APPLETON – State Sen. Kelda Roys announced Monday the endorsement of Thomas Nelson, Outagamie County Executive, who previously served in the state assembly as the Democratic Majority Leader. 

“Since our time in the Assembly together almost 20 years ago, I’ve admired Kelda’s smarts and effectiveness at getting things done in the toughest political environments,” Nelson said. “She’s a fighter and is the best candidate to lead Wisconsin in this pivotal time. She understands what our counties and municipalities need and will deliver the resources we need to take the burden off property taxpayers.”

“For more than 20 years, I have been fighting for Wisconsinites to have the freedom to build a better life,” Roys said. “I am proud to have Tom’s support. Tom is a fellow straight-talking leader whose ability to consistently win a county that has voted for Trump shows what we can accomplish if we lead with honesty and unapologetically fight for hard-working Wisconsinites.”

Nelson joins a growing list of elected and community leaders who have endorsed Roys’ campaign, including the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC), the state’s largest union, which represents teachers. Roys has support from all 72 counties and the most endorsements overall. It’s especially significant because the “BOW” counties of the Fox Valley are crucial to winning both the primary and the general elections as well as building durable Democratic majorities in the legislature. 

This comes on the heels of Roys’ announcement that she earned the support of 5 of 7 Green Bay School Board members. With Roys’ strong base of support in Dane County, and her growing support in the Fox Valley and Western Wisconsin, she is well positioned to win. 

“Our next governor will have the opportunity to deliver transformative progress, but that progress will only be durable if our leaders understand how to build long-term power,” Roys said. “For too long, Wisconsinites have been told to do more with less while Republicans chase massive tax giveaways for the ultra wealthy. As governor, I’ll unite Wisconsinites across the state and build a future where everyone can thrive.”

Additional endorsements:

Thomas Nelson, Outagamie County Executive

John Norquist, Milwaukee Mayor*

Leon Todd, Milwaukee School Board*

Larraine McNamara-McGraw, Milwaukee Alder*

Marge Krupp, 1st Congressional District Candidate*

Karen Kirsch, State Representative

Jessica King, State Senator*

Donna Seidel, State Representative*

Gary Sherman, State Representative and Judge*

Chris Danou, State Representative*

Denise DeMarb, Madison Common Council President*

Chris Schmidt, Madison Common Council President*

Amanda Hall, Madison Alder

Will Ochowicz, Madison Alder

Brian Benford, Madison Alder*

Badri Lankella, Madison Alder

Mike Verveer, Madison Alder

Eric Paulson, Madison Alder*

Sam Peete, Racine Alder

Rollin Pizzala, Kenosha Alder

Iftikhar Memon, Black River Falls School Board

Justin Bielinski, Milwaukee County Board

James Lyerly, Green Bay School Board President

Andrew Becker, Green Bay Area School Board Treasurer

Jeanette Knill, Green Bay Area School Board Clerk

Laura McCoy, Green Bay School Board

Samantha Meister, Green Bay School Board

Mike Skivington, Green Lake County Board

Larry Mboga, Eau Claire City Council – At Large Alder

Shabnam Lotfi, Shorewood Hills Village Trustee

Mike Herrick, Superior Alder

Lee Sandok Baker, Douglas County Board

Sam Lang, Stevens Point City Council

Greg Tellijohn, St. Croix County Board

Blair Mosner Feltham, Madison School Board

Alyssa Mueller, River Falls Alder*

Vicki Burke, La Crosse County Board*

Kathy Hinkfuss, Green Bay Alder

Andrea Gage, Brown County Board

Mark Becker, Brown County Board*

Robert LaFave, Sheboygan Alder*

Stephen Hintz, Oshkosh Mayor*

Nate Wolff, Appleton Alder

Melissa Dolan, Wauwatosa Alder

Greg Engle, Maple Bluff Village Trustee

Patrick Downing, Dane County Board

Colin Barushok, Dane County Board

Jeffery Glazer, Dane County Board

Tommy Rylander, Dane County Board

Jerry Bollig, Dane County Board

Don Postler, Dane County Board

David Peterson, Dane County Board

Tim Kiefer, Dane County Board*

Emily Kuhn, Middleton Mayor*

Ann Groves Lloyd, Lodi Mayor*

Dr. David Burnett, Sparta School Board

George Rohrmeyer, Chippewa County Board

Teresa Radermacher, Monona Alder

Robin Brannin, Wauwatosa Alder

Melissa Dolan, Wauwatosa Alder

Marissa Knowling, West Allis Alder

Suzzette Grisham, West Allis Alder

Diane Voit, Waukesha School Board

Meghan Fessler, McFarland School Board President

Kristin Settle, Greendale School Board

Steve Thiede, Outagamie County Board

*denotes former

About Sen. Kelda Roys

Kelda Roys is a proven fighter who’s been standing up to bullies and billionaires like Trump for 25 years. Roys is an attorney, small business owner, legislative leader, and mom and stepmom of five, who spent her early years in rural Taylor County, north of Highway 29, and now represents Dane County in the State Senate. Her unparalleled experience in state government, including over 2 decades of passing progressive legislation in the toughest political environments, make her the strongest candidate to beat Tom Tiffany and govern Wisconsin.

Roys has been a champion for public education, from early childhood to K12 to higher ed, as well as expanding access to healthcare and protecting abortion rights. She is running for governor to deliver higher wages, lower costs, and more freedom.