Oconto County

Green Bay-area voters may recognize her face from years as a journalist on the local news, but the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 galvanized Kelly Peterson into becoming active in progressive politics. While in journalism, she produced segments on many important local issues like agriculture, education, and human trafficking. Her legislative priorities are protecting the right to choose an abortion, supporting family farms, and listening closely to her constituents’ concerns. Peterson faces Republican Senator Eric Wimberger, who has previously been endorsed by a radical anti-abortion organization seeking to outlaw the procedure in Wisconsin. Kelly Peterson is the progressive choice in this race.

Former construction company owner and current insurance adjuster Andi Rich is a strong believer in environmental protection, citing PFAS remediation and clean water as major issues for her as she campaigns to defeat Republican incumbent Mary Felzkowski. Rich also believes in supporting strong public schools, ending partisan gridlock in Madison, and decreasing taxpayer spending. While Rich ran as a Republican in the 89th Assembly District’s 2020 primary against John Nygren to combat his inaction on PFAS issues, she is running as a Democrat in 2024, and she is the more progressive choice in this race.

Jamie Wall is a Brown County native who has worked in economic development for much of his career. He also holds a great deal of experience in consulting with local and national businesses to find solutions to challenging problems. This led Wall to establish New North, an organization that promotes local jobs and business development in Green Bay, Brown County, and northeastern Wisconsin as a whole. Wall’s legislative priorities are addressing rising housing and healthcare costs, protecting the right to choose an abortion, and ensuring clean water access to all in Wisconsin. Wall is running against Republican Jim Rafter. Wall is the progressive choice in this race.

Jane Benson is running to be a fair and honest voice for everyone in the 4th Assembly District, not just the few. A former entrepreneur, small business owner, and longtime Election Day poll worker, Benson has been particularly active in fighting for fair maps in Wisconsin. As a candidate, Benson's top four priorities are the tackling the issues she hears about most on the campaign trail: fighting for clean water, including addressing PFAS contamination; pushing for adequate public school funding; ensuring all Wisconsinites have full reproductive rights and the ability to choose whether and when to have a family; and expanding access to high-speed internet. Benson is opposed by Republican Representative Dave Steffen, who has been endorsed by extreme anti-abortion groups seeking to outlaw the procedure even in cases of rape or incest. Jane Benson is the progressive choice in this race.

Former American Legion secretary, Boy Scout leader, Sunday School teacher, and stay-at-home mom Shirley Hinze is running for the 6th Assembly District because she believes her community deserves more from the Legislature. She knows that family farmers in Wisconsin are struggling and need help to compete with large mega-farms. As a longtime resident of Shawano, Hinze is aware that the rural parts of her district are missing convenient and high-quality medical care, and housing is becoming more and more unaffordable. She is also passionate about protecting our natural environment, and vows to listen to all constituents, regardless of party affiliation. Opposing Hinze is Republican Representative Elijah Behnke, who has previously been endorsed by three radical anti-abortion organizations. Shirley Hinze is the progressive choice in this race.

Wisconsin native and Merrill resident Elizabeth McCrank believes the voices of people in the 35th district deserve to be heard in Madison. McCrank has career experience as a carpenter and finisher in light construction, a teacher in adult education, and a librarian at the T.B. Scott Free Library in Merrill. She has also served on the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors since 2020. McCrank plans to focus on the needs of children and seniors if elected, and believes in the right to choose an abortion. She is also concerned about rural population decline, and the local climate for new businesses. McCrank is running against Republican Representative Calvin Callahan, who has previously been endorsed by two of Wisconsin’s most extreme anti-abortion organizations. Elizabeth McCrank is the progressive choice in this race.

Navy veteran Ben Murray is running for State Assembly to help end the tiresome gridlock and partisan bickering that has become so common in the Legislature. He is a strong believer in environmental protection, including access to clean water and investing in clean energy. He knows that housing costs have risen beyond the means of too many Wisconsinites. Murray also believes in increasing shared revenue so that rural areas have the resources they need to provide basic services to their residents. Murray is opposed by Republican Representative Jeffrey Mursau, who has a long record of embracing anti-abortion and anti-democracy positions. Ben Murray is the progressive choice in this race.

Ryan Spaude is a fifth-generation resident of northeastern Wisconsin who currently works in the Brown County District Attorney’s office. He believes Wisconsin’s current historic budget surplus should mean no tax hikes for the hard-working middle class, and that the minimum wage needs to be increased. Spaude also supports expanding Medicaid in Wisconsin and fully funding the Child Care Counts program so that every family has access to the health- and child-care that they need. Spaude is opposed by Republican candidate Patrick Buckley. Spaude is the progressive choice in this race.