Current District 8 Alder MGR Govindarajan, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison College Democrats, endorsed sophomore candidate Ellen Zhang in the upcoming Madison Common Council election on Thursday, citing her understanding of city government and ability to build relationships within local leadership.
Zhang will face Bobby Gronert, who is endorsed by the campus chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America, in the April 7 election for District 8 Alder.
“I met with both Ellen and Bobby over coffee for almost two hours,” Govindarajan told The Daily Cardinal. “The biggest difference I saw between the two is Ellen was clearly more knowledgeable about what the city actually did and what her role as an alder would be.”
Govindarajan explained the position required more than policy knowledge. Because Madison alders are one of 20 members on the Common Council, he said the role often centers on communication and relationship building.
“A lot of your job is about communication and educating your constituents,” Govindarajan said. “It’s not as much policy as people think because you’re just one out of 20, and a lot of the policy power actually goes through the mayor’s office.”
The District 8 seat represents much of the UW-Madison campus and surrounding neighborhoods, making it the city’s most student-heavy district.
Govindarajan said Zhang “was more capable” of navigating the collaborative nature of the city’s government.
“I think she would be a stronger voice for District 8,” Govindarajan said.
Zhang previously told the Cardinal she wanted to become a branch between students and city government.
“Although there’s a lot of energy to organize and resist on campus, there’s also a disconnect: students don’t immediately recognize where the city can provide solutions to day-to-day issues,” she said. “Everything from the cost of housing, access to groceries and bus routes are city issues that have improved with the aid of local pressure.”
Govindarajan added that Zhang could be more effective at securing influential committee placements and participating in partnerships that shape city policy.
“She would be able to get herself onto better committees,” Govindarajan said. “She would be able to get herself into rooms that carry real power, working with public-private partnerships. That’s how the city functions.”
Despite the endorsement, Govindarajan emphasized that both candidates are qualified and expressed confidence in their willingness to collaborate during a leadership transition.
“Neither of them are bad candidates,” Govindarajan said. “Both of them seem really willing to work with me if either of them win the election.”
Govindarajan also said he intends to take a limited role in the campaign itself, framing the endorsement primarily as a signal of support rather than an attempt to shape the outcome.
“My endorsement is a show of support, but they’re making it their own race,” Govindarjan said. “Students will pick students and I think the philosophy of that is just wonderful.”
Prior to the UW College Democrat’s endorsement announcement, Gronert told the Cardinal he was excited about the possibility of working closely with the group.
“They’ve had their missteps,” Gronert said. “I hope that if [the College Democrats] do decide to endorse us, we can really incorporate them into our big coalition”
UW College Democrats have roughly 400 members and are directly affiliated with the Wisconsin Democratic party. “An endorsement from [the College Democrats] is a big step for local candidates,” College Democrats Vice Chair Whitman Bottari told The Daily Cardinal.
The election for Madison’s District 8 seat will take place April 7, with voters choosing Govindarajan’s successor on the Madison Common Council.
Alaina Walsh is the city news editor for The Daily Cardinal. She formally served as the associates news editor and has covered breaking news on city crimes, a variety of state and campus issues, the 2024 presidential election and the UW-Madison budget. You can follow her on twitter at @alaina_wal4347
