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Wisconsin Senate, District 5/Senado Estatal de Wisconsin, Distrito 5

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 SenateThe Wisconsin Senate has thirty-three senators. Voters elect state senators to represent their senate district for a four-year term. Each senate district includes three assembly districts. There is no term limit.___PODER LEGISLATIVO DE WISCONSINLa 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.Senado de WisconsinEl senado de Wisconsin consta de treinta y tres senadores. Los votantes eligen senadores estatales para representar a su distrito senatorial por un período de cuatro años. Cada distrito senatorial incluye tres asambleas de distrito. No hay límite de término.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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  • Candidate picture

    Mike Roberts
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    Robyn Vining
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

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

What, if anything, will you do to ensure equitable, accessible, and affordable health care services, including reproductive health care (i.e. contraception, IVF, and abortion) for Wisconsinites?

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

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 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)?

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Committee Friends of Robyn Vining
Campaign Email Robynforwi@gmail.com
Campaign Phone 4144093834
Campaign Mailing Address PO Box 13591
Wauwatosa, WI 53213
Education BA Psychology, Studio Art; MA Religion
Personal Pronouns she/her
I believe every Wisconsinite deserves access to affordable, quality healthcare (including mental healthcare), childcare and housing; strong, safe, healthy public schools; support for small businesses; safe communities free from gun violence; a vibrant democracy; their constitutional and human rights; and a response from their state government to the affordability crisis that restores the American Dream.

I have been considered one of the most effective legislators in Wisconsin according to the Center for Effective Lawmaking, a joint research initiative between Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia, and have spent the last 7+ years writing policies that I hope that can create a stronger, healthier and safer Wisconsin.
Quality, affordable healthcare–including mental healthcare– is a top priority for me. I serve on the Health and Mental Health committees, and write health policy. I introduced the Public Option and Medicaid expansion, both bills to increase access to affordable healthcare; I authored the bill to require health insurance to cover mental health visits, etc. I am a fierce advocate for women’s health, including reproductive freedom– I’ve also stopped Republican abortion bans in Madison, fought to Restore Roe, and introduced various pieces of legislation to support women’s reproductive health. I authored of the Building Families Act, supporting Wisconsinites’ access to IVF by requiring insurance companies to cover treatment. And, more.
I wrote the Save Our Schools bill, a bill that seeks to drive down property taxes, support teachers, and fund the schools the way our constitution requires. Every child in Wisconsin has a constitutional right to an adequately funded education, and I was the first to propose a 90% special education reimbursement rate with my Save Our Schools bill. This issue isn't partisan in our home districts, and it shouldn't be partisan in Madison. We must correct course, support students with disabilities, support educators, drive down the spike in property taxes, and do our constitutional duty to fund the public schools.
I authored the Fair Maps bill in 2019, shortly after being elected. I believe in nonpartisan redistricting, free and fair elections, and voters being able to choose their elected officials–not politicians choosing their voters.
Early in this last legislative session I co-authored a bill to regulate data centers, and protect Wisconsinites from skyrocketing rates. Wisconsinites deserve to be seen, heard, and protected, and I will work hard to represent those voices. I’ve spent the rest of the legislative session listening, and seeking out the science, as to what’s good, safe and healthy for Wisconsinites. I am committed to protecting access to clean water, ensuring utility rates are affordable, and that Wisconsinites feel seen and heard related to data center construction.