FITCHBURG, Wis. (WMDX) – Fitchburg Alder Joe Maldonado has announced that he will run for State Assembly. He’ll be running in the 47th Assembly District, which now includes the cities of Fitchburg and Stoughton, the village of McFarland, and the town of Dunn. Maldonado is running as a Democrat. 

Maldonado was first elected to the Fitchburg Common Council in 2020, and also works as a Community Youth Development Program manager for the University of Wisconsin Division of Extension. 

Maldonado says that his number one priority if elected would be youth engagement. “I think across the state of Wisconsin, we have an opportunity to expand out-of-school programming…,” Maldonado said. “…I want to work with advocates to make sure that young people have quality out-of-school time programming, access to mental health services, and that their time in schools is supported by the state in a way that is equitable and fair and responsive to their needs.”

Maldonado says he will also prioritize supporting the Democratic platform, including reproductive healthcare and legalizing marijuana, and protecting the marginalized voices across Wisconsin. 

Maldonado says one of the reasons he is running for state office is because of the new legislative maps that were signed into law by Governor Tony Evers last month. “With these new maps, we’re able to make substantive change on really important issues across the state, for all the residents of Wisconsin, and I want to be a part of that,” said Maldonado in a Facebook Live announcing his candidacy. 

Maldonado says that he already has the endorsement of various both state and local leaders, including former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, Fitchburg Mayor Julia Arata-Fratta, Dane County Board Supervisor Kierstin Huelsemann, and several other Fitchburg Common Council members. 

The 47th state Assembly seat is currently represented by Democrat Jimmy Anderson, who has served in the seat since 2016. Anderson is not seeking reelection to the Assembly, and instead is running for state Senate for the seat that is currently held by Melissa Agard, who is stepping down this fall.

Maldonado is the first candidate to announce their candidacy for the 47th Assembly Seat, and will hold an official campaign kickoff event in the coming weeks. If more than one Democratic candidate runs for the seat, a primary election will be held on August 14. The general election will take place on November 5.