City of De Pere

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.

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.

Navy veteran Alicia Saunders wants to serve in the Assembly to give power to the voice of people in her district, rather than corporations, lobbyists, and the wealthy. She was deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and honorably discharged when she chose not to reenlist. Since her military service, Saunders has worked a variety of blue-collar jobs where she maintains a strong work ethic and a commitment to integrity. If elected, Saunders plans to fight for the rights of working people and veterans, support the right to choose an abortion, and empower farmers to use sustainable methods. Saunders is opposed by Republican Representative Shae Sortwell, who was endorsed in 2020 by an extreme right wing group that wants to ban abortion without exception, even when the pregnant person's life is at risk. Alicia Saunders is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Former pastor Greg Sampson is troubled by the deep divisions sown by extreme politics in recent years. He believes that we can work together as neighbors to embody our state motto of “Forward”. Sampson is a strong supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and takes time to combat dis- and mis-information being spread by bad actors. As a former clergyman, he is committed to building bridges between people of all faiths and representing them equally in Madison. Sampson is running against Republican Representative Joy Goeben, who has been previously endorsed by two of the most radical anti-abortion organizations in the state. Greg Sampson is the more progressive choice in this race.

Manufacturing and business manager Christy Welch is running for the 88th Assembly District to fight for investing in public education, expanding Medicaid to offer medical care to all Wisconsinites, and protecting the right to choose an abortion. Welch recognizes that affordable and accessible childcare is a huge part of ensuring full participation in the workforce, because parents cannot work if their children don’t have care. As a longtime resident of Green Bay, she knows that our natural resources are precious and worth protecting for future generations. Welch is running against Republican candidate Ben Franklin, who has been awarded an A rating by the National Rifle Association. Christy Welch 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.