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.
Assembly District 24
Wisconsin Assembly District 24 includes the villages Menomonee Falls, Lannon, and the southern half of Germantown.
Republican Sen. Dan Knodl is running against Democrat William Walter in the Nov. 5 general election. Knodl beat Republican Rep. Janel Brandtjen in the Aug. 13 primary.
According to WisPolitics, the district leans approximately 61% Republican.
WUWM sent a questionnaire to the candidates. Their responses below may be edited for length and clarity.
Meet the candidates
William Walter (Democrat)
What motivated you to run for this office?
I believe it’s imperative for young people to have a seat at the table while expecting public policy to serve the needs of the many — rather than the will of the few — something that can only be accomplished through unapologetically progressive legislation. In a district desperate for change as the state enters a new electoral era, it’s time for a new generation of leaders. In the tradition of the Wisconsin Idea, in a state rich with progressive history, the values and ideas that made Wisconsin a national leader in “forward” thinking policy must be modernized and implemented today. To reshape our future, we must reclaim our past.
What concerns are you hearing from constituents, and how do you plan to address those if elected?
Wisconsin voters have made it very clear they believe in reproductive freedom. This attack on women's rights and bodily autonomy we are seeing from Republicans is an invasion of our freedoms and an assault on fundamental American rights. We must guarantee access to safe, legal abortions for all Wisconsinites. Additionally, democracy itself is on the forefront of many minds. Each of us has a voice and the right to be heard, one person, one vote. Attempts to usurp the will of Wisconsin voters in 2020 have not been forgotten, especially with GOP attacks on the process, like restrictions on absentee ballots.
What would success look like for you at the end of your term?
Ensuring reproductive freedom and implementing BadgerCare for all, as well as staple progressive policies like protecting public education, demanding climate justice, and enacting cannabis legalization, will be the foundation of my campaign and what I hope to accomplish if elected. I hope to be the spark that ignites the grassroots seed progressives planted years ago so that Wisconsin can finally bloom. I will be the bridge between passion, ideas, and action, as passion begets knowledge, knowledge begets action, and action begets change.
What distinguishes your experience from the other candidate(s) in this race?
I serve as the executive director of Our Wisconsin Revolution after previously serving as the policy research director and lead training organizer. With media experience from hosting a state-wide radio show and national experience as an elected delegate to the 2020 Democratic National Convention, I bring youth, energy, and fresh ideas to a district in need of innovation. Working and grassroots organizing with the incredible people of the 24th over the past six years has cemented my belief in the importance of community and dedication to one another. These foundational pillars uplift both the individual and society as a whole.
Please list any notable endorsements you’ve received in this race.
Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance, more to come.
William Walter campaign website
Dan Knodl (Republican)
Knodl did not respond to WUWM's candidate questions. The information below is from his campaign website and previous news coverage.
Knodl served in the Wisconsin Assembly before being elected to the Senate in a special election in 2023. In that election, he defeated Janel Brandtjen and another Republican in the primary.
Under new district maps, Knodl is now running for Assembly District 24.
On his campaign website, Knodl touts his experience as a small business owner.
"My top priority is to ensure our communities are safe, thriving, and that state government works efficiently for you," Knodl's website says. "Through commonsense budgeting and cutting government waste, we’ve successfully reduced the tax burden on families and small businesses. These efforts have allowed us to invest more in education, improve our roads, and lower healthcare premiums, among other achievements."
Have questions about other candidates on your ballot? Read about the candidates in your Wisconsin Senate district here:
