Zoe Sullivan
Audio producer; writer
Democrat
Madison
Elected Experience
None
Q&A with the Candidate
Why should voters elect you?
I bring more than 30 years of practice listening to people as both an organizer and a journalist, and I use a systems lens to reflect on issues. I was one of the first people in the state to raise the alarm about data centers’ potential environmental impact, and in my work on immigrants’ rights, I forged coalitions with financial institutions, a law school, and nonprofit organizations. Additionally, thanks to my reporting experience and my work expanding access to solar power across the state, I have connections to and insights into communities from Wausau to Westby.
What is the top issue in your district? How would you address it?
Education funding is the top issue in the district, both for the K-12 system and the university system. One of the first things I would do in office would be to draft legislation to roll back the voucher program. That program is siphoning money out of the public school system and forcing communities across the state to hold referenda on raising property taxes to make up the gap. We could also pass a bill to tax the wealthiest Wisconsinites at a higher rate and direct those funds to K-12 schools. I would also work to close prisons and reduce the incarcerated population. The state currently spends nearly 15% of its budget on corrections, while the university system receives roughly one third of that amount.
How should Wisconsin government operate differently than in the past?
Since 2011, the Republican-controlled state Legislature has epitomized partisan power politics by stymying Democratic administrations and legislative efforts to the detriment of all Wisconsinites. I would like to see an end to the partisan infighting that frustrates so many in the state.
What is your favorite fun Wisconsin history fact?
Wisconsin was the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment.