Ben Brist
Candidate; veteran
Democrat
Greendale
Elected Experience
None
Q&A with the Candidate
Why should voters elect you?
Wisconsin families are being squeezed. Property taxes, groceries, rent, childcare, healthcare… the basics keep getting more expensive while wages struggle to keep up. I’m running because our district deserves a representative who actually feels that pressure, not one who’s insulated from it. I grew up in a family that depended on public sector work, and I served in the military where I learned to lead and find common ground with people who see the world differently than I do. That’s the experience I’ll bring to Madison. In the Assembly, I’ll cut through the noise and focus on what matters: lowering costs for working families, protecting good jobs, and making sure every kid gets a quality education. I’m ready to fight for you.
What is the top issue in your district? How would you address it?
Talk to almost any homeowner in this district and you’ll hear the same frustration: property taxes keep climbing, and it never feels like enough. That’s what happens when the state chronically underfunds public education and shifts the burden onto local communities. I’ve seen firsthand that a good education opens doors. Every kid in Wisconsin deserves that, regardless of their zip code. In the Assembly, I’ll fight to fix the state funding formula so local schools get what they need without hammering property owners.
How should Wisconsin government operate differently than in the past?
Republican leadership in Madison has ignored what families in this district already know: the cost of living is crushing people. Groceries, property taxes, healthcare, etc. Things keep getting harder, and the legislature keeps looking the other way. This has to change. Wisconsin government should work for the people paying the bills, not the special interests funding campaigns. It should be responsive, honest, and willing to make tough calls even when it’s uncomfortable.
What is your favorite fun Wisconsin history fact?
Wisconsin led the nation on labor rights as we were the first state to pass a public employee collective bargaining law in 1959!