Ryan Clancy
State representative
Democrat
Milwaukee
Elected Experience
Wisconsin State Assembly (2023-present); Milwaukee Country Board (2020-2023)
Q&A with the Candidate
Why should voters elect you?
I’ve spent my life listening to and fighting for Milwaukee. The policy that I write and pass is grounded in the thousands of conversations I’ve had with people all around the district for many years. From the right to counsel, which provides legal assistance to families facing eviction, to paid parental leave, to pushing back on the most harmful Republican attacks on the working class, immigrants, trans folks and Palestinians, my legislation and advocacy has had a positive impact on our district and the state. I show up, I listen, and I advocate for our city and residents.
What is the top issue in your district? How would you address it?
The Trump regime’s overreach and attacks on our residents continues to be the issue that many residents are the most concerned about. From the threat of ICE being deployed in full force to Milwaukee, to attacks on essential services and benefits like Foodshare and Medicaid, and to the wars and tariffs which are making so many essentials unaffordable, it falls on the state to put policies and funding in place to push back on Trump’s attacks and to protect our residents. I’ve led on those efforts at the state, organizing my colleagues around scores of pieces of legislation; we’re eager to win the governor’s seat, the Senate and the Assembly in November so that we can finally get this legislation passed into law.
How should Wisconsin government operate differently than in the past?
In November, when we have the trifecta, Democrats must lead boldly. The last trifecta (2009-10) we failed to deliver on popular policies like raising the minimum wage and codifying abortion rights. Democrats then lost control of the legislature for more than a decade and a half. This time, we have to do better. That means electing and supporting people who will fight for our community rather than compromising their values to try to appease the far right. It means both repealing Act 10 and providing the local revenue to pay workers fairly. It means codifying our rights and protections. It means fairly funding public education. And it means lowering property taxes by more than 40% by having the extremely wealthy finally pay their fair share.
What is your favorite fun Wisconsin history fact?
Wisconsin has elected socialists to nearly every level of government: school board directors, county board supervisors, city council members, mayors, even members of Congress. We had a lull for a while, though: when I was elected in 2020, I was the first since 1956. But when Wisconsin elects a democratic socialist as governor in November, she’ll be the first democratic socialist governor not only in Wisconsin’s history, but the first in the United States!