Sauk County
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Election Day is Tuesday, November 3!
The Wisconsin Progressive Voters Guide compiles the information that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. Absentee ballots must be received by your municipal clerk by Tuesday, November 3 at 8PM. Vote in every race on your ballot, then share this guide with your friends and family!
State Senator, District 14
Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below State Senate races on your ballot.
Union Leader Joni Anderson is the progressive candidate for the 14th Senate District. Anderson is a strong advocate for labor and favors Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. She has also made non-partisan redistricting and voting rights central to her campaign. Her opponent is current Assembly Rep. Joan Ballweg, who has been endorsed by Pro-Life Wisconsin, Wisconsin Right to Life, and the NRA. Anderson is the progressive choice.
Union Leader Joni Anderson is the progressive candidate for the 14th Senate District. Anderson is a strong advocate for labor and favors Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. She has also made non-partisan redistricting and voting rights central to her campaign. Her opponent is current Assembly Rep. Joan Ballweg, who has been endorsed by Pro-Life Wisconsin, Wisconsin Right to Life, and the NRA. Anderson is the progressive choice.
State Assembly
Representative, District 40
New London substitute teacher Deb Silvers is running as a moderate Democrat. She supports overturning Act 10, ending voucher programs, moving away from carbon-based fuel, and expanding BadgerCare. Incumbent Kevin Petersen has long been an acolyte of Scott Walker and Robin Vos in the Assembly, supporting Act 10 and eroding Wisconsin's conservation protections. Silvers is the more progressive choice.
New London substitute teacher Deb Silvers is running as a moderate Democrat. She supports overturning Act 10, ending voucher programs, moving away from carbon-based fuel, and expanding BadgerCare. Incumbent Kevin Petersen has long been an acolyte of Scott Walker and Robin Vos in the Assembly, supporting Act 10 and eroding Wisconsin's conservation protections. Silvers is the more progressive choice.
Representative, District 41
Democrat Nate Zimdars is focused on the rural issues that most affect his constituents. As a member of a farming family, Zimdars is focused on supporting the agricultural community as it has contended with changing weather patterns, trade wars, and declining prices. He also prioritizes improving rural infrastructure by improving roads, preserving clean water, and expanding broadband access. Zimdars' third priority is ensuring that everyone has access to affordable healthcare. His opponent, Alex Dallman, is anti-choice and opposed to gun violence prevention legislation. Zimdars is the progressive choice in this race.
Democrat Nate Zimdars is focused on the rural issues that most affect his constituents. As a member of a farming family, Zimdars is focused on supporting the agricultural community as it has contended with changing weather patterns, trade wars, and declining prices. He also prioritizes improving rural infrastructure by improving roads, preserving clean water, and expanding broadband access. Zimdars' third priority is ensuring that everyone has access to affordable healthcare. His opponent, Alex Dallman, is anti-choice and opposed to gun violence prevention legislation. Zimdars is the progressive choice in this race.
Representative, District 50
Small business owner Mark Waldon is pledging that he would represent his constituents, rather than big donors. He supports BadgerCare expansion, marijuana legalization, prioritizing clean water resources over corporate farms, and making trade schools free to enable people to get family-supporting jobs without attending a four year college. He is challenging incumbent Republican Tony Kurtz, who was endorsed by the NRA. Waldon is the more progressive choice in this race.
Small business owner Mark Waldon is pledging that he would represent his constituents, rather than big donors. He supports BadgerCare expansion, marijuana legalization, prioritizing clean water resources over corporate farms, and making trade schools free to enable people to get family-supporting jobs without attending a four year college. He is challenging incumbent Republican Tony Kurtz, who was endorsed by the NRA. Waldon is the more progressive choice in this race.
Representative, District 51
Farmer and small business owner Kriss Marion is running to unseat Assembly Representative Todd Novak in the 51st District. Marion would be an advocate for rural issues. She believes we must expand BadgerCare in Wisconsin so that our rural hospitals, which are struggling desperately as a result of the pandemic, can be reimbursed adequately for services provided to the poor and the elderly. Marion will fight to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions and to bring down skyrocketing prescription prices.She is committed to environmental protection and was named whistleblower of the year for her efforts on the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors to ensure the release of studies on groundwater pollution that other politicians were trying to hide from the press and the public. Her opponent, incumbent Todd Novak, has branded himself as an independent legislator. However, he rarely bucks his party when it counts and holds a number of extremely conservative positions. He has voted for Republican budgets, favors private school vouchers, and voted for making Wisconsin a right-to-work state. Novak has taken big contributions from out-of-state pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies, and voted against capping the price of insulin. Novak has also abused his position as mayor of Dodgeville. Three sources claim that Novak was drunk at a local event and after being warned he shouldn't drive home said, "It doesn't matter because I have a Mayoral Pass. I won't get into trouble." Kriss Marion is the progressive choice.
Farmer and small business owner Kriss Marion is running to unseat Assembly Representative Todd Novak in the 51st District. Marion would be an advocate for rural issues. She believes we must expand BadgerCare in Wisconsin so that our rural hospitals, which are struggling desperately as a result of the pandemic, can be reimbursed adequately for services provided to the poor and the elderly. Marion will fight to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions and to bring down skyrocketing prescription prices.She is committed to environmental protection and was named whistleblower of the year for her efforts on the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors to ensure the release of studies on groundwater pollution that other politicians were trying to hide from the press and the public. Her opponent, incumbent Todd Novak, has branded himself as an independent legislator. However, he rarely bucks his party when it counts and holds a number of extremely conservative positions. He has voted for Republican budgets, favors private school vouchers, and voted for making Wisconsin a right-to-work state. Novak has taken big contributions from out-of-state pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies, and voted against capping the price of insulin. Novak has also abused his position as mayor of Dodgeville. Three sources claim that Novak was drunk at a local event and after being warned he shouldn't drive home said, "It doesn't matter because I have a Mayoral Pass. I won't get into trouble." Kriss Marion is the progressive choice.
Representative, District 81
Former dairy goat farmer and special education teacher Dave Considine has been serving in the Assembly since 2014. Considine has a reputation as a pragmatic and bipartisan legislator who favors common-sense, simple legislation. Considine believes in investing public money into public schools and has authored numerous bills on education, conservation, and marijuana decriminalization. Considine is the most progressive choice in this race.
Former dairy goat farmer and special education teacher Dave Considine has been serving in the Assembly since 2014. Considine has a reputation as a pragmatic and bipartisan legislator who favors common-sense, simple legislation. Considine believes in investing public money into public schools and has authored numerous bills on education, conservation, and marijuana decriminalization. Considine is the most progressive choice in this race.