MADISON — Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state’s largest business association, announced Wednesday that 72 state legislators earned its Working for Wisconsin Award for the 2025-2026 legislative session. The group said recipients achieved scores of 70% or higher on its annual legislative scorecard, a measure of votes on bills the organization deems important to business growth and competitiveness.
What the award measures
WMC combines the two roles of state chamber of commerce and manufacturers’ association. Its Legislative Scorecard evaluates how lawmakers voted on a slate of priorities WMC considers critical to economic growth, job creation and a favorable climate for employers and entrepreneurs.
The 72 awardees include 18 senators and 54 assembly members. WMC says the honor is nonpartisan and is based solely on recorded votes.
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| State Senate | 18 |
| State Assembly | 54 |
| Total legislators honored | 72 |
WMC’s rationale and reaction from leadership
“Wisconsin’s economic success depends on leaders who are willing to champion policies that encourage investment, innovation, and job creation,”
WMC President and CEO Kurt R. Bauer said in the organization’s announcement that winners showed a willingness to back policies designed to strengthen the state’s business climate. WMC Executive Vice President of Government Relations Scott Manley added that the awardees had shown a consistent commitment to policies that help businesses and workers.
Both remarks underline the group’s view that legislative support for its agenda is central to improving Wisconsin’s standing as a place to do business—an argument WMC has advanced for years in policy debates from tax and regulatory matters to workforce and infrastructure issues.
Why the award matters locally
The WMC scorecard and this award are not ceremonial touches reserved for polite applause. They serve as a shorthand for businesses, trade groups and voters who want to gauge where lawmakers stand on economic and regulatory issues. Earning a WMC award can be useful in fundraising and campaign messaging for legislators seeking to highlight pro-business credentials.
At the same time, the scorecard and awards draw scrutiny. Critics often argue that single-issue scorecards oversimplify complex policy decisions and prioritize business interests over other concerns such as labor protections, environmental standards or public services. WMC’s materials emphasize the scorecard is based on voting records and not party affiliation.
What to watch next
- Legislators who received the award may lean on the distinction in the 2026 campaign cycle, especially in competitive districts where business votes matter.
- Policy fights this fall and next year—on taxes, labor laws and economic development programs—will show whether WMC-backed positions remain ascendant in Madison.
- Other interest groups will likely publish rival scorecards, giving voters a range of perspectives on legislative performance.
WMC said the full 2025-2026 Legislative Scorecard is available on its website. The group represents a broad coalition of employers across Wisconsin and aims to influence state and local policy to favor business growth.
For voters and local leaders keeping score, the award is a clear signal of which lawmakers aligned with a pro-business agenda during the session. How much that matters to Wisconsin families and communities will depend on how elected officials translate those votes into future policy outcomes—and whether competing interests can shape the next round of debates in the State Capitol.
— Reporting from Madison
