Madison voters will decide on a slate of Common Council and Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education races that will shape policy on housing, education, transportation, the environment and public safety on April 7.
Seven city council races are uncontested, with competitive races in campus-area District 8 and Districts 14 and 20. School board seats 6 and 7 are both held by incumbents, each of whom are facing a challenger this year.
City Council
Bobby Gronert and Ellen Zhang, both sophomores at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, are running to fill the campus-area seat. The seat is currently held by Alder MGR Govindarajan, a graduate from UW who is not seeking re-election.
Gronert’s platform champions affordable housing, public safety, environmental health, protecting neighbors and fighting fascism, and democratizing Madison. He told the Cardinal he hopes to “entrench our city as a safe haven for all and especially for the most vulnerable and downtrodden.”
“A successful tenure for myself is one where Madison is authoring the first chapter of a socialist future,” Gronert told the Cardinal. “We can only do these things as a we, not a you or an I.”
Gronert said the lack of respect the university has for students hardened his determination to fight for himself and his peers. “The message is clear; the Board of Regents, Mnookin, MPD and UWPD aren't our friends. If we want our due, we must take it from them,” Gronert said.
Zhang is a “student, artist and activist at heart,” according to her website. Her campaign focuses on tenant protections through Madison’s Tenant Bill of Rights, affordable housing, public safety and sustainable infrastructure.
“I am running because students are facing an affordability crisis and it’s critical that we address it urgently.” Zhang previously told the Cardinal. She also opposes bar raids and emphasizes a need for food security, mutual aid, reproductive justice and community sustainability.
In District 14, Noah Lieberman and Kate Blood are competing for the seat held by current alder Isadore Knox Jr, who is not seeking re-election.
Lieberman’s campaign prioritized affordable housing, transportation, racial equity and justice, environmental protections, economic enrichment, protecting city services and union jobs and defending against fascism.
“Every one of my policies will benefit this city — not just those with money or political influence,” his campaign website said. “I will pursue those policies with every fiber of my being.”
Blood told the Cardinal she decided to run after a proposal was brought to the Common Council that would demolish a Mexican and Colombian restaurant — a gathering spot for District 14’s 43% Latino community.
“I'd like to see a balance between wanting to maximize the use of vacant land and gathering sufficient input from established neighborhood residents,” Blood told the Cardinal in regards to proposed developments on Park Street, including rapid bus transit. She is also prioritizing responsiveness and transparency, affordable housing and inclusive representation.
In District 20, Islam Khilji, also known as Sammy, is challenging incumbent Barbara Harrington-McKinney. Harrington-McKinney won the District 20 seat in 2023, while Khilj was eliminated in the primary.
Khilji told WORT FM he is running again because the city isn’t doing enough to engage southside residents. “I will do work with the people to have a community hall somewhere, where we can actually address all the subjects,” Kiliji said.
Harrington-McKinney is running on a platform of public safety, city services within a balanced budget, affordable housing and equity and access. She has served on the Common Council since 2015.
“District 20 allows me the opportunity to do restorative justice; it gives me the opportunity to do community engagement,” Harrington-McKinney told WORT-FM. “I pledge to the residents of District 20 to really listen to the voices of those individuals who are less represented.”
Voters can use the City of Madison website to find their Alder district.
Madison Metropolitan School Board
Seats for the Madison school board are not geographically bound, so residents within the school district will see races for Seats 6 and 7 on ballots.
Dr. Daniella Molle is challenging incumbent Blair Mosner Feltham for Seat 6.
Molle, a researcher on equitable education, chose to run when she realized there was no advocate for multilingual learners on the school board. She told the Cardinal she hopes for progress on performance objectives related to academic achievement, sense of belonging and college credit.
“The district is in a serious financial predicament,” Molle said when asked about challenges for the school board. “The funding from the state is insufficient and in many areas stagnant, while the costs of running the district are increasing. An urgent issue facing the district is addressing salary compression, and ensuring that veteran teachers are compensated for all the years they've spent in MMSD.”
She hopes to address this through collaboration with board members, district leaders and the teachers' union.
Molle hopes they can be “innovative, evidence-informed and student-centered in our decision-making process.”
Mosner Feltham is a school teacher and mother “running for re-election because experience still matters: in the work, in the fight and in our schools,” according to her campaign website.
Her focused issues are engaging, innovative and safe learning conditions for every student through progressive leadership. She also supports collective bargaining to advance learning and working conditions, and to make Madison schools incredible for teachers.
Dana Colussi-Lynde is challenging incumbent Nicki Vander Meulen for Seat 7.
Colussi-Lynde is an information technology development manager whose goals are to “include district-wide AI and cell phone policies, implementation of the new school boundaries… and increased partnerships with state legislators, local government and community members to strengthen our support of public-school children,” according to her campaign website.
She told the Cardinal that her primary message to voters is “that we are facing a future that feels uncertain, given our political and economic climate, and I want to prepare all of Madison's students to overcome those challenges.”
Vander Meulen is a juvenile attorney who advocates for children and adults with unique needs. She has “fought to make MMSD more inclusive, reduce seclusion and restraint, and improve outcomes for all marginalized communities.”
She has obtained cost of living increases for teachers and increases in special education funding. Vander Meulen is the first school board member to visit every district school during her first term.
Voting
Eligible voters can use MyVote Wisconsin to find their polling place, check voter information and register to vote. Early voting with same-day registration begins on March 24. Election day is April 7, 2026 with polls opening at 7:00 a.m. and closing at 8:00 p.m.
Unopposed candidates
The following unopposed candidates expressed shared sentiments to create affordable housing or champion housing justice. All candidates also shared a priority on improving public transportation access and systems. Additional issue areas are compiled below.
Ald. William Ochowicz (District 2) is focusing on climate resilience and sustainable infrastructure through advocacy for decarbonizing city facilities, financing green energy and protecting natural assets and lakes.
Ald. Mike Verveer (District 4) is focusing on sustainability through urban forestry, sustainable development and renewable energy infrastructure. He also supports public safety initiatives such as the nonviolent, behavioral health focused Community Alternatives Response Emergency Services (CARES).
Ald. Davy Mayer (District 6) has more than 15 years of experience developing projects and websites in the technology, research, education and financial sectors.
Ald. Yannette Figueroa Cole (District 10) focused on public safety through expanding CARES and serving on the Board of Public Health. She has championed safety for unhoused citizens through homeless shelters and urban campgrounds. Cole also focuses on community engagement and partnerships.
Ald. Julia Matthews (District 10) is prioritizing addressing disparities, community outreach and public safety through prevention and the CARES program. She is also focused on addressing environmental challenges of per- and polyfluoroaryl (PFAS) chemical contamination and noise mitigation for F-35 fighter jets.
Ald. Sean O'Brien (District 16) is focused on environmental protection through meeting city net-zero and renewable energy targets, and safeguarding from PFAS chemicals. He also expressed support for the CARES program to improve community safety and stability.
Ald. Carmella Glenn (District 18) is focused on workforce development and youth opportunity through providing community opportunities and focusing on job development. Additional priorities were safety and access to healthy, affordable foods.
