Juliana Bennett
Swim instructor; bartender
Democrat
Madison
Elected Experience
Madison City Council, District 8 (2021-2023); District 2 (2023-2025)
Q&A with the Candidate
Why should voters elect you?
I’m running for the state Assembly to build an affordable Wisconsin where working people can thrive. There are three things I bring to this race that no one else does: (1) I am the only one in this race that has drafted and passed original legislation; (2) I am the only one in this race that has worked on a bipartisan basis on the local, state, and federal level; (3) I am the only one in this race with a clear anti-establishment stand and commitment to not taking corporate PAC’s money. I will be the person that rallies our Wisconsin state legislators around a clear vision that reflects the needs of the working class, not big money lobbyists.
What is the top issue in your district? How would you address it?
Affordable housing is my top priority. Everything is a housing issue: Healthcare, worker’s rights, education, climate change — all of the above stem from housing issues, which is why “Housing First” initiatives are so vital. My plan starts with passing a tenant bill of rights and making strategic investments in deep and permanent affordable housing. Next, we need to remove the handcuffs from municipalities on addressing their local housing crises by legalizing rent control, inclusionary zoning, and a vacancy tax. At the same time, I will prioritize making sure the state pays its fair share in supporting local efforts to shelter people. Finally, I will advance a statewide Department of Housing and Homeless to fill the absence of a dedicated team working to house Wisconsinites.
How should Wisconsin government operate differently than in the past?
I understand through personal and professional experience the impact of legislators who do nothing, versus those who stand up and fight. The central mission of this campaign is to go beyond the outer limits of what others believe is possible and push the Democratic party and our state to do better. I’m stepping up because I’ve been in the rooms of power as a former alder and as the chief of staff to a state representative, and I have seen how our leaders are not stepping up to meet the moment. I will be the person that rallies our Wisconsin state legislators around a clear vision that reflects the needs of the working class, not big money lobbyists.
What is your favorite fun Wisconsin history fact?
Wisconsin has a claim to fame for a wide range of inventions: from the ice cream sundae, to the first electric guitar, to the QWERTY Keyboard. But did you know that Wisconsin, specifically Milwaukee, has been a major part of American Socialist history? Milwaukee was the center of the “sewer socialism” movement and was the first major city to elect a socialist mayor in 1910. The term sewer socialism was the idea that we should prioritize funding social initiatives to improve public health and wellbeing — which is an issue still highly relevant today. Democratic Socialist New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani even referenced Milwaukee’s history of work under socialist mayors as an inspiration for his own priorities in 2026.