With new legislative maps, Wisconsin is one of Democrats’ best opportunities for legislative gains this cycle.
WASHINGTON — Today, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) announced our slate of candidates running in target races to build Democratic power across Wisconsin. These 4 Senate and 10 Assembly Spotlight candidates provide strong opportunities to take advantage of new maps to make gains and shift the balance of power in the legislature for the first time in over a decade.
The Spotlight candidates unveiled today are:
- Jodi Habush Sinykin (SD-8) is an attorney and environmental policy expert running for the Wisconsin Senate to flip her district blue. Jodi is an experienced coalition-builder who’s led successful campaigns for progress, including helping to enact the Great Lakes Pact protecting Wisconsin’s water resources.
- Sarah Keyeski (SD-14) is a mental health counselor running for the Wisconsin Senate to unseat an extreme anti-choice incumbent. Sarah grew up on her family’s dairy farm, and as a proud small-town resident, Sarah will fight for equitable access to necessities like education, modern infrastructure, and childcare for working families living away from major population centers.
- Kristin Alfheim (SD-18) is a lifelong Wisconsinite and small business owner running to flip a seat in the state Senate. Kris previously mounted a strong campaign for the Wisconsin Senate in 2022 in one of the closest races in the state, despite the heavily gerrymandered district. Now, with new, fairer voting maps in place, Kris represents one of the best chances to add a Democratic voice to the legislature where she will fight for reproductive freedoms, affordable health care, and full public school funding.
- Jamie Wall (SD-30) is a small business owner from Green Bay running for the Wisconsin Senate with a chance to flip his district blue. Jamie was raised on a small dairy farm and was the first member of his family to attend college, and was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship. Today, Jamie uses his experience to help businesses of all sizes create jobs across the state.
- David Marstellar (AD-21) is a health care advocate with over thirty-five years of business experience running to flip a highly competitive seat in the Wisconsin Assembly. After the sudden death of his father, David was raised by a single mom and is passionate about lowering costs for working families. As a heart transplant survivor made possible through the Affordable Care Act, David feels a special responsibility to use the extra time he was given to ensure every Wisconsinite can afford quality medical care.
- Joe Sheehan (AD-26) is a former teacher and nearly 20-year Sheboygan-area school superintendent running for the Wisconsin Assembly to bring Democratic representation to his city for the first time in over a decade. He’s excited for the chance to bring people together to solve the issues current lawmakers have ignored, like increasing education funding, expanding health care access, and protecting women’s rights to bodily autonomy.
- Alison Page (AD-30) is a retired health care executive and former nurse running for the Wisconsin Assembly to flip her district blue. Alison has worked every day to help make quality health care accessible to working Wisconsinites, and it’s clear to her that MAGA Republicans are the single biggest threat to the well-being of her state. If elected, Alison will stand up to any lawmaker coming between her constituents and the medical care they need, including reproductive care, while working to lower the cost of living for working Wisconsin families.
- Duane Shukoski (AD-53) is a lifelong Wisconsinite running for the state Assembly to flip a seat and help uplift working families. Duane grew up in foster care in Neenah, Wisconsin, and a union job helped him build a stable life for his own family in the same community. He’s committed to recentering the workers who form the backbone of Wisconsin’s economy. Duane understands that good jobs are only part of the equation, which is why he also supports access to affordable health care including reproductive care, quality public education, and a clean environment.
- LuAnn Bird (AD-61) is a community organizer and family caregiver running for the Wisconsin Assembly to flip a key seat blue. After leading the way on hometown projects like making school buildings accessible to people with disabilities, fundraising for veterans, and expanding critical infrastructure, LuAnn is excited to bring her experience to Madison. LuAnn is ready to fight back against MAGA extremism by restoring full reproductive freedom, defending the democratic process, and standing up for public schools.
- Yee Leng Xiong (AD-85) is a born-and-raised Wisconsinite running to flip his seat in the state Assembly and become the first Hmong American ever elected to the Wisconsin legislature. As a community leader, Yee encourages an environment of intersectionality to empower diverse input and collaboration. This approach allows him to tackle issues in a way that respects and uplifts everyone affected, and he’s ready to bring this mindset to the state Assembly.
- Christy Welch (AD-88) is a business leader in local manufacturing running to flip a seat in the Wisconsin Assembly. She was called to public service after the Supreme Court overturned the right to abortion in 2022. Now, Christy has her sights set on Madison, where she will always put the best interests of her constituents first. If elected, she is committed to fighting for the environment, passing Medicaid expansion, and expanding child care and education funding.
- Ryan Spaude (AD-89) is an assistant district attorney running to flip a seat in the Wisconsin Assembly blue. Ryan sees the need for decisive leadership in Madison and he’s ready to answer that call and stand up for the people of Wisconsin. He plans to do this by ensuring tax breaks benefit working families and fully funding public schools so the next generation has the tools they need to succeed. Ryan is also committed to funding Wisconsin’s Child Care Counts Program and expanding Medicaid.
- Rep. Jodi Emerson (AD-91) is an anti-human trafficking advocate running for reelection to the Wisconsin Assembly to defend a key Democratic seat in the highly contested chamber. Jodi has been hard at work fighting against MAGA extremism in Madison, and now that Wisconsin has fair voting maps for the first time in over a decade, the stage is set for a new generation of Democratic leaders to join her in that fight.
- Rep. Steve Doyle (AD-94) is an attorney and former educator running for reelection to the Wisconsin Assembly in one of the most closely contested districts in the state. As a representative, Steve has been committed to using his position to expand economic opportunities for Wisconsinites, achieving this goal through collaboration and listening to his constituents.
These 14 candidates join over 180 state legislative candidates in our Spotlight program who are running across the country to build Democratic power and counter MAGA control of state legislatures. The GOP’s gerrymander in Wisconsin was one of the worst in the country and has kept Republicans entrenched in power in a near veto-proof supermajority even as Democrats control most statewide offices. With new legislative maps, Democrats are running strong campaigns and have candidates running in every Senate seat on the ballot for the first time in more than 20 years, as well as 97 of 99 Assembly seats.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“Wisconsin represents one of the most exciting opportunities to shift the balance of power in the states this election. For too long, Republicans have weaponized gerrymandered maps to lock themselves into power. This cycle, with new maps finally in place, there’s a real opportunity for voters to fairly elect their leaders and carve a new future for the state. Democrats are running strong campaigns to make gains in both chambers and the DLCC is proud to uplift these candidates as we work cycle-over-cycle to invest in Wisconsin’s future.”
The DLCC is the official arm of the Democratic Party with the sole mission of building Democratic power in the states and setting the national agenda at the state level. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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