City of Whitewater

Former warehouse employee and paralegal Melissa Ratcliff has been involved in Dane County politics since being elected to the Cottage Grove Village Board in 2018. Since then, she has served three terms on the Dane County Board and one term in the State Assembly, all while continuing her paralegal career. Ratcliff now plans to serve as a full-time legislator working to increase investment in roads and public safety, ensure safe communities for our LGBTQ+ neighbors, and create more affordable housing. She is also a strong supporter of reproductive freedom and will fight Republican efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion measures. Melissa Ratcliff is unopposed in this race and is the progressive choice.

John Henderson is a successful businessman and lifelong citizen of the Elkhorn area. His long career in the real estate industry has shown him the many problems of today’s housing market, where many families cannot afford homes. Henderson believes in the right to choose an abortion and will fight to expand Medicaid in Wisconsin. He also supports adequate funding for our public schools and reforming state immigration law so that undocumented Wisconsinites can receive drivers’ licenses. Henderson’s opponent is Republican Representative Tyler August, who has previously been endorsed by a radical anti-abortion group that seeks to ban the procedure completely, without exceptions. John Henderson is the progressive choice in this race.

Al Kupsik is a former mayor of Lake Geneva. He has previously run for legislative office, but campaign and social media information for this race is minimal. He is challenging Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who has been endorsed by extreme organizations seeking to ban abortion entirely in Wisconsin. Given his prior policy positions, Al Kupsik is the more progressive choice in this race.

Brienne Brown is a well-respected leader in her community, having been elected to three terms on the Whitewater City Council. Brown is an educator, hunter, and small business owner who understands the challenges faced by many different groups of people in our state. She believes in the right to choose an abortion, in the necessity of investing in local public safety, and common sense gun laws. Brown also wants to fight for better infrastructure and internet access for the 43rd Assembly District. She is running against Republican Representative Scott Johnson, who has previously been endorsed by radical anti-abortion groups seeking to outlaw the procedure in Wisconsin. Brienne Brown is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Joan is a former Jefferson County Board supervisor, a Wisconsin native who has taught high school math for 33 years, and a mom of two. While teaching, Fitzgerald was an active member of the Jefferson Education Association and served as President, Vice President, and Treasurer, as well as sitting on the Negotiations Team. As part of the County Board, Fitzgerald was chair of the Broadband work group and developed partnerships with businesses to bring in $5 million of grant money for Jefferson County. She is passionate about making sure Wisconsinites can access affordable childcare, can send their children to strong public schools, and can live in safe neighborhoods free from gun violence. Opposing Fitzgerald is Republican candidate Jenifer Quimby. Joan Fitzgerald is the progressive choice in this race.

Beth Leonard does not have a campaign or social media presence. She is challenging Republican Representative Cindi Duchow, who has consistently cast anti-reproductive rights, anti-public education, anti-environment, and anti-democracy votes during her time in the Assembly. While Leonard’s specific policy positions are unknown, Duchow’s extreme conservatism makes Leonard the likely progressive choice in this race.