Assembly District 80

A native of Plymouth, Wisconsin, former public school educator, husband, father of three and grandfather of nine, Tony Evers is running for re-election as Wisconsin Governor. During his first term, Gov. Evers cut income taxes by 15% for middle class families, led the investment of nearly $1 billion to support Wisconsin's small businesses, farms and workers, and stood with Wisconsinites by stopping numerous extreme policies designed to divide people from becoming law. Based on his belief that what's best for our kids is what's best for our state, Gov. Evers has provided strong and steady leadership for Wisconsinites and continued to reach across the aisle to find solutions to the issues most important to Wisconsinites, like addressing rising costs and making sure Wisconsin's public schools have the resources they need to provide a high-quality education to our kids.

Throughout his first term, Gov. Evers has prioritized equality and inclusion and taken steps to show all Wisconsinites they are welcome in our state, including being the first Wisconsin governor to raise the LGBT pride flag over the State Capitol. Gov. Evers believes Wisconsin women should be able to make their own reproductive decisions, which is why he called a special session to overturn Wisconsin's 1849 abortion ban. His opponent is Republican Tim Michels, who is endorsed by an extreme right wing group that supports Wisconsin's criminal abortion ban, prohibiting abortion even in cases of rape or incest. Evers is the progressive choice in this race.

Nurse, entrepreneur, former CDC Epidemic Intelligence Officer and first-term State Representative, Sara Rodriguez is the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor. On the ticket with Gov. Tony Evers, Rodriguez promises to be a partner to Gov. Evers by fighting to make healthcare more affordable and accessible, to adequately fund public schools, to protect women's access to reproductive healthcare, and to support economic development throughout Wisconsin.

In 2020, Rodriguez was one of only two Wisconsin candidates to flip a Republican-held seat. Her opponent, Roger Roth, is a longtime Republican state legislator who has consistently cast anti-choice, anti-public education, anti-environment, and anti-democracy votes. Rodriguez is the progressive choice in this race.

Attorney General Josh Kaul is a running for re-election to continue addressing crime in Wisconsin, defending our rights, protecting our natural resources, and delivering for the people of Wisconsin. As Attorney General, Kaul has fought to increase funding for public safety to help keep Wisconsin families and communities safe, as well as investigated and prosecuted serious offenses like homicides, sexual assaults, internet crimes against children, and drug trafficking. Attorney General Kaul has also taken on corporations responsible for the opioid epidemic and cancer-causing water pollution, and is leading the fight in court to restore access to safe and legal abortion. His opponent is Republican district attorney Eric Toney, who has promised to enforce Wisconsin's criminal abortion ban, which prohibits abortion even in cases of rape or incest and could send doctors and nurses to jail. Kaul is the progressive choice in this race.

Long-time Secretary of State Doug LaFollette is running for re-election to ensure far-right politicians don't use the Secretary of State office to undermine Wisconsin's democracy by laying the groundwork to overturn future election results they disagree with. LaFollette strongly supports worker's rights, advocates for environmental protection and for investing in local economies, supports women's rights including reproductive rights, and believes in decentralization of power, particularly with respect to election administration. LaFollette's opponent is Republican state legislator Amy Loudenbeck, who, like many of her Republican legislative colleagues, has perpetuated the Big Lie and now wants to get rid of the Wisconsin Elections Commission and consolidate election oversight power in the Secretary of State office. LaFollette is the progressive choice in this race.

A fifth-generation Wisconsinite and the current mayor of Fitchburg in Dane County, Aaron Richardson is running for Wisconsin State Treasurer to ensure state investments are done with intelligence, excellence and safety, to support home ownership in our state by creating new opportunities for Wisconsinites to become first-time home owners and create generational wealth, working to ensure Wisconsin is investing in companies that are acting responsibly about protecting the environment, and restricting the predatory payday lending industry. Richardson's opponent is John Leiber, who is a long-time Republican political operative and legislative staffer. Richardson is the progressive choice in this race.

State Representative Dianne Hesselbein is running to succeed Jon Erpenbach in the state senate. Hesselbein has represented the 79th Assembly District for the past ten years, during which she has fought to protect reproductive rights, expand BadgerCare, protect Wisconsin's natural resources, and support working peoples' rights to unionize and bargain collectively. Hesselbein promises to push for more public school funding, protect our environment, strengthen the University System, and advocate for veterans’ benefits in the state senate. Her opponent, Republican Roger Relph, is endorsed by an extreme right wing group that wants to ban abortion without exception, including when the pregnant person's life is at risk. Hesselbein is the progressive choice in this race.

Dane County supervisor, former City of Verona alder, small business owner, founder of the New Leaders Council Wisconsin chapter, and experienced public policy advocate Mike Bare is running for the 80th Assembly District to champion progressive values in the State Capitol. As a longtime aide to U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, Bare knows the ins and outs of fighting for progressive policies and being responsive to constituents. Bare's top three priorities are defending our democracy, protecting our rights including the right to a safe and legal abortion, and tacking climate change. But no matter the issue or the decision before him, Bare is guided by values like showing empathy for others, ensuring fairness in processes, and achieving equity in outcomes. Also running is Republican candidate Jacob Luginbuhl. Bare is the progressive choice in this race.