By Shayna Mace | Photo courtesy Leigh Mills
WMTV 15 evening anchor Leigh Mills has covered politics for 20 years, starting with Russ Feingold’s U.S. Senate campaign in 2004. Since then, she’s reported on countless political races, from local to national campaigns.
In conversations with her, Mills is passionate about providing unbiased, truthful political coverage that Madison viewers can trust. She admits in today’s political climate and myriad of media choices, this can be challenging.
“In general, we try to focus on important races and policies/issues that will most affect our viewers. We look for local angles, too. While politics has become more of a ‘show’ in recent years, our goal is to drill down to specific ideas and policies that affect people and help our viewers understand the impact of those policies,” she says.
We asked Mills to talk about her experiences covering politics.
Tell us about the political events you’ve reported on in the past.
“I’ve covered everything, [including] local school referendum questions, mayoral and congressional races, and statewide gubernatorial, supreme court and senate races. I’ve also covered multiple presidential races and interviewed candidates as they campaigned in Madison. I’ve traveled to Iowa to cover the caucuses [many] times.
In 2018, I was one of the panelists selected to participate in the gubernatorial debate between then-incumbent Scott Walker and challenger Tony Evers. And in 2023, I interviewed all four Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates ahead of an important election that would determine the ideological leaning of the court.
In 2006, I started a biweekly political segment called ‘Unspun’ which continues to this day. It features a democratic and republican analyst, and I serve as moderator.”
You attended the Republican National Convention this past July in Milwaukee, and the Democratic National Convention in late August in Chicago. What’s it like being in that atmosphere with journalists from all over?
“It’s fascinating to get a front-row seat to a historic event like a convention — the energy in the room is hard to describe. Oftentimes it felt more like a rally than [an event] that selects the candidate.
In addition to covering it, it is exciting to be in the same room (and ride the elevator!) with journalists I’ve looked up to in my career. Regardless of your political affiliation, being able to attend an event with all of the top political operatives of one party under one roof is a moment I will not forget.”
What’s election night like in the newsroom?
“Election night is very busy. It’s all hands on deck starting at 1:30 p.m. for those of us who work ‘nightside’ (through the late news at 10:30 p.m.).
The 10 p.m. newscast on an election night is very different from other 10 p.m. newscasts in that most of the scripts are not written — they’re blank. We’ll write in the names of those running, and then it’s up to the anchors (including myself ) to ad-lib as we see the most updated results pop up on the screen. So, we’re reacting to new information at the same time the viewers see it.
Our entire evening staff stays at work until all of the big races have been called or it’s clear that a winner will not be called that night (remember 2000 — that election wasn’t called for a month!). In the case that races are called on election night, our nights have wrapped up as early as 10:30 p.m. They’ve also been as late as 1:30 a.m., when our morning staff is coming in and ready to take over. It’s exciting and challenging and one of the many reasons I love working election nights!”
