Wisconsinites will vote for state Assembly candidates in the general election Nov. 3, 2026.
This is the second election under more 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 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 of 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 33
Wisconsin Assembly District 33 includes eastern Walworth County and southwest Racine County, including Burlington, most of Lake Geneva, East Troy and Union Grove.
Current Rep. Robin Vos, a Republican, is not seeking reelection. Vos was one of the most powerful legislators in Wisconsin and served a record-long stint as state Assembly speaker
Republican Steve Wicklund and Democrat Maria Elena Bisabarros will face each other in the Nov. 3 election. Wicklund beat Republican Rick Stacey in the Aug. 11 primary, while Bisabarros beat Democrat Rick Bailey.
WUWM sent a questionnaire to the candidates. Their responses below may be edited for length and clarity.
Meet the candidates
Steve Wicklund (Republican)
Current occupation: Owner, BSW Electric, and Village President of Union Grove
Why are you running for this office?
I'm running because I've spent my career in the trades, building a small business and serving my community, while watching government grow as families and small businesses pay the price. As Village President of Union Grove and Chairman of the Racine County Intergovernmental Cooperation Council, I've balanced budgets and seen local leaders take the heat for problems Madison created and won't fix: unfunded mandates, broken shared revenue formulas, and property taxes crushing homeowners. I'm not here to start a political career. I'm coming to solve problems and go home. I've signed the front of a paycheck, and I'll bring that common sense to Madison: limited government, lower taxes, and a state that works for people.
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 starts with property taxes, and for too long Madison has pushed its costs onto local taxpayers. I will fight to restore the state's share of school funding, reform shared revenue, and end the unfunded mandates that drive local taxes up. I support responsible income tax cuts, eliminating taxes on tips, and keeping energy affordable and reliable. As a business owner and Village President, I have balanced budgets the hard way, and I will do the same in Madison.
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?
In Racine County we are living this firsthand, with one of the nation's largest data center projects in our backyard. These developments can bring investment, but too often the benefits go to the corporation while ratepayers and taxpayers absorb the costs. I will insist that data centers pay the true cost of the energy and water they use, that household affordability and reliability come first, that our water is protected, and that local officials and taxpayers get full transparency.
What are your top state budget priorities?
Property tax relief comes first, and that means fixing the structural problems behind the bills. I would use the surplus for lasting fixes and a responsible reserve, not new programs we cannot sustain: restore the state's share of school funding with dollars reaching the classroom, reform shared revenue, and end unfunded mandates. Fully fund public safety, invest in the skilled trades and technical colleges, and keep cutting income taxes responsibly. Government should live within its means and tie spending to results.
How do you plan to remain accountable to the people of Wisconsin?
Accountability is the reason I am running, and it starts with being accessible. I am not a career politician. I am a business owner and local leader who answers to the people I serve. I will hold regular town halls and office hours across Racine and Walworth Counties, return calls, show up at local meetings, and be straight with people even when we disagree. As Village President I have governed in public, vote by vote, and I will bring that same openness to Madison. I also believe government should be accountable to taxpayers, so I support performance based budgeting that ties spending to results and regular review of agencies. I came to solve problems and go home, and I will measure my work by results for the people who sent me there.
Please list any notable endorsements you've received.
- Van Wanggaard, State Senator
- Amanda Nedweski, State Representative
- Bob Wittke, State Representative
- Ralph Malicki, Racine County Executive
- Christopher Schmaling, Racine County Sheriff
- Patricia Hanson, Racine County District Attorney
- Tom Kramer, Racine County Board Chairman
- Scott Maier, Racine County Board Vice Chairman
- Ernie Rossi, Racine County Board Supervisor
- Troy McReynolds, Racine County Board Supervisor
- Jon Schultz, Mayor, City of Burlington,
- Sara Gloeckler, Village Trustee, Union Grove
- Will Martin, Candidate for Lt. Governor
- David DeGroot, Village President, Mt. Pleasant
Maria Elena Bisabarros (Democrat)
Bisabarros did not respond to WUWM's candidate questions. The information below is from her campaign website.
Maria Elena Bisabarros was born in Spain and became a U.S. citizen in 1997. For 35 years, she taught at universities, Elkhorn High School and homeschool groups. Now, she and her husband co-own a meat processing company in East Troy.
Her priorities include ending voucher programs that transfer public payer dollars to private schools, lowering healthcare costs, investing in solar energy and introducing a statewide moratorium on data centers.
Support for WUWM's Voter Guide is provided by Milwaukee Turners.
