Emily Berge
Licensed professional counselor
Democrat
Eau Claire
Elected Experience
Eau Claire City Council, member (2018-2023); Eau Claire City Council, president (2023-2026)
Q&A with the Candidate
Why should voters send you to congress?
I have eight years of elected experience, including serving as the highest elected official in the largest city in the district. I also served as the League of Wisconsin Municipalities president. I have a proven record of bringing people together to solve problems and deliver results. I was raised with values of honesty, compassion, and opportunity for all, and those guide my leadership. I believe the government should improve people's lives, not make them harder. Leaders should unite communities rather than divide. For the past 14 months, I’ve traveled across all 19 counties of the 3rd Congressional District, listening and showing up in local communities. My campaign is rooted in western and central Wisconsin, and I’m demonstrating the kind of leadership I’ll bring to Congress.
What is the top issue in your district? How would you address it?
I've traveled across all 19 counties in the 3rd CD, talking with people of all ages, backgrounds, and political perspectives. The issue I hear about most is healthcare. Too many people can't afford insurance or access critical care, including mental health services. That's why I support Medicare for All. In this race, I’m the only candidate advocating for universal healthcare. Many young people, farmers, and small business owners go without healthcare. Everyone deserves quality, affordable care. We're watching hospitals close and critical services disappear, from labor and delivery to hospice to mental health care. The U.S. is the only developed nation without universal healthcare. It's time to change and elect leaders prioritizing healthcare over endless foreign wars and tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy.
What expertise would you bring into congress? How would it help your district?
I’m the only candidate in this primary with elected experience. Over the past eight years in local government, I’ve worked with community members and government leaders to address issues affecting everyday people, including housing, water quality, and economic opportunity. As the highest elected official in the largest city in our district, I advocated for my community in Madison and Washington. When outside extremists targeted our community, I stood up for constituents and didn’t back down. I lead with courage, integrity, and commitment to common good. As a licensed professional counselor, I’ve supported people through the most difficult moments of their lives. I know how to listen, navigate conflict, and bring people together to solve problems. These experiences prepared me to effectively advocate for 3rd CD.
Should Congress exert more oversight over the president? Why or why not?
Yes. Congress has significant oversight powers under the Constitution. It needs to use them. Congress has authority to investigate the executive, control federal spending, regulate trade and tariffs, and decide to authorize or end wars. Too often, members of both parties defer to leadership instead of what's best for our country. Representatives should answer to the people, not parties or wealthy donors. Strong oversight is one of the most important ways to check executive power and protect democracy. We need campaign finance reform so elected officials are accountable to constituents rather than concentrated wealth and special interests. I’m committed to the people and will answer to them, not Washington. It’s how I’ve run my campaign, and it’s how I’ll serve in Congress.
What is your favorite fun Wisconsin history fact?
Wisconsin was the first state to have a kindergarten in the country. Margarethe Meyer Schurz opened the first kindergarten in the United States in Watertown in 1856, just eight years after Wisconsin became a state. She later shared the concept with Elizabeth Peabody in Pennsylvania, helping spread early childhood education across the nation. As someone with an undergraduate degree in human development and family studies, I know how important the early years are in a child's development. This piece of Wisconsin history reminds me that when we invest in children, we invest in our future. Strong schools, supportive families, and opportunities for every child help build stronger communities and Wisconsin helped lead the way.