Daniel Bice, a veteran Wisconsin political reporter and columnist at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, died Tuesday at 62 after complications from esophageal cancer. For decades, he was a fixture in state political coverage and earned a reputation as a relentless watchdog through his hard-hitting "No Quarter" column.
Career and Beat
Bice spent more than three decades covering state and local government and became a go-to watchdog voice in Milwaukee. He wrote the long-running "No Quarter" column and appeared regularly across print and broadcast platforms, according to Muck Rack.
Major Stories
As reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bice died Tuesday of complications from esophageal cancer. He began his journalism career at the St. Petersburg Times in 1986 and later covered several investigations that reshaped Wisconsin politics, including the secret "John Doe" probes into then county executive Scott Walker, coverage that drew national attention as noted by Esquire. He also followed high-dollar statewide fights, including the Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel Supreme Court contest, which his reporting helped illuminate as noted by fact-checkers and national outlets such as PolitiFact.
Colleagues Remember
Colleagues remembered Bice's tenacity and unflinching approach to reporting. Mary Spicuzza told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Dan Bice was the most feared man in Wisconsin politics," and Cary Spivak called their partnership "kind of the odd couple." Greg Borowski added that "Dan was fearless and fierce, a relentless reporter who wrote with clarity and precision." Bice is survived by his wife, Jessica Hodgson, and children Zachary, Sophie and Raney; funeral arrangements are pending.
What He Leaves Behind
For readers and colleagues across the state, Bice's reporting provided steady scrutiny of those in power and often set the terms for political debates. He leaves behind a long archive of investigative pieces and a Wisconsin press corps shaped in part by his tenacity and standards.
