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FITCHBURG, Wis. (WMDX) – State Representative Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg) has announced that he is running for Wisconsin’s 16th Senate District. Anderson is now the second state representative to run for the seat, alongside Representative Melissa Ratcliff (D-Cottage Grove).
The 16th Senate District contains parts of Madison, Fitchburg, Sun Prairie, Cottage Grove, and McFarland.
The 16th Senate Seat is currently held by former Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard (D-Madison). Last November, Agard announced that she was stepping down from Senate leadership and not running for reelection to instead run for Dane County Executive next fall.
Rep. Anderson has served in the state Assembly since 2017. On his campaign website, Anderson says that he is running because “Republican extremism has reached new heights.”
“We need elected leaders who will confront these bullies, and that is exactly what I promise to do,” Anderson says.
Anderson has publicly sparred with GOP leadership in the legislature. Anderson, who is paralyzed and requires a wheelchair, requested in 2019 to be able to attend committee meetings via phone when he was unable to attend in-person due to health reasons. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos opposed his request, calling it “political grandstanding.”
Anderson joins Democratic Representative Melissa Ratcliff of Cottage Grove in the race for the 16th Senate seat. Ratcliff announced her candidacy shortly after Agard announced she would not seek reelection this fall. Ratcliff was first elected to the Assembly in the fall of 2022, and had served on the Dane County Board since 2018.
Because two Democrats are running for the Senate seat, a partisan primary election will take place on Tuesday, August 13. The 2024 Partisan Fall Election will take place on November 5.
