I’m Margaret Engebretson, and I’m excited to announce today that I am running for United States Congress to represent Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District in the seat currently held by Republican Sean Duffy.
I’m running for Congress because I love my country and I am concerned for its future. Like many of you, I woke up on November 9th, 2016, and I felt devastated. I asked myself: ‘How can I best help my country right now?’ It was a profound moment that sparked the journey that brought me to this day.
I first chose to serve my country by enlisting in the U.S. Navy upon graduating from high school. It was in boot camp where I learned the Navy’s Core Values of Honor, Courage, Commitment. I served three years on active duty, and 21 more as a Guardsman and Reservist.
After completing my active duty enlistment, I worked as a union locomotive electrician and later a train dispatcher before attending college and graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. I earned my J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2010 and settled in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin where I practiced law, focusing much of my time on Guardian ad Litem work. Following the 2016 elections, I became active in my county Democratic party, took on the role of secretary, worked for the state party as an organizing fellow facilitating voter engagement in rural western Wisconsin, and attended Emerge Wisconsin, which trains Democratic women to run for office.
The people of northern and western Wisconsin need to know that someone is standing up for them in Washington. People are busy. They’re working – oftentimes at more than one job. They’re raising children who they wish the world for. They’re seniors, who worry about whether their Social Security or Medicare benefits they paid into their whole lives will be cut. People want to trust that the person they elect to represent them in Washington is doing their job to actually represent THEM.
Our elected officials take an oath to “support and defend the Constitution” and “faithfully discharge the duties” of their office. That’s the nut of it. I will work to regain the public trust and show that elected officials can, and will, do the right thing, even if no one is looking. I will keep the best interests of those I represent (and not those of special interests and lobbyists) at the forefront. I will seek out solutions to start lessening the chasm of wealth and income inequality between the majority of us, and those at the tippy top of the scale. I will join with my future colleagues to work toward securing decent, affordable healthcare for every American. And last, but certainly not least, I will perform my Constitutional role as a member of Congress. As stated in Article I of the United States Constitution, Congress is a CO-EQUAL branch of government designed to check and balance the other two.
I have a history of service to this nation with 24 years of military service. I have worked in government. Large and small corporations. I have been union and non-union. I am passionate about protecting people -- sticking up for folks, and doing the right thing. I want to use these skills on behalf of the people of western and northern Wisconsin.
Please visit my website at http://www.vetfordemocracy.com/ to learn more about our campaign and what you can do to help turn Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District blue.
You can donate via ActBlue.