This guide is based on what candidates said publicly and, for those who have served in the Legislature, how they voted. We did not endorse any candidate in these races. See full results >>
A note about AB 315: You’ll see a bill called AB 315 mentioned for several candidates. Republican legislators introduced it, and it passed the Assembly on a party-line vote. The bill kept funding for improving land the state already protects, but it cut nearly all funding for protecting new land. Many conservation groups opposed it, including Gathering Waters, the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, and Wisconsin Conservation Voters, because it would have largely ended Wisconsin’s ability to protect new places. Read more >>
Assembly District 1: Joel Kitchens vs. Renee Paplham
Result: Joel Kitchens won reelection.
Wisconsin Assembly District 1 includes all of Door and Kewaunee counties and part of northeast Brown County.
Joel Kitchens is the incumbent. He is a retired large-animal veterinarian from Sturgeon Bay who served 14 years on the Sturgeon Bay School Board and has served in the Assembly since 2015. Kitchens co-authored AB 315 and voted for it.
In an October 8, 2026 Peninsula Pulse questionnaire, Kitchens responded: “I am a longtime supporter of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. There is probably not an area in the state that has benefited more from the program than our district. We have beautiful public lands that are enjoyed by tourists and residents alike, and many were acquired with the help of Knowles-Nelson. I authored legislation that used these funds to upgrade water infrastructure at Peninsula State Park and other state parks in Door County. When the program was threatened with elimination in 2015, I was awarded the Policymaker of the Year Award from Gathering Waters for my successful effort to save it. One of my top priorities in the coming session will be the reauthorization of the program. We passed a modest version through the Assembly that did not include funding for land acquisition, in the hope that we could add that back through negotiation in the Senate. Unfortunately, politics got in the way and we were unable to get something done before the end of the session. Reauthorizing the program will require hard work and compromise, but I am cautiously optimistic that we will be successful in reauthorizing it at current funding levels.”
Renee Paplham is a mediator from Carlton who also ran for this seat in 2024. She has not served in the Legislature.
Paplham’s campaign website states: “I support long-term funding of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program to ensure the preservation, protection, and management of public lands for recreational use and environmental protection. The funding decisions for the Knowles Nelson Stewardship program should be transparent to the public.”
In an October 8, 2026 Peninsula Pulse questionnaire, Paplham responded: “We need to restore the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. Knowles-Nelson should have been reauthorized last session, as it has always enjoyed broad bipartisan support and still does. The program is vital for our state, protecting valuable natural areas and wildlife habitat, safeguarding water quality and fisheries, and expanding outdoor recreation, all of which are critical to this district’s economy. I support funding the program at a compromise level of $70 million per year for five years, since Gov. Tony Evers requested $100 million per year for 10 years and Republicans offered $28 million per year for two years. The program’s existing safeguards are sufficient and no new limits for this program are necessary.”
Assembly District 21: Dan Bukiewicz vs. Dylan Pfaffenbach
Result: Dan Bukiewicz won this open seat.
Wisconsin Assembly District 21 includes Oak Creek, parts of Milwaukee, and a small part of Greenfield. Current Rep. Jessie Rodriguez is not running for reelection.
Dan Bukiewicz is the mayor of Oak Creek and president of the Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades Council. He has not served in the Legislature. He is endorsed by Wisconsin Conservation Voters.
In a July 3, 2026 Facebook post, Bukiewicz wrote: “Earlier this week, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program expired, and Wisconsin is worse off for it… Republican leaders had every opportunity to renew it. Wisconsin has a $2.5 billion surplus. Democrats offered a one-year extension. They said no… I will fight to restore Knowles-Nelson in Madison. Wisconsin’s environment is too important to leave to people who would let it expire for political reasons.”
In an August 4, 2026 WisPolitics interview ahead of the fall primary, Bukiewicz called Knowles-Nelson one of Wisconsin’s “shining moments.”
Dylan Pfaffenbach has not served in the Legislature. He has not responded to our request for his position.
Assembly District 26: Joe Sheehan vs. John Belanger
Result: Joe Sheehan won reelection.
Wisconsin Assembly District 26 includes the City of Sheboygan, the Town of Wilson, and part of the Town of Sheboygan.
Joe Sheehan is the incumbent. He is a former superintendent of the Sheboygan Area School District and former executive director of the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation. Sheehan co-authored AB 435. He is endorsed by Wisconsin Conservation Voters.
When he announced his reelection bid, Sheehan said he would keep working to “protect the environment for generations to come.”
John Belanger has served several terms on the Sheboygan Common Council, including on the city’s Plan Commission. He has not served in the Legislature.
Assembly District 30: Shannon Zimmerman vs. Kevin Knoke
Result: Kevin Knoke defeated incumbent Shannon Zimmerman.
Wisconsin Assembly District 30 includes River Falls and parts of St. Croix and Pierce counties, including the towns of Hudson, St. Joseph, and Kinnickinnic.
Kevin Knoke taught in the Hudson School District for 26 years and served in the Army Reserve. He grew up working on his uncle’s dairy farm and describes himself as an avid outdoorsman. He has not served in the Legislature. He has not served in the Legislature. He is endorsed by Wisconsin Conservation Voters.
Shannon Zimmerman was the incumbent. He voted for AB 315.
Assembly District 51: Todd Novak vs. Ben Gruber vs. Nathan Tataje
Result: Ben Gruber defeated incumbent Todd Novak.
Wisconsin Assembly District 51 covers Lafayette and Iowa counties and parts of Grant and Dane counties.
Ben Gruber is a lifelong rural Wisconsinite from Arena who has worked as a conservation warden, EMT, firefighter, paramedic, and police officer. He has not served in the Legislature. He is endorsed by Wisconsin Conservation Voters.
Gruber told UpNorthNews: “We’ve got to fund things like Knowles-Nelson’s stewardship… And we’ve got to ensure that the people—whether you’re on a village water system or a rural well—that when you turn on the tap, you have clean water to drink.”
In a February 21, 2026 Facebook post, Gruber wrote: “Conservation funding, and Knowles Nelson Stewardship in particular has overwhelming public support. >90%. This should be bipartisan. But one side is throwing a toddler tantrum, and it’s going to negatively impact us. We can do better.”
In an April 29, 2026 Facebook post, Gruber added: “And, we can fully fund Knowles-Nelson stewardship, so that our grandkids also have great public lands … to enjoy.”
Todd Novak was the incumbent. He is a former Dodgeville mayor and journalist who grew up on a farm in Iowa County, and he chaired the bipartisan Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality. Novak co-authored AB 315 and voted for it. Since the legislative session ended, he has spoken out in support of Knowles-Nelson.
In an April 24, 2026 e-update, Novak wrote: “The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program is not just a critical resource to southwest Wisconsin; it has been instrumental across the state in preserving public lands for future generations. That is why I worked with Tony Kurtz (R – Wonewoc) to co-author Assembly Bill 315 (AB 315), which would reauthorize funding for the stewardship program through 2030. The bill passed the State Assembly earlier this session but was never taken up on the Senate floor for a vote… It is frustrating to see a program like Knowles-Nelson, one that has received widespread bipartisan support and is widely viewed as a successful national model for conservation and land stewardship over the past 30 years, face these hurdles in the Legislature. Knowles-Nelson will continue to be one of my top legislative priorities.”
Nathan Tataje is a first-generation American with a college background in political science. He is focused on rural economic issues, small business, and government transparency. He has not served in the Legislature.
Assembly District 53: David Daniels vs. Rachel Dowling vs. Becky Nichols
Result: Becky Nichols won this open seat.
Wisconsin Assembly District 53 includes Neenah, Menasha, and part of Appleton. Current Rep. Dean Kaufert is not running for reelection.
Becky Nichols is a public school teacher who have previously served on the Menasha Common Council and Winnebago County Board. She has not served in the Legislature. She is endorsed by Wisconsin Conservation Voters.
In a September 28, 2026 email to Gathering Waters, Nichols wrote: “The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has provided access to trails, parks, landmarks, and habitats across Wisconsin for over 30 years. While it is widely supported by Wisconsin communities, Republicans have refused to reauthorize the program. I will fight to reinstate and fund this important program, and protect it from political interference, so the next generation of families can experience and enjoy the beauty of Wisconsin’s natural resources… Wisconsin can and should be a leader in this area.”
David Daniels has not served in the Legislature.
In an August 19, 2026 Facebook post, Daniels wrote: “The Loop the Lake Trail is a great example of what the Knowles-Nelson program can accomplish right here in our communities. I support reauthorizing the Stewardship Program to protect Wisconsin’s land, expand recreation, and invest in our communities. If you send me to Madison, I’ll fight to make it happen.”
Rachael Dowling serves on the Winnebago County Board, where her committee work includes the county Parks Commission. She is a small-business owner from Menasha. She has not served in the Legislature.
Assembly District 61: Bob Donovan vs. Ben Brist
Result: Ben Brist defeated incumbent Bob Donovan.
Wisconsin Assembly District 61 includes Greendale, Hales Corners, most of Greenfield, and parts of southwest Milwaukee and northeast Franklin.
Ben Brist has not served in the Legislature. He is endorsed by Wisconsin Conservation Voters.
In a July 1, 2026 Facebook post, Brist wrote: “For more than 30 years, this bipartisan program, named for a Republican and a Democrat, has helped fund parks, trails, campgrounds, boat launches, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation in communities across Wisconsin. The Republican Legislature killed it because they demanded unilateral control over individual projects instead of allowing the bipartisan process that made the program successful. Wisconsin deserves leaders who put communities ahead of political power plays. Letting one of our state’s most successful conservation programs die out of political pettiness is a loss for every Wisconsinite.”
Bob Donovan was the incumbent. He voted for AB 315 and has not responded to our request for his position.
Assembly District 85: Patrick Snyder vs. John Kroll
Result: John Kroll defeated incumbent Patrick Snyder.
Wisconsin Assembly District 85 includes Wausau and the Village of Weston.
John Kroll is a Marathon County Board supervisor. He has not served in the Legislature. He is endorsed by Wisconsin Conservation Voters.
When he launched his campaign in February 2026, Kroll said he wants to “protect our lakes, streams and rivers.”
Patrick Snyder was the incumbent. He is a former radio announcer and Schofield City Council. He voted for AB 315.
Assembly District 88: Ben Franklin vs. Brandy Tollefson
Result: Brandy Tollefson defeated incumbent Ben Franklin.
Wisconsin Assembly District 88 includes De Pere, Allouez, Bellevue, Ledgeview, Rockland, and part of Green Bay.
Brandy Tollefson is an accounting manager and treasurer of the De Pere school board. She has not served in the Legislature. She is endorsed by Wisconsin Conservation Voters.
In a statement sent to Gathering Waters by email, Tollefson wrote: “The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund is responsible for $4.2 million dollars invested across 43 projects in the 88th Assembly District alone. Without reauthorization, this community, like so many across Wisconsin, stands to lose a vital source of funding for outdoor recreation and conservation efforts. Unfortunately, legislative Republicans blocked efforts to reauthorize Knowles-Nelson in the last biennial budget and have failed to set forth a proposal that adequately funds the program. As a legislator, I would support bills like that proposed by Sen. Jodi Habush-Sinykin, that would reauthorize and strengthen the program at $72 million dollars annually while implementing an oversight board to ensure grants are distributed equitably and effectively.”
Ben Franklin was the incumbent. He is an Air Force veteran and small-business owner, and he serves as vice chair of the Assembly Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs. Franklin voted for AB 315 and has not responded to our request for his position.
Assembly District 92: Clint Moses vs. Jeremiah Fredrickson
Result: Jeremiah Fredrickson defeated incumbent Clint Moses.
Wisconsin Assembly District 92 includes Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, Elk Mound, Lake Hallie, and the part of Eau Claire in Chippewa County.
Jeremiah Fredrickson is a former high school agriculture science teacher and coach from Elk Mound who owns Jeremiah’s Bullfrog Fish Farm. He has not served in the Legislature. He is endorsed by Wisconsin Conservation Voters.
At an October 22, 2026 press conference in Eau Claire, Fredrickson said: “I want to make sure we bring back Knowles-Nelson as far as funding and taking care of our parks, and on top of that, our natural resources in general. One of the things I’m passionate about and want to make sure are in place are safeguards that protect our water, protect our land, and protect our ratepayers to make sure the Wisconsin I grew up in is there for my kids.”
Clint Moses was the incumbent. He is a chiropractor who lives on his family’s farm in the Town of Menomonie, where he raises sheep and cattle. He served on the Menomonie Area School Board and has served in the Assembly since 2021. He voted for AB 315 and has not responded to our request for his position.
