Since 2011, rigged maps in Wisconsin meant Dems had to play defense in the state legislature, just fighting to prevent veto-proof GOP supermajorities.
Now, the gerrymander has fallen.
The primaries are over. We’ve got our starting lineup.
We’re going on offense.
13 years after Republicans gerrymandered the daylights out of our state, Wisconsin finally has fair maps. We’ve got Democrats running in all 16 in-cycle State Senate districts and 97 of 99 Assembly districts. Finally, Wisconsin voters will have a real choice.
Today, we’re launching the Democratic Starting Lineup, our slate of candidates in targeted districts that we see as critical to reclaiming majorities in the Legislature, winning a blue trifecta, and finally getting to work for the people of Wisconsin.
From now till November 5, I’ll introduce you to Democratic State Legislative candidates running in key districts. If we flip enough of these blue, we can win the Assembly majority in 24 and pave the way to a 2026 Senate majority.
Wisconsin, meet your Democratic Starting Lineup.
In Assembly District 71, Portage County’s Vinnie Miresse is an elected community leader, entrepreneur, volunteer, and family man.
Vinnie’s goal is “to inspire optimism, create change, and deliver results for the people of Central Wisconsin.”
A Democratic-leaning district, the 71st became an open seat when Assemblymember Katrina Shankland chose to run for a U.S. House seat in Wisconsin’s 3rd District. With the 71st up for grabs, it’s vital to keep this district blue. And Vinnie’s the candidate to do it.
Over in Senate District 14, Lodi’s Sarah Keyeski grew up on a dairy farm and is a Licensed Professional Counselor.
Sarah also started “Lift Lodi,” a non-profit designed to “bring Lodi together to revitalize what’s around us and lifts what’s in us.”
Thanks to fair-maps redistricting, SD 14 has dramatically changed from a deep-red district to a lean-D district, a perfect pick-up opportunity. If we send Sarah to the State Senate, we flip a seat and have an even better shot at protecting democracy for Wisconsin.
If you want to get to know Sarah, it’s worth listening to the episode of the New York Times podcast “The Run-Up” that profiled her and her district. You’ll realize right away what a great candidate and leader she is.
In Assembly District 53, lifelong Neenah resident Duane Shukoski built a 37-year career at Kimberly Clark, working up from union production operator to environmental coordinator.
Duane will work hard to help his constituents build a better quality of life.
Thanks to new fair maps, the current 53rd Assemblymember, a Republican, moves to the 55th, leaving this seat wide open. This once deep-red district now leans Democratic—an ideal pickup opportunity for Duane Shukoski.
Heading to Assembly District 40, Karen DeSanto of Baraboo has worked for 12 years as CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Wisconsin.
As a trusted member of her community, Karen is dedicated to service and collaborating with community partners.
After redistricting, AD40 went from a deep-red seat to one that leans blue. When AD40 was redrawn, Democratic incumbent Dave Considine was drawn in, but chose not to seek re-election, so it’s a wide-open seat perfect for a pickup by Democrat Karen DeSanto.
In Assembly District 92, Joe Plouff might sound familiar.
He served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1997-2005, where he championed bills to protect consumers and the Hay River Watershed, and served on Veterans and Agriculture Committees, among others.
In recent years, AD92 has been dramatically redrawn. The previous 92nd was deep red, but now this Eau Claire-area district in northwest Wisconsin is a slightly reddish toss-up. An Assembly veteran like Joe Plouff brings the right kind of leadership to flip the 92nd.
Over in Green Bay’s Assembly District 88, Christy Welch is the dynamite Chair of the Democratic Party of Brown County, as well as a small business leader and community advocate.
Christy believes in prioritizing public well-being over personal gain.
The new, fair district map drew the GOP incumbent out of Assembly District 88. He retired. That makes the 88th an open seat that goes from fairly Republican to a 50-50 toss-up—a Dem pickup opportunity for Christy Welch.
Meanwhile, in Senate District 18, Appleton’s Kristin Alfheim was born and raised on a beef farm where she learned the value of hard work.
Kristin owns a small business as a retirement planner and wants to lead Wisconsin back to “respectful bipartisan solutions.”
Senate District 18, which includes the bulk of Appleton, Menasha, Neenah, and Oshkosh, changed dramatically when redistricted. It’s an open seat going from deep red to leaning Democratic—an ideal opportunity for Kristin Alfheim to pick up a Dem seat.
In Assembly District 91, Eau Claire’s Jodi Emerson is a veteran Assemblymember who’s served the 91st with distinction since 2019.
Jodi’s been at the forefront of holding the GOP-led Joint Finance Committee accountable for holding taxpayer dollars hostage.
Assembly District 91 contains eastern Eau Claire County and part of Chippewa County. But the re-drawn maps expanded the geographical area of this district, turning it from solid blue to leaning blue–just 54.8% Democratic. So it’s crucial that we re-elect Jodi Emerson to the 91st.
Travel West to Assembly District 30 to visit Alison Page of River Falls, who began her career as a nurse and has worked in healthcare administration for 26 years.
Alison is committed to making Western Wisconsin “a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”
The redrawing of Assembly District 30 has turned it from a red seat to a 50/50 toss-up. The district, which has been trending blue, has as its incumbent Republican and out-of-touch millionaire Shannon Zimmerman—a ripe opportunity for Democrat Alison Page to flip the seat blue.
In Senate District 30, Green Bay’s Jamie Wall is a small business owner who helped establish New North, a NE Wisconsin economic development organization.
Jaime also serves as VP of the Green Bay Water Commission and treasurer of his neighborhood association.
With redistricting, Senate District 30, an open seat, went from a lean Republican to a lean Democratic district. And with an opponent like anti-abortion Republican Jim Rafter, Jamie Wall has an excellent shot at putting SD30 in the Democrat’s column.
Over in Assembly District 89, Green Bay’s Ryan Spaude is a fifth-generation NE Wisconsinite.
Ryan works as a prosecutor in the Brown County DA’s office, and wants to lower taxes for the middle class, invest in public education, and expand Medicaid.
The redrawn AD89, an open seat, went from very red to essentially a 50/50 toss-up. Ryan’s opponent, Republican county board member Patrick Buckley, has voted to increase taxes for Brown County families, which gives Ryan Spaude a great chance to flip the 89th.
In Senate District 8, Milwaukee’s Jodi Habush Sinykin is a business leader, attorney, and policy expert on freshwater and wildlife conservation.
Jodi helped enact the Great Lakes Compact in Wisconsin to protect the Great Lakes.
The newly drawn SD8 went from lean red to a toss-up. In the spring 2023 special election, Jodi ran for this seat against Knodl and lost a bright-red district by just <1300 votes. The 8th is a huge pickup shot for Dems, and MAGA GOP nominee Duey Stroebel is a bad fit.
In Assembly District 61, Hales Corners’ LuAnn Bird has worn many hats: Sanitation District Commission member, Whitnall School Board member, Executive Director/lobbyist for the WI League of Women Voters.
When LuAnn sees problems, she gets involved.
After redistricting, AD61, which includes the western part of Milwaukee and its suburbs, went from a red seat to a 50/50 toss-up. With a go-getter like LuAnn Bird on the ticket, we have a beautiful chance to flip this district blue.
Over in Assembly District 85, Wausau’s Yee Leng Xiong serves as the DC Everest School Board’s VP, where he advocates for children’s rights.
Yee has also served on the Marathon County Board of Supervisors, and fights for local businesses.
With the new fair maps, Assembly District 85 has moved into a very tight 50/50 race, and possible pickup for the Democrats. Yee’s leadership of the Hmong American Center and Hmong Wausau Festival makes him a beloved local leader. Let’s help Yee Leng Xiong flip the 85th.
In Assembly District 21, David Marstellar, from Milwaukee’s Garden District, just celebrated 5 years as a heart transplant survivor.
David is a healthcare advocate and former businessman in the floral industry, bringing a fresh voice to the Assembly race.
The old AD21 included Oak Creek and South Milwaukee, but the newly drawn map replaces South Milwaukee with the area around Mitchell International Airport. The district is a toss-up, but with a Republican incumbent, so a strong opportunity for David Marstellar to flip the seat.
Over in Assembly District 94, Democratic incumbent Steve Doyle has represented the greater La Crosse area in the Assembly since 2011.
He’s known as “Mr. Bipartisan”—regularly earning plaudits as the legislator with the greatest track record of bipartisan achievement.
In 2022, Steve Doyle beat Republican Ryan Huebsch, who praised the Dobbs decision and spread MAGA conspiracy theories about “election integrity”, by just under 800 votes. The new AD94 map is even more of a toss-up. Let’s re-elect Rep. Doyle and keep AD94 blue.
In Assembly District 26, Joe Sheehan has been a teacher, principal, and Superintendent for Sheboygan Area Schools.
As Executive Director of the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corp., Joe worked to help local businesses and create jobs.
Under the old maps, Sheboygan was split into two districts, but now it’s reunited as one. Formerly deep red, AD26 is now a toss-up seat. Joe’s opponent, incumbent Republican Amy Binsfeld, is “a fan of” banning abortion at 6 weeks. Let’s help Joe Sheehan win the 26th!
In Senate District 32, Democratic incumbent Brad Pfaff has represented the 32nd and the people of La Crosse since 2021.
As State Senator, Brad fights for access to health care, robust infrastructure, affordable childcare, family farms, and more.
Back in 2020, Brad Pfaff was elected by under 600 votes. With redistricting, is a lean Democratic district. Brad’s opponent, Republican Stacey Klein, regularly spreads extreme MAGA talking points. We must reelect Brad Pfaff to keep SD32 out of MAGA hands.
Heading to Assembly District 93, Eau Claire’s Christian Phelps is the Director of Digital Organizing and Communications at the Wisconsin Public Education Network.
Christian is also on the Board of Trustees at the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation.
After redistricting, AD93 went from deep red to lean blue, so Republican incumbent Warren Petryk, who’d held the seat since 2010, retired. That leaves a wide-open seat, giving Christian Phelps an ideal chance to flip AD93 for the Democrats.
Finally, in Assembly District 51, Elizabeth Grabe has served her community as a coach, a Rotary board member, and a member of the Mount Horeb Sustainability and Natural Resources committee.
She also works as a realtor and manager of her family farm.
Under new maps, Assembly District 51 transformed from lean red to lean blue, giving Elizabeth Grabe a great chance to unseat Republican incumbent Todd Novak this November. Let’s help make that happen.
There you have it! 5 state Senate and 15 state Assembly candidates, in 20 battleground districts—triple the number of competitive races that we would’ve seen under the old rigged maps.
If you want to give to all of them, click here.
Under gerrymandering, every election cycle started at the Democrats’ 33-yard line. Now, the fight starts at the 50-yard line, the way it’s supposed to in a 50-50 state.
The WisDems Starting Lineup represents a deep bench. Incumbents and fresh faces who you’ll meet in the coming weeks. Help share this post and spread the word. Let’s help these all-stars over the goal line this fall!
