Dear Wisconsin:

As our state begins to turn its attention to the 2026 election cycle, it has become clear that the stakes of the election in Wisconsin have never been more important. Indeed, the past few months have brought the consolidation of authoritarianism at the national level; a cruel federal budget bill that militarizes ICE, makes massive tax expenditures on billionaires, and eliminates healthcare and food security for millions of Americans; and a state budget that fails to solve working Wisconsinites’ most pressing needs for public education, healthcare, housing, a living environment, and carceral reform, all while our treasury sits on a multi-billion dollar surplus.

Yet, as Democrats, we stand on the precipice of being able to win a trifecta in Wisconsin in 2026 and to change course in a way that can tangibly improve the lives of working people and serve as a social democratic model for the rest of the nation. For that reason, it has never been more important that Democratic candidates–especially our candidate for Governor–in 2026 share the following commitments with us:

-to fight, with every ounce of their political capital, for a fully funded public education system at every level, including a dramatic infusion of per pupil aid and 90% reimbursement for special education;

-the guarantee of child care for every working Wisconsin family;

-meaningful support for real housing reform;

-safely closing Green Bay Correctional Institute permanently and reducing the prison population in the state;

-dramatically improve the affordability of healthcare by doubling the income threshold for BadgerCare and opening the program to individuals and small businesses to buy-in;

-building to a guarantee of healthcare for everyone;

-tackling climate change at the scale and immediacy of the crisis while rejecting the utility and fossil fuel industry's weaponized obfuscations;

-narrowing income inequality by immediately moving to a $20 minimum wage;

-and maximizing collective bargaining rights for every single worker in the state.

To work closely with labor unions, social justice organizations, and Democrats in every elected office to advance both legislative priorities and administrative prerogative to win the above agenda items and to build the multi-racial, feminist, LGBTQ+ inclusive, disability-inclusive, worker centered democracy the people of our state deserve.

We, the undersigned, pledge only to support a candidate at the top of the ticket who shows, both in work and in practice, commitments to the above.

Jon Shelton, President, AFT-Wisconsin
Chris Larson, State Senator, 7th Senate District
Representative Ryan Clancy, 19th Assembly District
Justin Bielinski, Milwaukee County Supervisor, District 16
Angela Lang, Black Leaders Organizing for Communities Executive Director
Representative Darrin Madison, 10th Assembly District
Robert Kraig, Executive Director, Citizen Action of Wisconsin
Caroline Gomez-Tom, Milwaukee County Supervisor, District 14
Anne O’Connor, Milwaukee County Supervisor, District 1
Representative Francesca Hong, 76th Assembly District
Representative Christian Phelps, 93rd Assembly District
Representative Angelina Cruz, 62nd Assembly District and President of Racine Educators United
Missy Zombor, Milwaukee Public School Board Director, Citywide
Abe Smith, Menomonie Area School Board
Andrew Hagen, Dunn County Supervisor, District 22
Monica Berrier, Dunn County Supervisor, District 13
Pa Thao, founder of Power Up Eau Claire
Racine Educators United (REA-REAA)
MGR Govindarajan, Common Council Vice President, City of Madison
Brenda Yang, Dane County Board of Supervisors District 19
Savion Castro, Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education
Henry Leonard, former Milwaukee School Board director
Megan Miller, Beloit School Board president
Joe Sexauer, Racine Educators United Director of Membership Services and Organizing
Rachel Henderson, President, Menomonie Area School Board
Maia Pearson, Madison Board of Education Vice President, former WI State Assembly district 78 candidate
Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford District 15, Madison Common Council
Heidi Wegleitner, Dane County Board of Supervisors, District 2
Mark Rice, WISDOM Wisconsin
Michael Jones, Past President, Madison Teachers Inc
Alex Brower, Milwaukee Alderman, district 3
Green Bay Education Association
Representative Angelito Tenorio, 14th Assembly District
Angela Bazan, President, McFarland Federation of Teachers
Joey Prestley, Green Bay Common Council, District 6
Alyssa Proffitt, Green Bay Common Council, District 7
Neil Kraus, President, United Falcons of UW-River Falls
Nick Smiar, Eau Claire County Board, District 15
Madison Teachers Inc. (MTI)
Lisa Conley, President AFT Local 212
Yogesh Chawla, Dane County Board District 6
Representative Supreme Moore Omokunde, 17th Assembly District
Representative Vincent Miresse, 71st Assembly District
Jack Eckblad, Milwaukee County Supervisor, District 4
Ingrid Walker-Henry, Milwaukee Teachers Education Association President
Steven Shea, Milwaukee County Supervisor, District 8
Kathy Andrysiak-Montemurro, Kenosha Education Association President
Fighting Oligarchy Coalition