Wisconsinites will vote for state Assembly and Senate candidates in a primary on Aug. 11 and in the general election Nov. 3, 2026.
This is the second election under more competitive district maps.
One Republican and two Democrats are running for Assembly District 13. The Democrat to receive the most votes Aug. 11 will advance to the November election against the Republican candidate.
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 in 2023, which prompted the Legislature to approve new maps proposed by Gov. Tony Evers.
Democrats now have a chance of winning the majority in the state Senate, if they win a handful competitive districts.
Republicans are likely to maintain their majority in the Assembly. According to JR Ross with WisPolitics.com, Democrats would have to sweep almost all of the "swing" seats and hold on to a few they won by the skin of their teeth in 2024, to have a chance of gaining a majority in the Assembly.
Assembly District 13
Wisconsin Assembly District 13 includes most of Wauwatosa, Elm Grove and much of northern Brookfield. Current Rep. Robyn Vining, a Democrat, is running for state Senate rather than seeking reelection to the Assembly.
WUWM sent a questionnaire to the candidates. Their responses below may be edited for length and clarity.
Meet the candidates
Mike Morgan (Republican)
Current occupation: Marketing consultant
Why are you running for this office?
To use my decades of expertise and experience in the community, government and the private sector to immediately benefit the citizens of the 13th District and the State of Wisconsin. I will be an independent voice seeking balanced solutions and common-sense coalitions like I have on the Wauwatosa City Council over the last six years. I’ll hit the ground running with a minimal learning curve.
In WUWM's election survey, affordability is the top concern listed by voters. How would you work to address cost of living issues in Wisconsin?
State government can reduce the cost of living for Wisconsin residents by efficiently decreasing their tax and fee burdens and better regulating of utility rates. I would work with legislative leaders from both parties along with citizens, business, and other stakeholders to form common sense solutions and better oversight.
A Marquette poll earlier this year found 70% of WI voters think the costs of large data centers are greater than the benefits they provide. How do you plan to address concerns about data centers?
I would seek balance when it comes to growth of large data centers in Wisconsin, much like I have with large developments in Wauwatosa when I was on the Common Council. We need to review any incentives and tax breaks very closely, but also need to understand the need to increase affordability and good paying jobs.
What are your top state budget priorities?
My budget priority is to return a significant amount of the $2.5 billion budget surplus to taxpayers and local governments. However, we need to hold those local governments, especially school districts like Wauwatosa and Elm Grove, accountable for their levels of spending and ensure transparent governing.
How do you plan to remain accountable to the people of Wisconsin?
I've always been available and accountable as a public official on the Wauwatosa Common Council and would continue that approach for the State Assembly. I recently ran a local aldermanic campaign on a $250 budget while my opponent spent $11,000 including $8,500 from a national Democratic Party affiliated PAC and was significantly delinquent in filing campaign finance reports. I believe that contrast speaks for itself.
Please list any notable endorsements you've received.
I believe that contacting residents and voters is more valuable than any notable endorsements. I knocked on some 1,500 doors talking to 300 district residents in my recent aldermanic campaign which provided important input and I'll continue to talk to many more citizens in the 13th District.
Amy Zimmerman (Democrat)
Current occupation: Project Manager
Why are you running for this office?
As a mom, professional project manager, small business co-owner, and community leader, I've seen firsthand the many local issues that are caused by our state laws & budget. My experience turning groups of individuals into high-performing teams will help the Democratic caucus in Madison get important work done starting Day One in January.
In WUWM's election survey, affordability is the top concern listed by voters. How would you work to address cost of living issues in Wisconsin?
Two of the top affordability concerns that constituents share with me are housing and healthcare.
I support a comprehensive approach that increases housing supply — expanding workforce housing, supporting infrastructure grants for communities to prepare sites for development, and investing in eldercare so seniors stay in their communities while moving into safer homes.
I also support expanding insurance access and affordability by either providing a public buy-in option to Wisconsin's employee health plan or BadgerCare. We must also follow Oregon's example in regulating the Corporate Practice of Medicine to ensure that clinicians are making the care decisions best for their patients.
A Marquette poll earlier this year found 70% of WI voters think the costs of large data centers are greater than the benefits they provide. How do you plan to address concerns about data centers?
- Robust, transparent environmental & water-impact assessments before projects are approved, including cumulative impacts on groundwater.
- Local governments should have meaningful authority in siting decisions, with standards that prevent large-scale projects from being imposed without adequate local input and planning.
- Developers must be responsible for the infrastructure costs their projects create (roads, water systems, energy upgrades, and emergency services) so those costs don’t fall on local property taxpayers.
- Strengthen ongoing monitoring and reporting requirements so communities know whether promises are being met over time.
What are your top state budget priorities?
Achieving a balanced budget that invests in the programs Wisconsin needs for a prosperous future.
My top priorities are fully funding public education, making health-, child-, and elder-care more affordable, strengthening environmental protections, and ensuring local governments serve residents effectively.
In particular, I will fight for improving special education reimbursement so that districts are not forced to absorb disproportionate costs locally.
I will fight for expanding investments into affordable healthcare, child care, and elder care.
And I will fight to expand access to retirement investment accounts for small business workers.
How do you plan to remain accountable to the people of Wisconsin?
I will be open and transparent about my decisions and provide ample opportunities to meet with constituents directly. I will disclose any conflicts of interest, should they arise.
My motivation for running for this office is to serve my community, and I have a trusted history as a servant-leader in my community.
Please list any notable endorsements you've received.
We continue to earn more, so please check https://www.amyforwi.com/endorsements for the current list.
I am most proud of having earned a broad coalition of support, including elected officials representing many levels of government within this district: Wisconsin Assembly, City of Brookfield, Wauwatosa School Board, Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, Waukesha County Board of Supervisors and appointees to City of Wauwatosa boards.
David Sanchez (Democrat)
Current occupation: Attorney
Why are you running for this office?
I’m running because Wisconsin deserves leaders who are willing to do the hard work required to make government truly deliver for the people. My immigrant parents instilled in me the value of giving back, and I have a 20-year track record of identifying local problems and delivering real solutions. As an attorney and former WI Supreme Court law clerk, I also bring a legal skillset that members of the Assembly Democratic caucus have said is needed, especially if we secure a Democratic trifecta this year. I understand how to listen, navigate nuance, and draft effective legislation that addresses the root causes of the biggest issues facing our communities.
In WUWM's election survey, affordability is the top concern listed by voters. How would you work to address cost of living issues in Wisconsin?
Affordability generally, and rising property taxes, specifically, are the most common themes I have heard when knocking doors across District 13. Families are being squeezed by the rising cost of utilities, childcare and healthcare, but Wauwatosa property taxes have increased sharply in recent years due to school referendums caused by decades of underfunding of our public schools. We need to revisit the school funding formula to restore the historic two-thirds state funding commitment, increase special education cost reimbursements to at least 60%, and tie local revenue limits directly to CPI so that school funding naturally keeps pace with inflation. All of these solutions will directly reduce the burden on local property taxpayers.
A Marquette poll earlier this year found 70% of WI voters think the costs of large data centers are greater than the benefits they provide. How do you plan to address concerns about data centers?
I support the state placing common-sense guardrails on these projects to ensure a baseline protection of our state’s health, environment and financial well-being. That means creating special utility rate structures that would place the entire cost of net new energy infrastructure and production on the tech companies so Wisconsin families are never forced to subsidize any amount of energy for these projects centers as well as implementing stricter permitting standards that include regular water testing. While the state can’t negotiate every individual deal, we should mandate full public transparency, local notice and expanded public input requirements.
What are your top state budget priorities?
The budget is an opportunity to address the immediate affordability crisis and lay a foundation for Wisconsin’s long term prosperity. This includes securing sufficient funding for public schools (including a return to the two-thirds state funding commitment and raising the special ed reimbursement rate), expanding Medicaid, and implementing a statewide paid family & medical leave policy. It also means getting creative with ways to bring down costs for everyday consumers by, for example, lowering operational costs for childcare providers with a state-backed childcare insurance program, investing in renewable energy infrastructure, streamlining workforce housing construction, and providing grants to address nurse and teacher shortages.
How do you plan to remain accountable to the people of Wisconsin?
One of my top priorities would be strengthening and protecting our democratic institutions to ensure all politicians remain accountable to the voters. That means building on the progress Wisconsin has made by protecting fair maps, ensuring every eligible voter can participate in our democracy, increasing transparency and accountability in government, and creating permanent, independent redistricting reforms so voters choose their representatives. A healthy democracy is the foundation that allows us to make progress on every other issue facing our state.
Please list any notable endorsements you've received.
Kathy Ehley, Former Mayor of Wauwatosa; Rep. Tip McGuire, WI State Assembly, District 64; Rep. Ryan Spaude, WI State Assembly, District 89; Robin Brannin, Wauwatosa Alderperson - District 9; Rob Gustafson, Wauwatosa Alderperson - District 5; Kathy Causier, Former Wauwatosa Common Council President; Jeff Roznowski, Former Wauwatosa Alderperson; Joel Tilleson, Former Wauwatosa Alderperson; Robin Luther, President, Wauwatosa NAC; Greater Milwaukee Realtors Association; Wisconsin Realtors Association
