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Wisconsin Assembly, District 56/Asamblea de Wisconsin, Distrito 56

Wisconsin Legislative BranchWisconsin’s legislature makes state laws. The legislature has two houses: the Wisconsin Senate and the Wisconsin Assembly. Proposed laws (bills) can originate from either the state senate or assembly. Both houses must approve the bill before it is passed on to the governor for signature or veto. The legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds majority vote in each house. The legislature controls the spending of state funds through appropriation.Wisconsin AssemblyThe Wisconsin Assembly has ninety-nine representatives. Voters elect representatives to represent their assembly district for a two-year term. There is no term limit.__________Poder Legislativo de Wisconsin La legislatura de Wisconsin produce las leyes estatales. La legislatura consta de dos cámaras: el Senado de Wisconsin y la Asamblea de Wisconsin. Las propuestas de ley pueden originarse tanto en el Senado estatal como en la Asamblea. Ambas cámaras deben aprobar el proyecto de ley antes de transmitirla al gobernador para su firma o veto. La legislatura puede anular un veto con un voto mayoritario de dos tercios en cada cámara. La legislatura controla el gasto de los fondos estatales a través de las leyes de asignación. Asamblea de WisconsinLa Asamblea de Wisconsin tiene noventa y nueve representantes. Los votantes eligen representantes para representar a su asamblea de distrito por un término de dos años. No hay límite de términos.Nota: Las respuestas de los candidatos que aparecen en español se tradujeron de las respuestas originales de los candidatos en inglés.

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Ranked Candidates

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All Candidates

  • Candidate picture

    Grace Abitz
    (Dem)

  • Candidate picture

    Anthony W. Phillips
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    Shawna Riley
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

Please describe your priorities for your term in office and your specific qualifications to effectively address those issues.

What do you see as the most pressing housing-related issue in Wisconsin, and what policies, if any, would you support to address the issue?

What redistricting process, if any, do you believe the legislature should put in place before the next national census to ensure fair representation for voters?

What, if anything, will you do to ensure our schools have the resources to improve outcomes for its students, including those with disabilities?

What guardrails, if any, would you support to protect our environment, health, property values, and household budgets from large projects such as hyperscale data centers and Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)?

Committee Committee to Elect Grace Abitz
Campaign Phone 9203897441
Campaign Mailing Address PO Box 4
Hortonville, WI 54944
Education Bachelor Degree in Design Art and Business Minor from UW-Green Bay
Personal Pronouns she/her
I will be part of a legislation that fully funds public education, with special education reimbursement rates at a sustainable level for school districts. Voucher transparency is a critical step one in showing Wisconsinites how disparaging they are to public education. Students on vouchers received $700M dollars in 2025 to benefit 15% of the student population. Where is the common good in that use of state tax dollars? After public schools are fully funded as priority number one, then the voucher system can be examined. I will deploy my resourcefulness and tenacity to solve the problem and call out a government system that is failing the common good. Identifying the problem in the room is step one, and that is complacent legislators.
I hear stories about first time home buyers paying $50,000 over asking price on houses. We need to increase our supply of houses and diversify our dwelling offerings. We can identify what structures are currently vacant to convert into dwellings. We can build systems that benefit the buyer, such as housing co-ops, rather than force home buyers to take big financial risks in a game where alternative options do not exist. Let's adapt and get people into safe, affordable spaces to live.
Non partisan organizations should facilitate the creation of fair maps. Transparent communications with districts should exist with meeting dates/times being published in the newspaper regularly and municipal letters. Everyone should know the process is happening and have the chance to participate and raise concerns.
The formula for public education needs to be updated to reflect the economics of 2026, not 1993. Proper funding is an investment in Wisconsin's future, we deserve to see families and local school districts flourishing. The reimbursement rate should be as close to 100% as possible, so there is room for bargaining. Now is the time to bring in funding from the ultra wealthy and corporations who have evaded their fair share of tax payments for too long.
Our environment is the most important part of our infrastructure. Subsequent socioeconomic problems do not exist without a healthy environment. Turning to environmental experts and the DNR is critical to preserving our water and wildlife in Wisconsin. We need to listen to science, diversify our energy usage, and grow our own food. Solar panels in parking lots to harness energy, trees to provide shade, and beautiful spaces for residents is critical for a healthy future. Planting native species to support pollinators and deploying mushroom species that break down microplastics is an investment in our own health. Organizing with other legislators against data centers and CAFOs is imperative.
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My goal for office is to be fair representation for all of the constituents of district 56 but I believe that we haven't had real representation in quite some time. I'm a lifelong factory worker and believe that the working people deserve a voice. As a previous union representative, I'm qualified to be a voice for the people. A huge part of my campaign is listening to voters. I'm hearing that they want to fix the school funding system that leaves private schools funded and public schools going to referendum and rising property taxes. I'm hearing about the loopholes in the disability system. I'm hearing that the people are tired of having privileged out of touch politicians in office.
The biggest issue is that we've had the republican majority in legislation and we haven't been able to enact any real changes. With the Republican incumbent in my district retiring, and the people are wanting change so badly. I'm already receiving the bipartisan support to win against my Republican opponent in November.
Wisconsin should establish an independent, nonpartisan redistricting process before the next national census so that voters choose their representatives—not the other way around. Legislative districts should be drawn using transparent criteria that prioritize equal population, compliance with the Voting Rights Act, keeping communities of interest together, and respecting municipal and county boundaries whenever possible. The process should include public hearings across the state, opportunities for public input, and full transparency so Wisconsinites can see how decisions are made. Fair maps strengthen our democracy by ensuring every voter has an equal voice, increasing accountability, and building public trust in our elections.
I would work to phase out Wisconsin's taxpayer-funded private school voucher program by repealing the laws that created and expanded it, while allowing current students time to complete their education through a responsible transition. The funding currently directed to voucher schools should be reinvested in our public schools, so every child has access to a strong, well-funded neighborhood school which includes funding for the proper programs to support children with disabilities. Public tax dollars should be prioritized for public education, which serves all students and is accountable to taxpayers.
No Data centers in Wisconsin. I believe we should break away from big Ag and phase out CAFOs.