit residence on 17th Avenue.

Read More »

Kenosha Woman Charged Again for Stealing Family’s Car While Out on Bail for Doing the Same

Kenosha, Wis. – A 36-year-old Kenosha woman remains in the county jail on a $7,500 cash bail after being charged with stealing her daughter’s car over the weekend—despite already being out on bail for a similar car theft involving her own mother just months earlier. Kristy R. Delaney now faces a total of ten new charges in a case filed Monday, including five felony counts of bail jumping, misdemeanor bail jumping, misdemeanor theft, operating while revoked,

Read More »

Kenosha Woman Accused of Tearing Sister’s Ear in Violent Fight

Kenosha, Wis. — A 23-year-old Kenosha woman is facing felony charges after allegedly assaulting her sister during a domestic dispute, less than two years after a similar case against her was dropped by the previous district attorney’s office. Katie M. Imbrogno has been charged in Kenosha County Circuit Court with one count of Substantial Battery – Domestic Abuse, a Class I felony, and one count of Disorderly Conduct – Domestic Abuse, a Class B misdemeanor. If

Read More »

$50,000 Bail Set for Kenosha Man Accused of Distributing Child Pornography

Kenosha, Wis. — A Kenosha man is being held in the Kenosha County Jail on serious felony charges after investigators say he shared a graphic image involving a young child over social media. Daniel D. Pichardo-Vilchis, 39, was arrested April 16 following an investigation by the Kenosha Police Department and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). He appeared in court last week for an initial appearance, where Court Commissioner William Michel ordered a

Read More »

Kenosha Man Jailed After Additional Child Porn Charges Filed

Kenosha, Wis. — A Kenosha man is facing serious new criminal charges after being re-arrested last week in connection with a growing child pornography case. Hector A. Tot-Cuc, 25, was first charged on March 31, 2025, with two counts of possession of child pornography. He was released on $10,000 cash bail the following day. But on April 16, at 9:40 a.m., Tot-Cuc was taken back into custody after new evidence led prosecutors to file five additional

Read More »

Teen Avoids Adult Court After Bringing Loaded Gun to Indian Trail

Kenosha, Wis. — In a decision that’s raising eyebrows across the community, Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Chad Kerkman (D) on Friday rejected a request from prosecutors to waive 16-year-old Jaheem Wright into adult court, allowing the teen who brought a loaded gun to school and made threats to be sentenced in juvenile court instead. Wright, who terrified students and staff at Indian Trail High School in December, took a plea deal and pleaded guilty to

Read More »

Counselor on Leave Amid Allegations at Westosha Central High School; Parents Demand Transparency

Paddock Lake, Wis. — A counselor at Westosha Central High School is currently on leave, and parents are once again demanding transparency from school leadership. Kenosha County Eye has confirmed through multiple sources that the counselor is accused of inappropriate communication with a student. According to individuals familiar with the situation, the counselor allegedly used his or her personal cellphone to communicate with a student and is also believed to have given the student a ride

Read More »
Categories
Archives
Authors

37 Responses

  1. Republicans have been hostile to Indian gaming for decades, would you blame them? As a business you always give money to politicians that can help your cause. Gov McCallum a Republican killed the Casino for Kenosha. Lets not forget history.

    15
    12
    1. ….. around them countless social problems not to mention all the dollars associated with those social problems.
      Divorce. Alcoholism. Family dissolution.

      It’s been studied many many times.

      Additionally the local $$$ cost to “assist” those local families when gambling destroys the family unit is more $$ than the Casinos profess to add to the local community.
      And because they are sovereign and pay no property taxes they are under no obligation to pay for the problems they caused.

      They say they will pay a yearly stipend to those entities but it’s can never make up for the cost to the moms and dads and the children that suffer because of the bad choices.

      Look it up.

      29
      3
      1. Humans are born with free will. Alcohol is a bad addiction, smoking is a bad addiction. So many things can “cause” dissolution of marriages, casinos are no different. I’d never go there to gamble, just like I choose not to go to IL and buy THC…

        9
        4
        1. Easy access to gambling harms the community it’s in.

          Yes nobody forced you to go but we don’t need to make it even easier than it already is.

          Is it too far to drive to Milwaukee ?
          Or Waukegan ?

          When is enough enough ?

          21
          5
              1. Yes, really. Casinos attract criminals to the area. Crime goes up noticeably. Who wants more crime in their neighborhood so some old people can get sucked dry in a ghetto version McCasino? The people here don’t want it, but our garbage local officials were all on their knees for it. The fix was in, led by our own GOP version of AOC. God help us when they build this ghetto crap.

            1. Revenue ?

              If you’re talking about for the community in taxes to Kenosha ? They aren’t obligated to pay any. Indian Tribes are sovereign.

              The only money going into local coffers is negotiated before hand. But it’s a wash or even not enough when you consider all the services that that building requires not to mention all the social services that the community will have to generate from the broken families and alcoholism and financial ruin the burden of the undisciplined gambler will bring home.

              Nice try though.
              Thanks for playing !

              17
              1
  2. The pick-me Republicans on the last county board couldn’t remove their heads from the Native butts during the woo’ing process. Those board meetings were tough to watch- kinda like the ugly fat girls trying out for the cheerleading squad.

    Those of us on the right who were screaming, “NO!” are having some hella, “Told ya so!” moments.

    20
    2
  3. Of course the people living on the reservations vote Democrat. They, as “payment” for the horrible treatment they received, and the theft of their land, are the biggest recipients in the country of government entitlement programs. As a direct result, Menominee County, and the other reservations in the U.S. are the poorest and have the highest rates of alcohol and drug abuse. Off reservation casinos are just another way to siphon off cash from other people and to give the middle finger to the taxpayers who were stuck with the financial and human costs of police enforcement and increased addiction.

    16
    5
    1. They, as “payment” for the horrible treatment they received, and the theft of their land, are the biggest recipients in the country of government entitlement programs.

      Indians never believed in land rights so not sure if theft is a proper classification.

      Nice revisionist history!

      6
      6
  4. The RHINOS who voted YES for the casino last year following County Executive Kerkman’s lead were Supervisors Dave Geertsen, Erin Decker, Brian Thomas, Jeff Gentz, Brian Bashaw, Aaron Karow, Amanda Nedweski, John Poole and Zach Rodriguez.

    Decker, Thomas and Rodriquez even made a day trip up there to pick the moccasins.

    When it came to giving you the taxpayer and resident a voice the same supervisors above all voted NO on a binding referendum.

    Most of these are your Republicans Mr. Mathewson.

    23
    1
    1. May all of those sleezy, RINO, local GOP get run out of office. What a bunch of intellectually limited incompetents. They actually voted AGAINST letting the citizens vote on it. Despicable as the Democrats. Kenosha area Government is trash.

  5. Add up any jobs this casino creates, then add in all the payouts for any winnings on any games, and it’s nothing compared to the cash they siphon from the communities.

    SCAM

    14
    3
    1. Scott Walker decided against this new location and expansion in the state.

      There was also an issue with the competition in Milwaukee. Some legal eagles said that that was workable while others said it wasn’t.

      Additionally it was at a time Illinois was thinking about expanding their gambling footprint beyond their Riverboat restrictions. Which they have now done. In that thinking it was Illinois saying they would give Waukegan a Casino and Wisconsin trying to beat them in a race to put a casino on or close to the state border. Hence Kenosha.
      We all know the daily busses that come up from Illinois to Milwaukee to bring all those retired gamblers. Now it will be a different calculation.

      All that said, with all the social ills gambling brings, isn’t Milwaukee or Waukegan close enough for you to get your fill ?

      7
      2
      1. Take a minute and google social cost to a community from casinos in their city.

        Study after study will show you the aftermaths of the community problems.

        Just look it up

        13
  6. Funny how County Board Supervisors, all Republicans, supported shoving the casino down our throats in a matter of a few weeks. Thanks to Nudo, Decker, Geersten, Poole, Karrow, Nedweski, Bashaw, and let’s not forget our lack of a leader, Samantha “Photo Queen” Kerkman. The truth will come out about how they all benefited from their votes and support of a corrupt casino and tribe!! Drain the swamp!!!!

    22
    1
  7. County board is a joke. Sam Kerkman is a clown. She kisses ass with the lefties because she thinks they will like her. They will kick her ample backside to the curb first chance they get. She is a waste of oxygen

    11
    1. Kerkman is a 🤡 but without another Republican brave enough to run against her, she’s going to get 4 more photo-filled years. 🤮

      1. Considering the trend to go red, I’ll bet that a serious conservative candidate will run against Sam in a primary because this next time around it’s almost a certainty that Kenosha will stay red.

        With that surety a conservative candidate won’t feel like a run is just wasted money.
        Has a good chance to win

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories
Archives
Authors

Subscribe to updates

Get notified of new articles. We'll never share your email address.