CONTACT: Maria Langholz (715) 209-6463
Working families champions challenging Republican incumbents in Southeastern Wisconsin blue wave
MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin Working Families Party is endorsing Gina Walkington for Assembly District 61 and Gabriel Gomez for Assembly District 21. Both candidates are running unopposed in the Democratic primary and will face Republican incumbents in the November general election. Walkington will challenge Samantha Kerkman for the seat she has held since 2012. Gomez will run against Jesse Rodriguez who has served in the legislature since 2013. The primary election is August 14.
A progressive wave is sweeping through Southeastern Wisconsin, beginning with Cory Mason’s Racine mayoral win, supported heavily by Wisconsin Working Families Party. After WI Working Families Party recruited newcomer Randy Bryce to challenge House Speaker Paul Ryan in the First Congressional District, Ryan shocked residents by announcing he would not be seeking re-election. Now Wisconsin Working Families Party is adding more progressive candidates to its roster.
“Attacks on working families by Scott Walker, Paul Ryan, and Donald Trump are fueling resistance and transforming politics in Southeastern Wisconsin,” said Marina Dimitrijevic, state director of the Wisconsin Working Families Party. “Cory’s Mason’s election, the local activism to preserve the Affordable Care Act, and Ryan’s resignation point to opportunities for working families champions like Gina and Gabe to run against Republican incumbents and win.”
A local businessman and and father of two children enrolled in South Milwaukee Public Schools, Gabriel Gomez is committed to pushing forward common sense gun legislation, protecting quality K-12 public education, raising the minimum wage, and eliminating gender biases in wages. Gomez is an immigrant from South America and a veteran of the Marine Corps.
”I am excited to get the endorsement of the Wisconsin Working Families Party,” said Gomez. “I’m glad that they recognized that as a state representative I would champion a progressive agenda in the Assembly. I am looking forward to working with them on social justice issues in Wisconsin like healthcare and a higher minimum wage.”
Gina Walkington has been a leader in the fight to protect healthcare statewide as both an activist and one of the founders of Forward Kenosha, an organization dedicated to protecting civil rights and advocating an inclusive agenda in local, state, and national politics.
“I have set out to build a campaign that is about strengthening our communities by ensuring we have a representative who will fight to make sure working families are being paid a living wage, have benefits that allow us to stay healthy without going broke, and the opportunity to save so we can retire with dignity,” said Walkington. “Because the Working Families Party shares a strong commitment to these values, I am truly honored to receive their endorsement.”
Unlike many political organizations, Wisconsin Working Families Party is making primary endorsements to ensure that the most progressive candidates are on the general election ballot to challenge Republicans and win. The Party will provide people power to the campaign, mobilizing volunteers and members to put boots on the ground to educate voters.
Wisconsin Working Families Party has already endorsed a slate of Milwaukee candidates for the Wisconsin Legislature, Sarah Godlewski to be State Treasurer of Wisconsin, Mandela Barnes to be Lieutenant Governor, and is leading the Wisconsin’s Choice campaign, which is engaging voters statewide in selecting and supporting the Democratic gubernatorial nominee.
