Wisconsinites will vote for state Assembly and Senate candidates in the general election Nov. 5, 2024.
This is the first election under newly-competitive district maps.
What do the Wisconsin Senate and Assembly do?
The Wisconsin Legislature is made up of 99 Assembly representatives and 33 Senators from across Wisconsin. Together, they have the power to create, amend and repeal laws.
The Legislature plays a major role in deciding how to use taxpayer-funded state revenue every two years in the biennial budget. Whether more or less money is spent on education, economic development, tax relief — that is decided by the majority in the Legislature, along with Wisconsin's governor, who has to sign the budget, and other bills, into law.
What's at stake?
The Wisconsin Legislature has been firmly controlled by Republicans for more than a decade, under gerrymandered legislative maps.
Those maps were thrown out by the liberal-majority Wisconsin Supreme Court last year, which prompted the Legislature to approve new maps proposed by Gov. Tony Evers.
Democrats now have a chance of winning the majority in the Assembly, if they win a handful competitive districts.
In the Senate, only half of the seats are up for election, which means Republicans are likely to hold a majority in that chamber for the next two years at least. But Democrats are still working to flip some of the seats.
Senate District 8
Wisconsin Senate District 8 includes Cedarburg, Port Washington, Mequon, Bayside, Butler, Fox Point, Grafton, Lannon, Menomonee Falls, River Hills, Thiensville, Whitefish Bay, and most of Brown Deer and Germantown.
According to WisPolitics, two Republican lawmakers were drawn into the new District 8 — Duey Stroebel and Dan Knodl. Knodl is running in the Assembly. Stroebel is running for re-election in the Senate, against Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin.
The district leans approximately 53% Republican.
WUWM sent a questionnaire to the candidates. Their responses below may be edited for length and clarity.
Meet the candidates
Duey Stroebel (Republican)
What motivated you to run for this office?
I am running because I am concerned with inflation, rising prices, and how these issues are impacting families, businesses, and our seniors. Families are seeing it at the gas pump, grocery store, school supplies, you name it. Wisconsin has a budget surplus and the largest rainy day fund in state history because of smart financial decisions. As a husband, father, and small business owner, I am running to return this money back to the hardworking families in our state to give them much needed relief. The importance of preserving opportunity for future generations and making our state a better place for all Wisconsinites cannot be understated.
What concerns are you hearing from constituents, and how do you plan to address those if elected?
We’ve knocked on thousands of doors and have had the opportunity to chat with people at parades and community events. We’ve heard a lot about rising prices, education, and crime. The impact of inflation is a challenge all families are facing. I voted for a $3.5 billion tax cut, which would result in a 15% income tax cut for the average filer. That’s real money back to the taxpayer. On education, I was proud to secure both the largest increase to our K-12 public schools and the largest expansion of school choice in state history. Crime spilling over into our communities is another serious issue that I have worked to deter for our communities.
What would success look like for you at the end of your term?
Adding to my long list of legislative accomplishments this session, there are several initiatives that I would like to see enacted next session. This includes my bipartisan Community Solar bill, which would jump start the creation of community solar projects in Wisconsin. This would reduce energy cost on residents, drive innovation in the energy sector, and create great local jobs. The Legislature also took steps this session to address the issues of child care and clean water. While I supported and voted for these measures, these did not get signed into law. Next session, we will have another opportunity to work on these pressing issues.
What distinguishes your experience from the other candidate(s) in this race?
I’m a Senator with a strong, proven track record of getting real results for our community and Wisconsin, even under divided government. My record includes eliminating the personal property tax, cutting taxes for Wisconsinites, reducing the cost of single-family housing, establishing stronger deterrents against repeat offenders, fighting to protect quality education for kids and parents, and reforming early childhood literacy in our schools.
Please list any notable endorsements you’ve received in this race.
- Ozaukee County Sheriff Christy Knowles
- Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis
- Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann
- Waukesha County County Executive Paul Farrow
- Congressman Scott Fitzgerald
- Congressman Glenn Grothman
- Senator Dan Knodl
- Senator Julian Bradley
- Senator Rob Hutton
- Representative Paul Melotik
- Representative Rob Brooks
Duey Stroebel campaign website
Jodi Habush Sinykin (Democrat)
What motivated you to run for this office?
I am running to move Wisconsin forward, to be a reasonable, common-sense voice in the legislature after more than a decade of gerrymandered maps. As a policy expert and attorney specializing in legislative work, I have worked across the aisle, on behalf of state-wide coalitions, to help enact the Great Lakes Compact, and, in addition, successfully worked to enact Wisconsin’s long-awaited Puppy Mill Bill, which put an end to the scourge of unregulated, inhumane breeding operations in our state. I know from personal, professional experience how critical bipartisanship is for our progress and making government work for Wisconsin again.
What concerns are you hearing from constituents, and how do you plan to address those if elected?
I am hearing from people across the 8th Senate District about their concerns about threats to our fundamental rights and freedoms, such as access to essential healthcare, and our democracy and voting rights. I am hearing from people about the cost of living, and the need to invest in Wisconsin's future through our schools and UW System — to ensure that Wisconsin is a place where young families want to live and can thrive. I plan to work across the aisle, and to advocate for policies that lower costs for Wisconsin's working families and seniors, support small businesses, expand access to healthcare and opportunities for people to get ahead.
What would success look like for you at the end of your term?
At the end of my first term in the State Senate, I would like to see significant progress on issues such as finally accepting the Medicaid (BadgerCare) expansion to increase healthcare access, codify the right to abortion and reproductive freedoms, restore union rights to collectively bargain, restore key protections for our environment, and make Wisconsin a place where young families want to live and work. We have fallen behind our neighboring states when it comes to fair taxation, investment in public schools and higher education, and other policies such as Medicaid expansion, child care, and paid family leave.
What distinguishes your experience from the other candidate(s) in this race?
I have lived in the 8th Senate District for most of my life, and I care deeply about Wisconsin and our future. I have worked across the aisle to achieve landmark policies such as the Great Lakes Compact, and have worked with groundwater advisory committees and legislative study committees and in a bipartisan manner. I know that Wisconsin needs its legislators to work together, and I have the experience that will allow me to hit the ground running to work for the people of the 8th Senate District - and Wisconsin.
Please list any notable endorsements you’ve received in this race.
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Conservation Voters, EMILYs List, Sister District, UAW, SEIU Wisconsin, AFSCME Milwaukee County PEOPLE, Clean Wisconsin Action Fund, Climate Cabinet Action, Electing Women Wisconsin, Moms Demand Action, National Association of Social Workers - Wisconsin Chapter, Attorney General Josh Kaul, Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein, and others.
