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AFSCME

AFSCME Endorsements

America’s communities never rest. Streets need cleaning. Families need care. Students deserve well-run schools, and our neighborhoods demand safety. That’s why people who work in public service never stop. This isn’t just a job. It’s a calling. The work matters because it means something to make a community better. AFSCME believes that every person working to sustain their community deserves respect. As part of the AFL-CIO, AFSCME is one of the nation’s leading advocates for working women and men. Our 1.6 million members provide the vital services that make America happen, and we believe everyone deserves a chance to fulfill the American dream. AFSCME is the union that honors solidarity without conformity, drawing each member’s story into a force of experience and commitment that can’t be ignored. That’s how we win better lives for ourselves, our families, and our communities. For people proudly committed to public service, we never quit. We are AFSCME, join us.

State Assembly

Depending on where you live, you may have one of the below State Assembly races on your ballot.

Representative, District 21

David Marstellar is a floricultural industry professional and heart transplant survivor. He believes in the value of listening to others before speaking, a skill sorely needed in the Legislature, and will fight for every Wisconsinite to be able to receive the life-saving healthcare that he did. Marstellar knows how critical unions are to a strong middle class, and how important the right to choose an abortion is to people who can become pregnant. Marstellar’s opponent is Republican Representative Jessie Rodriguez, who has consistently cast anti-choice, anti-public education, anti-environment, and anti-democracy votes. David Marstellar is the clear progressive choice in this race.

David Marstellar is a floricultural industry professional and heart transplant survivor. He believes in the value of listening to others before speaking, a skill sorely needed in the Legislature, and will fight for every Wisconsinite to be able to receive the life-saving healthcare that he did. Marstellar knows how critical unions are to a strong middle class, and how important the right to choose an abortion is to people who can become pregnant. Marstellar’s opponent is Republican Representative Jessie Rodriguez, who has consistently cast anti-choice, anti-public education, anti-environment, and anti-democracy votes. David Marstellar is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Representative, District 47

Fifth-generation Wisconsinite, former Fitchburg City Council member, and current Dane County Board supervisor Randy Udell knows the 47th Assembly District well. Recently retired from a long career in finance and telecommunications engineering, Udell wants to bring constituents from villages, small towns, and cities together to create positive solutions for Wisconsin. Udell will fight for expanding Medicaid, protecting the right to choose an abortion, and addressing climate change challenges. As the first publicly out LGBTQ+ person to serve as a local elected official in Fitchburg, Udell is also committed to codifying the freedom to marry who we love into state statutes. Randy Udell is unopposed in this race, and he is the progressive choice.

Fifth-generation Wisconsinite, former Fitchburg City Council member, and current Dane County Board supervisor Randy Udell knows the 47th Assembly District well. Recently retired from a long career in finance and telecommunications engineering, Udell wants to bring constituents from villages, small towns, and cities together to create positive solutions for Wisconsin. Udell will fight for expanding Medicaid, protecting the right to choose an abortion, and addressing climate change challenges. As the first publicly out LGBTQ+ person to serve as a local elected official in Fitchburg, Udell is also committed to codifying the freedom to marry who we love into state statutes. Randy Udell is unopposed in this race, and he is the progressive choice.

Representative, District 48

Attorney and former legislative aide Andrew Hysell has over twenty years of public policy experience and plans to use his expertise to represent the 48th Assembly District. Hysell has worked to holistically support veterans, advocated for public education in underserved rural areas, and supported a nonprofit seeking to lower the cost of prescription drugs. He believes in legalizing cannabis, supporting small businesses, and investing in protection for our natural resources. Hysell also has promised, on day one of the new legislative session, to introduce an amendment to the state constitution expressly codifying the right to privacy - the right to choose an abortion, the right to marry who we love, and a right to contraception. He is opposed by Republican candidate Lisa Rubrich. Andrew Hysell is the progressive choice in this race.

Attorney and former legislative aide Andrew Hysell has over twenty years of public policy experience and plans to use his expertise to represent the 48th Assembly District. Hysell has worked to holistically support veterans, advocated for public education in underserved rural areas, and supported a nonprofit seeking to lower the cost of prescription drugs. He believes in legalizing cannabis, supporting small businesses, and investing in protection for our natural resources. Hysell also has promised, on day one of the new legislative session, to introduce an amendment to the state constitution expressly codifying the right to privacy - the right to choose an abortion, the right to marry who we love, and a right to contraception. He is opposed by Republican candidate Lisa Rubrich. Andrew Hysell is the progressive choice in this race.

Representative, District 80

Small business owner and former Dane County supervisor Mike Bare is running for his second term representing the 80th Assembly District. In his first Assembly term, Bare championed common sense causes like affordable healthcare, fully funded public education, and natural resource protection. He also fought for our democracy by authoring a bill that would have automatically registered all Wisconsinites to vote. For his second term, Bare’s top three priorities are defending our democracy, protecting our rights including the right to a safe and legal abortion, and investing in communities. 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 Robert Relph. Mike Bare is the progressive choice in this race.

Small business owner and former Dane County supervisor Mike Bare is running for his second term representing the 80th Assembly District. In his first Assembly term, Bare championed common sense causes like affordable healthcare, fully funded public education, and natural resource protection. He also fought for our democracy by authoring a bill that would have automatically registered all Wisconsinites to vote. For his second term, Bare’s top three priorities are defending our democracy, protecting our rights including the right to a safe and legal abortion, and investing in communities. 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 Robert Relph. Mike Bare is the progressive choice in this race.

Representative, District 94

Steve Doyle is a moderate Democrat running for re-election to his seventh term as an Assembly member from the 94th District. When it comes to environmental issues, labor, and welfare, Doyle is relatively progressive. He was a leader in the fight against Act 10 and has a strong record on LGBTQ+ equality. While he is personally anti-choice, he has voted pro-choice as a legislator. He is a supporter of gun rights and has received an endorsement from the NRA in the past. However, he did co-sponsor a universal background check bill. Doyle is known for his bipartisanship. His challenger, Republican candidate Ryan Huebsch, has worked for multiple Republican legislators and is endorsed by an extreme right wing group that supports Wisconsin's criminal abortion ban, which prohibits abortion even in cases of rape or incest. Although Doyle is not as progressive as some other legislators, he has always stood up for progressive issues like labor rights, public schools, and the environment when it counts. Doyle is the progressive choice in this race.

Steve Doyle is a moderate Democrat running for re-election to his seventh term as an Assembly member from the 94th District. When it comes to environmental issues, labor, and welfare, Doyle is relatively progressive. He was a leader in the fight against Act 10 and has a strong record on LGBTQ+ equality. While he is personally anti-choice, he has voted pro-choice as a legislator. He is a supporter of gun rights and has received an endorsement from the NRA in the past. However, he did co-sponsor a universal background check bill. Doyle is known for his bipartisanship. His challenger, Republican candidate Ryan Huebsch, has worked for multiple Republican legislators and is endorsed by an extreme right wing group that supports Wisconsin's criminal abortion ban, which prohibits abortion even in cases of rape or incest. Although Doyle is not as progressive as some other legislators, he has always stood up for progressive issues like labor rights, public schools, and the environment when it counts. Doyle is the progressive choice in this race.

Representative, District 96

Former La Crosse County Board member and United Way executive director Tara Johnson has spent much of her career working to represent communities in western Wisconsin that are sometimes overlooked. Among her legislative priorities are protecting the right to choose an abortion, creating well-paying jobs, increasing access to affordable childcare and healthcare, and safeguarding our democracy. Johnson is running against Republican Representative Loren Oldenburg, who has twice been endorsed by a radical anti-abortion group seeking to outlaw the procedure in Wisconsin. Tara Johnson is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Former La Crosse County Board member and United Way executive director Tara Johnson has spent much of her career working to represent communities in western Wisconsin that are sometimes overlooked. Among her legislative priorities are protecting the right to choose an abortion, creating well-paying jobs, increasing access to affordable childcare and healthcare, and safeguarding our democracy. Johnson is running against Republican Representative Loren Oldenburg, who has twice been endorsed by a radical anti-abortion group seeking to outlaw the procedure in Wisconsin. Tara Johnson is the clear progressive choice in this race.