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 435 and SB 436: You’ll see two bills, AB 435 and SB 436, mentioned for several candidates. State Sen. Jodi Habush Sinykin and State Rep. Vincent Miresse introduced them as matching bills in the Senate and Assembly. Both would renew Knowles-Nelson through 2032 at $72 million per year. They would also create a Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Board for oversight and keep and expand funding for protecting new land.
Senate District 1: Mark Becker vs. Nic Cravillion
Result: Nic Cravillion won this open seat.
Wisconsin Senate District 1 includes Door and Kewaunee counties and parts of Brown, Calumet, Manitowoc, and Outagamie counties. Current Sen. André Jacque, a Republican, is not running for reelection.
Nic Cravillion has not served in the Legislature.
In a public statement, Cravillion said: “I support funding the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program. The First Senate District has seen firsthand the value of these investments, particularly in communities like Door County… I believe we have a responsibility to take care of what we have… while also ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly.”
Mark Becker has not served in the Legislature. He is endorsed by Wisconsin Conservation Voters.
Becker told the Dairyland Patriot: “The expiration of this popular, powerful program… is a terrific metaphor for how legislative inaction hurts real people… When I’m elected to the Wisconsin State Senate, I will work tirelessly to revive the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program and ensure that it remains secure for generations to come.”
Senate District 5: Mike Roberts vs. Robyn Vining
Result: Robyn Vining won this open seat.
Wisconsin Senate District 5 includes Brookfield, Pewaukee, Elm Grove, most of Wauwatosa and West Allis, and parts of Milwaukee and Waukesha. Current Sen. Rob Hutton, a Republican, is not running for reelection.
Robyn Vining currently represents the 13th District in the State Assembly, where she co-authored AB 435. She is endorsed by Wisconsin Conservation Voters.
Her campaign website says: “I co-authored legislation to reauthorize the program alongside my Democratic colleagues and will continue fighting for this program that Wisconsinites love.”
In a January 30, 2026 e-newsletter, Vining wrote that she brought “100+ constituent letters” to the Assembly floor and voted no on what she called a weakened version of the renewal bill. She said she hoped the Senate would send back a stronger version.
Mike Roberts has not served in the Legislature.
In a statement Roberts’ campaign manager sent us by email, he said: “I support continuing the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program’s core mission… I would support a responsibly funded and accountable reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program… [that] ensures every public dollar produces a clear benefit.”
Senate District 17: Howard Marklein vs. Jenna Jacobson
Result: Jenna Jacobson defeated incumbent Howard Marklein.
Wisconsin Senate District 17 includes Crawford, Grant, Green, Iowa, and Lafayette counties and the southwest corner of Dane County.
Jenna Jacobson currently represents the 50th District in the State Assembly, where she co-authored AB 435. She has a background in housing and financial planning, serves as ranking member of the Assembly Agriculture and Sporting Heritage Committee, and previously served on the Oregon Village Board. She is endorsed by Wisconsin Conservation Voters.
On April 30, 2025, Jacobson said: “I have had numerous community members ask that we meet our commitment to Wisconsin, and support funding for the Stewardship Program. I support fully funding the Governor’s plan to keep the Stewardship Program strong for the next 10 years.” In a June 22, 2026 campaign email, she wrote: “From co-authoring legislation to guarantee every Wisconsinite the right to clean air, safe drinking water, and healthy soil to fighting to restore Knowles-Nelson Stewardship funding, I’m committed to protecting Wisconsin’s environment and outdoor heritage for generations to come.”
In a June 22, 2026 campaign email, Jacobson said, “From co-authoring legislation to guarantee every Wisconsinite the right to clean air, safe drinking water, and healthy soil to fighting to restore Knowles-Nelson Stewardship funding, I’m committed to protecting Wisconsin’s environment and outdoor heritage for generations to come.”
Howard Marklein was the incumbent. He is a CPA from Spring Green who grew up on a dairy farm, and he’s an avid hunter and gardener in the Driftless Area. He co-chairs the Joint Finance Committee, the Legislature’s budget-writing committee.
In 2015, he voted to end tax support for state parks, leaving them funded only by fees. As co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee, the Legislature’s budget-writing committee, he voted to remove Knowles-Nelson funding from the 2025-2027 state budget. He did not co-sponsor any 2025-2026 legislation to renew Knowles-Nelson. He voted to move a renewal bill out of the committee that eliminated funding for protecting new land. After that bill lost support in the Senate, he voted against an amendment that would have funded the program for one more year.
In a July 3, 2026 e-newsletter, he wrote: “Unfortunately, the start of the new fiscal year also meant the end of one of Wisconsin’s most popular programs, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program… I am disappointed that this popular program expired… In the State Legislature, I have been a strong advocate for the Stewardship Program. Unlike Legislative Democrats, when given the opportunity I was proud to vote for the continuation of this program earlier this session.”
Senate District 21: Jim Croft vs Trevor Jung
Result: Trevor Jung won this open seat.
Wisconsin Senate District 21 includes Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Caledonia, Wind Point, North Bay, and parts of Racine, Greenfield, and Milwaukee. Current Sen. Van Wanggaard, a Republican, is not running for reelection.
Trevor Jung has not served in the Legislature. He is endorsed by Wisconsin Conservation Voters.
In a public statement, he said: “Governor Evers proposed reauthorizing it with $100 million a year in the 2025-27 budget, but Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee stripped that funding out entirely, and subsequent bipartisan efforts to restore it stalled… I support long-term, fully funded reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, and if elected I will fight to restore it and protect Wisconsin’s public lands for the next generation.”
Jim Croft has not served in the Legislature. He has not responded to our request for his position.
Senate District 31: Jeff Smith vs. Michele Magadance Skinner
Result: Jeff Smith won reelection.
Wisconsin Senate District 31 includes all of Eau Claire County and parts of Chippewa, Dunn, and Trempealeau counties.
Jeff Smith is the incumbent. He co-authored SB 436 and is endorsed by Wisconsin Conservation Voters.
In an August 29, 2025 e-newsletter, he wrote: “In my Senate district alone, there are almost 200 projects that never would have happened without this amazing program. If the State Legislature doesn’t take action, this historic stewardship program will end after 2026.”
In a video statement, Smith highlighted the Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area, also known as the Tyrone property, in his district. The land was once proposed as the site of a nuclear plant and later a coal plant, and it is now public land thanks to Knowles-Nelson funding. He called for renewing the program in the Chippewa Valley.
Michele Magadance Skinner has not served in the Legislature. She has not responded to our request for her position.
