Darrin Madison
State representative
Democrat
Milwaukee
Elected Experience
Wisconsin State Assembly (2023-present)
Q&A with the Candidate
Why should voters elect you?
Voters should elect me because I lead with the belief that those closest to the problems are closest to the solutions. As a community organizer and state representative, I have worked to bring the voices of working families, renters, seniors, young people, and small business owners into the decisions that shape our future. I am fighting to lower costs through utility justice, fully fund public education while reducing pressure on property taxpayers, protect our environment through a green amendment, strengthen democracy, and improve conditions of confinement in our correctional system. I believe government should be responsive, transparent, and accountable to the people it serves. Together, we can build a Wisconsin where everyone has the opportunity not just to get by, but to thrive.
What is the top issue in your district? How would you address it?
Two of the biggest issues in my district are affordability and public safety. Families are struggling with rising costs for housing, utilities, and everyday necessities, while residents also want safe, healthy communities. To address affordability, I have introduced utility justice legislation that would cap residential energy costs as a percentage of household income and worked to ensure large energy users, like data centers, do not shift costs onto working families and small businesses. For public safety, I have led legislation to improve conditions of confinement in Wisconsin’s correctional institutions through greater oversight, safer facilities, expanded programming, and rehabilitation-focused reforms. These policies help reduce violence, improve working conditions for correctional staff, and better prepare individuals for successful reentry. Strong communities require both economic security and a justice system that promotes safety, accountability, and rehabilitation.
How should Wisconsin government operate differently than in the past?
Wisconsin government should operate with more transparency, accountability, and public participation than it has in the past. Too often, decisions are shaped by powerful interests instead of the people most affected by them. Government works best when it listens to and partners with communities, because those closest to the problems are often closest to the solutions. That means making government more accessible, reducing the influence of special interests, and ensuring public input plays a meaningful role in policymaking. It means focusing on long-term solutions instead of short-term political wins. Whether we're addressing rising costs, strengthening public education, protecting our environment, or improving public safety, government should be proactive, responsive, and people-centered. Government should help all Wisconsinites thrive, not just a privileged few.
What is your favorite fun Wisconsin history fact?
The civil rights movement during the 1960s in Milwaukee which was called the "Selma Of The North" had historic 200-night campaign for open housing. Led by the NAACP Youth Council and Catholic priest Father James E. Groppi, alongside trailblazing Alderwoman Vel R. Phillips, the movement used direct-action protests to combat entrenched segregation in housing and public schools, paving the way for landmark federal and local fair housing laws. This for me serves as a reminder that young people have consistently been at the epicenter of change.