Partisan primary
The election will be held Tuesday, August 9 2022 and is a partisan primary. You are allowed to vote for primary candidates in only one political party. Near the top of your ballot, you will see an option to select a party preference. While this is optional, it’s highly recommended that you mark your party preference to ensure your ballot isn’t rejected!
Your ballot is completely secret, so no one but you will know which party primary you chose to vote in.
Though running as socialists on the Democratic Party ballot line remains controversial, the Electoral Politics Working Group is operating on the assumption that DSA Madison members will have no interest in supporting candidates in the Republican, Libertarian, or Constitution Parties. We will only be providing advice on candidates running for the Democratic Party nomination.
Candidate links below represent website, and social media links found for each candidate. If links are missing, we were not able to find them.
(I) – Current incumbent
United States Senator
The primary for US Senator is a very crowded field with the winner expected to take on Ron Johnson.
Mandela Barnes Web FB Flickr Insta Tiktok Twitter Youtube wiki
Current Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barns seems to be monied interests least favorite candidate and has been getting lots of right wing style attacks from the other candidates. He has been endorsed by Bernie Sanders, State Senator Francesca Hong, MADSA-Endorsed Madison City Councilors Brian Benford and Yanette Figueroa Cole, and MADSA-Endorsed Madison School Board member Ananda Mirilli. Union endorsements: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, American Federation of Teachers MATC Local 212 and Service Employees International Union Wisconsin Healthcare
Tom Nelson Web FB Insta LinkedIn Twitter wiki Youtube
Nelson has withdrawn from the race and endorsed Mandela Barns
Sarah Godlewski Web FB Insta Twitter wiki
Sarah Godlewski has no known endorsements from labor or progressive candidates.
Alex Lasry Web FB Insta Twitter wiki Youtube
Lasry has very little prior political experience, he is best known as being the son of Marc Lasry, the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team. Lasry has been endorsed by the Teamsters Local 39, IATSE Local 18, Electrical Workers 494, IBW Local 890.
Kou C. Lee Web FB Insta Twitter Youtube
Kou C. Lee has no known endorsements.
Steven Olikara Web FB Instagram LinkedIn Twitter
Steven Olikara has been endorsed by Andrew Yang and the singer Akon (who hopes to build a cryptocurrency-fueled city in Senegal).
Peter Peckarsky Web FB Twitter
Peckarsky has no known notable endorsements.
Darrell Williams Web FB Instagram Twitter Youtube
Williams states on his website he wants to support military and law enforcement and has no known notable endorsements.
Lt. Governor
Both running on their credentials as supporters of small business
Secretary of State
Doug La Follette (I) Web Twitter LinkedIn Wiki
Wants to use the position’s place on the board of commissioners of public lands (BPCL) to “consolidate assets” and create “larger tracts of forest for critical habitats”
State Treasurer
Gillian M. Battino Web FB Twitter
Aaron Richardson Web FB Twitter
Angelito Tenorio Web FB Twitter Instagram
Tenorio is endorsed by State Senator Francesca Hong
Assembly District 43 (Oregon, Edgerton, Whitewater)
League of Women Voters Questionnaire
Jenna Jacobson Web FB LinkedIn
Supports abortion and gender affirming care.
Matt McIntyre
Ex-Mayor of Edgerton
Assembly District 46 (Sun Prairie, Cottage Grove, Stoughton)
League of Women Voters Questionnaire
Syed Abbas Web, FB, LinkedIn, Twitter
Madison City Council President Syed Abbas ran against MADSA-endorsed candidate Tessa Echevarria for city council in the last election. Abbas has been endorsed by former mayor Paul Soglin.
Analiese Eicher Web, FB, Twitter
Dane County Board Supervisor (currently District 3, formerly District 5) Analiese Eicher has no known notable endorsements.
Andrew Hysell Web, FB, Insta, LinkedIn, Twitter
Andrew Hysell has been endorsed by the Wisconsin Democratic Party, the American Constitution Society (which is currently headed by Russ Feingold), and the Wisconsin Cannabis Association.
Mike Jacobs
Mike Jacobs has no known endorsements.
Melissa Ratcliff Web, FB, LinkedIn, Twitter
Melissa Ratcliff has been endorsed by Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and former sheriff Dave Mahoney. Ratcliff is known to be a supporter of the jail expansion project.
Assembly District 79 (Middleton, Waunakee, northwest)
League of Women Voters Questionnaire
Alex Joers Web, FB, Insta, Twitter
Dane County Board Supervisor (District 9) Alex Joers has been endorsed by Dane County Executive Joe Parisi.
Brad Votava has no known endorsements.
Assembly District 80 (Belleville, Mt. Horeb, New Glarus)
League of Women Voters Questionnaire
Mike Bare Web, FB, Insta, LinkedIn, Twitter
Dane County Board Supervisor Mike Bare has been endorsed by AFSCME. Bare has also been notably consistently responsive to DSA members’ queries about criminal justice issues.
Anna Halverson Web, FB, Insta, Twitter
Anna Halverson has no known notable endorsements.
Chad Kemp has no known notable endorsements.
Doug Steinberg
Doug Steinberg has no known endorsements.
Dale Edward Paul Yurs FB, Instagram
Dale Edward Paul Yurs has no known notable endorsements.
Unopposed Races
Governor, Attorney General, US Congress Representative District 2, Dane County Sheriff as well as several State Senate and State Assembly Races only have one candidate.
Red Madison 