In Wisconsin's Aug. 11 primary election, Jay Schroeder defeated Brayden Myer, Nate Pollnow and Cindy Werner for the Republican secretary of state nomination. Schroeder will face Democrat JoCasta Zamarripa and Green Party candidate Pete Karas on Nov. 3.
What does the Wisconsin Secretary of State do?
The responsibilities of the Office of the Secretary of State include maintaining official state records, authenticating documents for international use and serving as the chair of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL). The BCPL oversees Wisconsin's Common School Fund, which provides millions of dollars annually for public schools and local government loans.
What's at stake?
Gov. Tony Evers appointed Godlewski as secretary of state in 2023 following Doug La Follette's retirement. Voters will elect a new secretary of state, with Godlewski stepping away from the office to run for lieutenant governor.
Some candidates would like to see more authority given to the secretary of state, including elections oversight. The office's responsibilities have been reduced in recent decades. In 2015, legislation led to the creation of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, which removed the secretary of state's role in running elections.
WUWM sent a questionnaire to the candidates. Their responses below may be edited for length, clarity or to remove personal attacks. The candidates' responses are their own and have not been verified by WUWM.
Meet the candidates
Pete Karas (Wisconsin Green Party)
Current occupation: Retired music venue owner
Why are you running for this office?
I'm running for Secretary of State to break the two-party lock, and this office is the safest place to do it. The Wisconsin SOS has almost no policymaking power, so a vote here isn't a gamble on policy; it's a pure signal. No spoiler risk, no "wasted vote" argument that holds up.
That matters beyond this race. Once people vote third-party here and show their dislike of the two corrupt parties, they open the door for people to feel safer doing so in other races. If you're frustrated with Republicans and Democrats, vote for me and send that all-important message.
What would be your top priorities if elected?
Ranked choice voting, first. Wisconsin voters shouldn't have to choose between voting their conscience and avoiding a spoiler. RCV opens the door for more viable choices on the ballot. Public campaign financing, second. Get corporate money out of the process so candidates answer to voters instead of donors. Independent redistricting, third. Politicians shouldn't draw their own maps. It's insanity that they do. Modernize public-records access. Wisconsin's system is outdated and makes basic transparency harder than it should be. And I'd push to move Capitol operations under the Secretary of State, make the office non-partisan, and bring back the Government Accountability Board model for election oversight.
What distinguishes you from other candidates in this race?
Zamarripa and whoever wins the Republican primary both need this office to do something for their party. I don't. There's no policy agenda tied to the Secretary of State role, so I'm the only candidate not using it as a stepping stone. I built a small business, sat on the Racine city council, and I've never voted Republican or Democrat for president. I'm here to strip partisan control out of the office, hand election oversight back to an independent board, and to normalize voting third-party. Zamarripa's platform reads like she's running for Governor. And Republicans want to keep elections under a partisan office, because handing control over how elections run to whichever party holds the seat has worked out "so well" in other States.
Do you think the secretary of state should have more responsibilities under his or her authority, and if so, what should they be?
Yes, but not elections. Handing election administration to the Secretary of State is a bad idea no matter who holds the office, since it puts a partisan elected official in charge of running the vote. I'd keep the SoS out of election oversight entirely and advocate for a reinstated, independent Government Accountability Board in charge instead. Where I'd add responsibility is Capitol operations. It should be a non-partisan duty, and that work fits a public-facing office. I'd also make the office itself nonpartisan. Record-keeping and public access shouldn't be a partisan job. Move the election to April and keep partisan politics out of the office.
Please list any notable endorsements you've received.
- Wisconsin Green Party
- Independence Party
- Pirate Party
- Transhumanist Party
- Dr. Jill Stein
- Dr. Butch Ware
JoCasta Zamarripa (Democrat)
Current occupation: Milwaukee 8th district alderperson
Why are you running for this office?
I'm running because too many Wisconsin families are doing everything right and still falling behind. I know what it means to stretch every dollar, and I've spent my career fighting for working people, from a decade in the State Assembly to two terms on the Milwaukee Common Council, where I led on affordable housing. This office may not come with sweeping powers, but it has a real platform and a seat managing over $1.3 billion in trust funds for our schools. I'll use every part of it to fight for affordable child care, housing, and fully funded public schools.
What would be your top priorities if elected?
My top priority is the cost of living squeezing Wisconsin families: affordable child care, housing relief, and fully funded public schools so communities aren't forced into constant referenda. As a member of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, I'll protect and grow the Common School Fund that supports every public school library in the state. I'll also be a strong voice for the freedom to vote and for keeping this office accessible and transparent for the people it serves. I've spent my career delivering on these issues, and I'll bring that same focus to statewide office.
What distinguishes you from other candidates in this race?
I bring a proven record and deep roots. I served a decade in the State Assembly and am now in my second term on the Milwaukee Common Council. I'm a coalition builder who knows how to navigate tough political fights and stay grounded in community. When the federal government came after our neighbors, I led the "ICE Out of Milwaukee" effort to keep local resources from being used against immigrant families. I've spent my whole career fighting for working families, immigrant communities, and public education, and I've earned the support of a broad coalition across Wisconsin.
Do you think the secretary of state should have more responsibilities under his or her authority, and if so, what should they be?
My focus is on making this office work as well as it possibly can for Wisconsinites right now. Secretary Godlewski has done important work to modernize its services and expand access. I want to build on that progress, delivering the office's core functions efficiently and transparently while being a strong steward of the Common School Fund. What matters to me is using this office's platform to its fullest to fight for working families and protect the freedom to vote. That's where I'll put my energy.
Please list any notable endorsements you've received.
- U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin
- U.S. Congressman Mark Pocan
- The LGBTQ+ Victory Fund
- Vote Run Lead Action
- The Wisconsin Working Families Party
- The Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Union
- The Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters
I'm also proud to have the support of leaders from across Wisconsin including:
- Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson
- Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich
- Superior Mayor Jim Paine
- State Senators Tim Carpenter and Mark Spreitzer
- State Representatives Christine Sinicki, Angelito Tenorio, Margaret Arney and Steve Doyle
- More than a dozen other current and former legislators and local officials from Kenosha to Superior
Jay Schroeder (Republican)
Current occupation: Real estate and stock investor
Why are you running for this office?
Wisconsin needs a Secretary of State in charge of elections just like 33 states have. We must do what works. Wisconsin is in a group of Illinois, New York, Maryland and Washington DC — the blue group of operation we must get out of. There are more deceased people on the voting rolls than alive voters. Shameful. We will interface social security system with the voting rolls. When someone passes away their benefits stop and their name should drop off the voting rolls as well. My one opponent believes voting machines are more accurate than paper ballots. I couldn't disagree more. I will eliminate voting machines provide paper ballots, same day voting, restrict mail in voting. Restrict drop boxes. Proof of citizenship and ID.
What would be your top priorities if elected?
I will bring Election Honest Integrity to Wisconsin and will be willing to take this all the way to the US Supreme court if need be. I will also move the office out of Dane County into the real world of Wisconsin and make the employees accountable to Election Honest Integrity. I will ask various states what works best and what could be corrected. Remember in Florida in 2000 corrupt election hanging chads. Do we hear anything like that now from Florida? No. We need to copy what works. None of this is rocket science. We need to pass on to future generations to the Wisconsin we grew up in.
What distinguishes you from other candidates in this race?
I have been working and studying Election Honesty Integrity for over 10 years. I have discussed the problems of elections in Wisconsin with President Trump in Mara Lago. I have been endorsed by Pro Life Wisconsin and one opponent has not been. One would wonder why. I am also looking forward to an endorsement from a National Veterans organizations as well. I have challenged my Democrat and Green Party candidates to debates around Wisconsin but thus far they have not responded.
Do you think the secretary of state should have more responsibilities under his or her authority, and if so, what should they be?
The Secretary of State will be in charge of elections one way or another. The easy way or the hard way. Under seperation of powers I will use this power to clean up elections. This will bring accountability to the office. The city Green Bay has sent out duplicate ballots in the last two elections. This disregard of elections must stop and power to terminate be given to the department as well. 93% of people on my FB survey said they do not trust elections in Wisconsin. This is a serious and sad situation that demands action and I promise I will.
Please list any notable endorsements you've received.
- Assemblyman Dave Murphy
- Pro Life Wisconsin
Support for WUWM's Voter Guide is provided by Milwaukee Turners.
