Portage County

Collin McNamara believes Central Wisconsin, where he was born and raised, holds strong values of honesty and integrity that need to be represented in the State Senate. McNamara is interested in improving the region’s infrastructure, increasing accessibility to affordable healthcare, and keeping local communities safe. McNamara’s opponent is Senator Patrick Testin, who has been endorsed by an extreme right wing group that wants to ban abortion without exception, even when the pregnant person's life is at risk. Collin McNamara is the progressive choice in this race.

Retired educator Ruth Caves knows from her decades of teaching experience that Wisconsin’s public schools need more support. Caves will fight for the right to choose an abortion, for a healthy environment, and for our democracy against MAGA Republicans. She supports labor unions and workers’ rights, as well as finding ways to make healthcare both more accessible and affordable to all Wisconsinites. She is running against Republican Representative Kevin Peterson, who has repeatedly cast anti-choice, anti-public education, anti-environment, and anti-democracy votes during his time in the Assembly. Ruth Caves is the progressive choice in this race.

Account manager and Tomah native Remy Gomez currently serves his community on the Monroe County Board of Supervisors and previously on the Tomah Common Council. If elected, he plans to fight for all residents of the 70th Assembly District, not just a select few. Gomez is proudly pro-choice, and supports codifying reproductive freedom in state law. He also wants to ensure our public schools and infrastructure have adequate funding, especially in rural communities, and will fight for Medicaid expansion and affordable childcare. Gomez is challenging Republican incumbent Nancy VanderMeer, who has consistently cast anti-choice, anti-public education, anti-environment, and anti-democracy votes during her time in the Assembly. Remy Gomez is the progressive choice in this race.

Longtime Portage County Board member Vinnie Miresse understands the “purple” history of both the 71st Assembly District and Wisconsin as a whole. He believes in bipartisanship and putting an end to the political bickering in Madison. As a legislator, Miresse plans to prioritize our state’s proud ecological heritage, support working families by fighting for higher wages and a repeal of Act 10, and invest in health care access for all. He also believes in the right to choose an abortion and will work to ensure reproductive rights are protected. Also running is Republican candidate Robert Pahmeier. Vinnie Miresse is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Former credit union professional Suzanne Campbell is running for the 72nd Assembly District seat because she wants to be a part of moving Wisconsin forward. Campbell believes in the right to choose an abortion, will fight for the rights of our LGBTQ+ friends, family, and neighbors, and promises to advocate for better mental healthcare. As the daughter of a union family, she is also a strong supporter of workers’ rights and fair wages. Campbell is running against Republican Representative Scott Krug, who has previously been endorsed by two of Wisconsin’s most extreme anti-abortion organizations. Suzanne Campbell is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Former Marathon City village president and Marathon County supervisor John Small has been active in central Wisconsin politics for decades. Small is passionate about education and believes in fully funding our public schools and universities to prepare our children for the future. A biologist by education, he supports protecting our land and water, using our budget surplus wisely to improve infrastructure, and investing in rural communities. Also running is Republican Representative John Spiros, who is aligned with one of Wisconsin’s most extreme anti-abortion organizations. John Small is the more progressive choice in this race.

Shawano County board member and Village of Wittenberg president William Switalla promises to be a positive change for the 87th Assembly District. A small business owner and father of seven, Switalla believes that government is about good ideas, not about political parties. Switalla will prioritize making our public schools strong and financially healthy, ensuring workers are paid a fair wage, and protecting the right to choose an abortion. Switalla wants to provide support for our hardworking local election officials and to invest in rural communities, so that all Wisconsinites can thrive. Also running is Republican candidate Brent Jacobson, who is aligned with one of Wisconsin’s most extreme anti-abortion organizations. William Switalla is the more progressive choice in this race.