As the 2024 elections approach rapidly, everyone’s eyes are on who will be the next president of the United States. People usually forget about the other elections that are happening, such as state elections, which are just as important. One Whitewater resident has taken it upon herself to run for a Wisconsin State Assembly seat in hopes of being elected this November.

Brienne Brown is the Democratic candidate for District 43, which includes cities such as Edgerton, Milton, Whitewater and part of Janesville, along with the towns of Fulton, Harmony, Johnstown and Lima. When she ran back in 2022, she was running for District 31. The change comes after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ordered new legislative maps back in 2023.

“Once the State Supreme Court said that we needed new maps, the governor’s map was the one the Republicans were OK with because they were the least fair of the fair maps,” said Brown. “What we really want to go for is 50/50 split in every voting district. That means that people running for office have to work for the job, have to talk to the people, find out how they can make bipartisan ship happen and address everyone’s needs and not the people of their own party.”

One big issue that Brown is running for is that of women’s rights, mostly within the reproductive stages. She believes that women deserve the right to plan their families without government interference. With Roe v. Wade being overturned in 2022, states were left to make their own abortion laws. Wisconsin State Law states that abortions are illegal after the 22-week mark unless it is a medical emergency. However, people state an 1849 law that they claim bans abortions completely unless the mother’s life is in danger.

“Right now, we are stuck with an 1849 law, when women did not even have the right to vote. A Dane County judge said ‘No, no, no. That doesn’t mean a woman can’t get an abortion if they need it.’ Before that Dane County Judge made that ruling, the state was treating it as if abortion was illegal.”

Brown is also fighting for the rights for LGBTQ+ families to be able to have a family. This includes letting families do In vitro fertilization (IVF) and allowing surrogacy. Both issues, according to Brown, are on the table when it comes to women’s reproductive rights and what the government should not be allowed to control.

Another issue that Brown is fighting for is that of fair pay within the education system. This was an issue that she fought for back in 2022. Brown believes that since districts are not able to obtain a lot of funding, it reflects back to the teachers, who then are not paid as much. This can cause a teacher to move districts to somewhere they can live.

“The community revolves around the school. If you got a schoolteacher who is getting paid a decent amount of money and they feel they can raise their family on that money and thrive with that salary, then they are going to be that teacher that not only taught you but taught your kid and their kid. That creates so much consistency when everybody knows them. It makes the community stronger when everybody knows each other. It is the most important thing that teachers can be a part of a community and raise their own children in that community.”

Brienne Brown supports many issues that should be brought up and worked on. From women’s reproductive rights to even gun safety, she wants to try and make Wisconsin a safe place for everyone to live, but also a place where one can express themselves freely without the input from the government.

With elections coming up Nov. 5, Brown reminds everyone that voting is important.

“Your voice really does matter. If you don’t vote, then you are making a political decision not to have your voice heard. When I hear people say, ‘I do not do politics,’ yeah you do, by not doing politics. You are doing politics by refraining from making a decision and having your voice heard.”

Voting this November does not only include voting who the next president of the United States will be, but also who will represent you at a state and district side of politics. This includes voting for a senator, representative in Congress, and representative of your district.