Currently holds the office of Wisconsin State Assembly - District 80 until January 4, 2027.
Candidate for Wisconsin State Assembly - District 80 in 2026 Wisconsin Primary Election.
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Get StartedWomen’s rights and reproductive freedom, especially the right to abortion, get Mike's full and unconditional support. Mike is a member of Men4Choice, founded by a friend of his, because it shouldn't just be on women to fight for their basic rights. Mike has also been an ally to women on improving maternal care, expanding paid leave, and guaranteeing equal pay for women. When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe, the clock was turned back to an 1849 state law outlawing abortions in Wisconsin. Thankfully, a court decision has put that law on hold, but we must codify the right to abortion in state law. Contraception access is under threat too. Mike authored a bill to require insurers to cover permanent contraception procedures, including vasectomies and tubal ligations. Mike also cosponsored a bill authored by our State Senator, Dianne Hesselbein, which guarantees access to contraception. Women of the 80th District have an ally in Mike listening to them and representing them. Learn more
Mike has always been an ally to the LGBTQ community and his two siblings and sister-in-law who identify with the LGBTQ community. In the Assembly, he has opposed Republicans' efforts to force educators to misgender and deadname transgender students, and limit their participation in extracurricular activities. Those efforts compromise the safety of those students. Marriage equality should be written into state law, and we should remove the unenforceable definition of marriage "between one man and one woman" from our State Constitution. Conversion therapy should be permanently banned. Learn more
Students and educators also struggle more now with mental health than even just a few years ago. Mike supports legislation to invest more into school-based mental health. Educators should not be subject to conspiratorial attacks on the hard work they are doing in classrooms. They deserve our respect, and Mike does not support legislation that degrades their value. Our schools must also be safe from violence and guns. Mike supports common sense gun control measures to ensure that students and teachers can be in school without worry. Mike doesn't think parents should have to give kids two hugs before school--one for today and one for "What if?" Mike will continue to be a champion for educators and students in the State Assembly and actively work to protect and improve our schools. Learn more
Mike does not support sending taxpayer funds to unaccountable private Choice schools. These schools drain resources directly from our public schools. Underfunding our schools causes districts to ask voters for operating budget increases via referendum. Voters in some districts approve, and some don't. This causes the haves to have more, and the have nots to have even less. Education outcomes should be equitable across the state. Mike has talked with educators and school board members across the 80th District, and hears their deep concern about state funding. This is especially true in the under-funding of special education. The state currently funds about 30% of the cost of special education. Mike supports the state funding 100% of special education costs. Every kid should have an equal opportunity to learn. Learn more
A strong public education in good and safe public schools with well-paid educators is the bedrock of our state and a right of every Wisconsinite. Mike's Mom was a public school teacher. Mike's wife teaches at UW Law School. And Mike has taught graduate classes in public health at UW-Milwaukee. Mike has two children in Verona public schools. Learn more
Wisconsinites are feeling the effects of our changing climate with more frequent severe weather events, and necessary changes in agriculture practice. We must work to ensure our planet will be safe for the next generation and their kids too. There is no question about these changes, and they’re an urgent call to action. Learn more
The Second Amendment should not trample the First Amendment. We must urgently implement common sense gun control measures to save lives. Mike supports banning the sale of assault weapons; requiring a universal background check, license, training, and waiting period to purchase any firearm; selling a trigger lock with every gun; adding fingerprint access and tracking technology to every gun; banning guns in schools and other government buildings and polling locations; banning the sale of ghost guns and 3D printing of firearms; and more. Learn more
Mike has been a leading advocate in the Legislature for fully expanding BadgerCare to cover tens of thousands more Wisconsinites and capture our federal tax dollars. Mike will never quit on guaranteeing every Wisconsinite has access to affordable and high-quality healthcare and health coverage. Learn more
Everyone has the right to affordable and high-quality healthcare, but not every Wisconsinite has access to it. This is especially true in Wisconsin's rural areas. Learn more
In the State Assembly, Mike is a thought leader on housing policy and serves on the Housing Committee. His first speech in the Assembly was about zoning process and substance. He introduced a bill to allow local governments to do rent control and inclusionary zoning. Mike has worked tirelessly to combat Republican efforts to criminalize homelessness and divest in communities. Mike led the charge against a Republican bill to criminalize homelessness and defund homeless services. Learn more
The lack of access to affordable broadband Internet service is one of the top issues facing Wisconsinites and our economy. Every Wisconsinite has a right to access information and virtual tools that are vital to wellbeing, school, business, and social and family connection. Our state should guarantee that access. Mike supported the creation and work of the Dane County Broadband Task Force, but it can be only so successful without significant state support and resources that he will continue to fight for in the Assembly. Learn more
He supports increasing paid family leave, and equal pay for women. Learn more
Wisconsin's public workers, like Mike's wife who is a state employee, had their rights systematically stripped away by Scott Walker and Republicans in the State Legislature. Our public workers should have the right to collectively bargain so that they are well-paid, their benefits are strong, they have protection from discrimination, and they are safe on the job. Private sector workers who want to organize have been under attack with a new Republican-backed "Right to Work" law and a slew of efforts to make them less safe, allow for discrimination, and cut their pay and benefits. Mike will never waiver in his solidarity with Wisconsin workers, and they can count on Mike to always have their back. Learn more
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