OUR PRIORITIES

STANDING UP TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

President Trump's policies are causing massive economic uncertainty, hitting families, farmers, and small businesses in their pocketbooks. In 2025, Wisconsin households are facing an average increase of nearly $1,300 in costs as a result of Trump's tariff wars — and our farmers will especially suffer as their ability to export to international markets is put in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Republican assaults on healthcare, lifesaving research, consumer protections, and emergency preparedness will lead to more hospital closures, skyrocketing health insurance rates, and needless illness and death. The recently passed federal budget is the largest wealth transfer in American history — FROM the middle class, working people, and poor Americans TO the billionaire barons. The exploding debt it creates undermines America's security and economic strength. In short, this Republican regime is making us poorer, sicker, and weaker.

The Republican regime's chaos and corruption is undermining the rule of law in our country, imposing dangerous authoritarian rule that is contrary to our values and threatens our freedoms. Violent ICE raids are terrorizing communities across the country and undermining the ability of Wisconsin's agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and tourism industries, which rely heavily on immigrant workers, to thrive. Every American, and every Wisconsinite, deserves a government that is effective, responsive, transparent, and fair — not a corrupt vehicle to line the pockets of the President and his billionaire backers.

Wisconsin needs a champion who will stand up to Trump and protect Wisconsinites from the harmful effects of his policies by creating state-level economic and legal buffers and support systems. Kelda Roys is that fighter — an unwavering truth-teller who is not afraid of bullies, billionaires, or corporate interests.

As we work to stop these dangerous policies we must also work to repair our democracy. We can strengthen civic education and voting rights, foster pluralism and tolerance, fix our broken campaign finance and redistricting systems, and demand that every public official be accountable to "we the people" — not beholden to a self-styled dictator. Our country has faced perilous times before, and have come through it. Kelda Roys knows that we can win this fight, together.

CREATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL

As a small business owner and working mom/stepmom of 5, Kelda understands the struggles confronting Wisconsin families and small businesses. Wages are not keeping up with the rising costs of groceries, rent and housing expenses, healthcare, prescription drugs, utilities, transportation, or childcare. Middle class and working Wisconsinites are struggling to keep up, while low income families are left behind altogether. Why? Because unchecked corporate greed means companies pay as little to working people as possible, while shutting out local businesses that might create competition, and raising prices as they take consolidate more power.

Small businesses represent the vast majority of job creators in Wisconsin, yet many are currently struggling. Local businesses make our communities vibrant, but it's often too hard and too expensive to start a business. We need to ensure a strong economic support system that lets people pursue their dreams of owning their own business, connects small businesses with larger market opportunities, and ensures that smaller employers can compete on equal footing with big ones for talented workers and customers. Let's make a true public option where anyone — individual or business — can buy into the nonprofit state health insurance pool. Same with our best-in-the-nation state pension system. A real universal paid family and medical leave program, so no one has to choose between paying rent and missing their baby's first smile or caring for a dying spouse, and truly affordable childcare that every family can access. Laying the foundation for economic fairness with paid leave, childcare, health care, retirement, will help all workers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses compete and succeed.

Wisconsin deserves a champion who cares more about working people than the ultra-wealthy, and who will stand with Wisconsinites who need wage increases, property tax relief, and better economic opportunities for their families. Kelda Roys is that champion — a proud union daughter who will work to ensure that every person, no matter who you are or where you're from, has the freedom to thrive in Wisconsin, and as a small business owner, Kelda will be a fighter for all workers, builders, and doers who are being crushed under this economy.

CHAMPIONING PUBLIC EDUCATION

A high quality public education is the birthright of every Wisconsin child — from early childhood to higher ed. Unfortunately, our kids have been shortchanged for a generation by Republican legislators who refused to provide even inflationary increases to funding for our K-12 schools. At the same time, they have diverted billions of our taxpayer dollars away from local public schools to private, unaccountable voucher schemes that perform no better — and often much worse — than public schools. Yet these privatizers get preferential treatment when it comes to state finances. That's not fair to our kids or our future.

In the State Senate, Kelda opposed the 2025 state budget because it failed to provide adequate funding for public education — including zero additional dollars for general school aids (an effective cut for 2/3rds of districts across the state) and a special ed reimbursement to districts that is less than half of what private schools get from taxpayers.

Act 10 was an attack on public education and on property taxpayers and local governments. Republican budget cuts have forced schools and local governments into a divisive cycle of repeated referendums just to keep the lights on. Last spring, more than one-fourth of Wisconsin's school districts went to referendum because of reduced state funding, declining enrollment numbers, and poor special education reimbursement rates. Instead of providing public schools with the funding they need, Republicans in the legislature has left you baring the cost of higher property taxes.

Teachers deserve fair pay and benefits, a voice in the workplace, and above all, respect for their profession. We have a teacher retention crisis in Wisconsin because of divisive, anti-teacher policies that deprive educators of the ability to collectively bargain, leading to many teachers to flee the state, or work multiple low-wage jobs, and eventually burn out and leave the profession. No one goes into teaching to become rich, but no one should go into teaching and become poor.

But it's not enough to just fund schools — we need to prioritize better learning outcomes for all students. That means using evidence-based learning, keeping smartphones out of the classroom, retaining high standards, engaging parents and community members as stakeholders, and ensuring high quality professional development for educators.

Wisconsin deserves a fighter who will make Wisconsin the education state again. Kelda knows that a great education is the foundation for all of us to build the life we want, and that our public schools are the heart of our community. Kelda Roys is that fighter — a public education graduate who has always fought for our kids to be our first priority, so that no matter who you are or where you're from, your child has an excellent public education.

BUILDING HOUSING WISCONSINITES CAN AFFORD

From 2023 to 2024, Wisconsin experienced a staggering 9.9% surge in housing and rent costs. In all parts of our state, from urban cities to rural townships, countless Wisconsinites are struggling to afford even a modest one-bedroom apartment with their current wages. That's precisely why Kelda took the initiative to start her own real estate brokerage, dedicated to helping Wisconsin families keep more of their home equity, or be able to buy a home, with lower fees and costs. In the State Senate, Kelda has been leading the fight to expand housing opportunities, prevent evictions, stop rent gouging and discrimination, and restore consumer protections in housing. She authored legislation to prevent AI price-fixing schemes that use computer algorithms to jack up rent costs to the most profitable rates for landlords.

As Governor, Kelda will prioritize development of affordable housing that meets the needs of diverse households. While construction costs are rising and interest rates remain high, Wisconsin needs to be proactive to ensure that the right mix of housing is built and maintained all across the state. By reducing construction costs — made higher by Trump's reckless trade wars, reforming urban zoning laws, and leveraging public and private funding to increase housing affordability, Wisconsin can stabilize housing costs, lower rent prices, and guarantee that every person, regardless of their ZIP code, has safe and affordable housing where they can thrive.

Kelda has a profound understanding of the housing market and knows how to reduce housing costs. As Governor, she’s committed to delivering tangible results that make renting an apartment and buying a home easier and more affordable for everyone.

LOWERING HEALTHCARE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS

As the vice-chair of the Assembly Committee on Health and Healthcare Reform, Kelda expanded health coverage to over 80,000 Wisconsinites who previously were uninsured. With public health insurance programs gutted because of the recently passed Republican federal budget, safeguarding healthcare access is a critical priority. Everyone deserves access to quality healthcare that is both affordable and readily available. As Governor, Kelda will create a true public option for health insurance, while bringing down healthcare costs, expanding coverage, and tackling prescription drug costs — just as she has done in the Legislature.

Our next Governor needs to protect people from the devastating loss of healthcare that is poised to end coverage for 276,175 Wisconsinites, and drastically raise insurance rates for everybody else. That means being smarter with our healthcare dollars, investing in public health and prevention, reducing the cost of medication, better managing chronic illnesses, and expanding access to mental and behavioral healthcare, especially for veterans and children. As Governor, Kelda will get it done.

Wisconsin faces a massive healthcare workforce shortage, which is why Kelda has prioritized programs to train and retain nurses, physicians, mental health providers, CNAs, EMTs, and other in-demand healthcare professionals. Home healthcare providers, nursing home staff, and other healthcare aides have historically worked long hours under demanding conditions for low wages and few benefits. They deserve fair compensation, the right to collectively bargain, and our respect and appreciation for the important work they do.

Rural healthcare is a growing concern for our state, especially with the acceleration of hospital and clinic closures. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, dozens of community-based healthcare providers and EMS services have shut down, because of a lack of funding for rural community services, and healthcare. In the coming years, more critical access hospitals will be forced to close their doors because of the Republican federal budget — in both rural and urban areas. What's the use of health insurance if you can't use it? We need to fund and expand healthcare access in underserved communities, because right now, far too many people don't have a doctor's office, urgent care, or emergency room within a reasonable distance.

MAKING CHILDCARE AFFORDABLE

As a working mother, Kelda has been one of Wisconsin's loudest advocates for early childhood education, leading the charge to ensure that every family has access to high quality, affordable childcare. Right now, the average cost of daycare for one child in Wisconsin is about $16,000 per year — more than the cost to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Our economy cannot function, and families cannot thrive, if parents don't have a safe, nurturing place for their children to go while they work. Even when families commit the resources to childcare, there are often no slots available, or a long waiting list to get in. The lack of affordable childcare is causing some young people to decide not to have children, or to have fewer children then they would like — an outcome none of us should find acceptable.

Wisconsin needs to help every child get a great start in life, and ensure that parents are able to support their families while being present for the moments that matter most, with paid family and medical leave, affordable childcare, and high quality after school programs. As Governor, Kelda will prioritize the needs of Wisconsin's children and families.

STANDING STRONG FOR REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM & EQUALITY

For over two decades, Kelda has consistently been one of Wisconsin's fiercest fighters for the rights of women and girls. From guiding the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Act to passage, to securing additional funding for crime victim and domestic violence survivor services, Kelda has successfully passed numerous bills in both Democratic and Republican legislatures to protect victims of domestic violence.

As executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin, Kelda traveled our state and developed innovative, successful efforts to expand reproductive healthcare access. In the State Senate, Kelda has been fighting to secure abortion rights in Wisconsin, since Roe v. Wade was overturned. Wisconsin needs to repeal the archaic abortion bans and restrictions that put politicians in charge of your life, and put doctors in legal jeopardy. Co-leading the legislature's Reproductive Freedom Workgroup, Kelda has built the strongest pro-choice, pro-freedom caucus in the legislature's history. As Governor, Kelda will ensure that all of us have the freedom to make our own decisions and that doctors are never threatened with prison for caring for patients.

Kelda has been a champion for the equality, rights, and dignity of all people. She was fought to stop abusive "conversion" therapy, passed legal protections for same-sex couples, and is a member of the Legislative LGBTQ+ caucus. She has worked on issues of disability rights and justice, and has fought against discrimination against all forms and worked to reduce Wisconsin's racial and economic disparities. As a civil rights and liberties advocate and attorney, Kelda founded an ACLU chapter in the wake of September 11 and has been an ardent defender of free speech, freedom of religion, and due process, which are under attack by the Republican regime. Every person is entitled to equal justice under law.

PRIORITIZING PUBLIC SAFETY & VICTIMS RIGHTS

Every single Wisconsinite deserves to live free from violence and crime. As the daughter of a prosecutor, and an attorney herself, Kelda knows that safety is a basic right. Every child deserves to play in her neighborhood, bike to school, walk to the library, and meet friends at the park, without fear of harm from a reckless driver or person with a gun who shouldn't have one. Kelda believes Wisconsin needs to get smart about preventing crime, instead of continuing to pursue wasteful, failed policies that make us less safe, less just, and less free.

As Governor, Kelda will ensure Wisconsin adopts proven strategies that have helped other states (including many red states) prevent crime, save money, reduce recidivism, reduce racial disparities, and improve safety in communities and correctional facilities. Some of these policies are obvious: tax and regulate cannabis instead of criminalizing it, and instead, direct those law enforcement resources to solving serious crimes. Treat substance use disorder, mental illness, and behavioral health needs primarily within the healthcare realm, instead of using our jails and prisons to expensively warehouse people who are struggling but not a threat to others. Ensure that every county court system has a functioning Treatment Alternatives and Diversion program to reduce overcrowding and help nonviolent offenders get their lives back on track. Make sure people who are incarcerated are equipped to become productive citizens through work, education, skills training, counseling, and treatment while serving their time. Improve reentry programs, because a roof over your head and a job that pays the bills is the best crime prevention program there is. Enact and enforce responsible gun safety measures that reduce firearm injury and death, including suicides. Take reckless driving seriously, and give local governments the tools to combat it, including infrastructure changes to improve road safety. Invest in opioid prevention and treatment to stop the devastating epidemic that is costing too many lives.

We spend way too much on our corrections system for the outcomes we're getting, and too little helping make sure kids at risk have hope and a plan for their future. Correctional staff and people who are incarcerated deserve better policies that keep them safe in our prisons, and keep us all safe in our communities. Kelda has also been a strong advocate for victims of crime, and she successfully passed bipartisan laws to fund victim support services, clear the backlog of sexual assault kits that allowed too many perpetrators to go un-prosecuted and prevent a future backlog, and to support survivors in their healing.

GUARANTEEING A CLEANER WISCONSIN

Kelda has stood up to polluters and special interests again and again. As a first-term legislator, she took on the chemical lobby and authored the BPA Free Kids Act, to stop the neurotoxin bisphenol A, a toxic chemical that affects the development of children, from being put in baby bottles. She got that bill signed into law, and it continues to protect our kids today. As State Senator, Kelda has been holding Republican politicians and right-wing special interest groups accountable for holding hostage the funding to clean up PFAS contamination.

The Wisconsin Public Service Commission estimates more than 200,000 lead pipes are carrying drinking water to Wisconsin businesses, schools, and residents every single day. As Governor, Kelda will make sure that every poisonous pipe is removed, because no child's future should be harmed from the water that comes out of their tap. Every single Wisconsinite deserves access to clean, quality drinking water. As Governor, clean air and water will be a priority for Kelda, because she's not beholden to special interests. She's beholden to you.

Kelda has been a strong conservation leader and will restore support for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, which gives every Wisconsinite access to pristine habitats for hunting, hiking, fishing, swimming, trapping, snowshoeing, and unplugging. Science, not politics, should guide Wisconsin's natural resource policies, because all people have a right to a healthy, livable environment, and because two of our largest economic sectors depend on it: agriculture and tourism. Conserving Wisconsin's natural beauty is good business, attracting new people to our state, and improving our quality of life.

Wisconsin is already suffering from the effects of climate change. Increased flooding, more violent storms, invasive species, algae blooms, and less predictable weather patterns are already wreaking havoc on our communities, our businesses, our budgets, and our farmers. We need to develop climate resilience to ensure that we can withstand these changes. Wisconsin also has no fossil fuels, so cultivating energy independence is increasingly important in a time of rising utility costs. But Kelda knows these challenges are also opportunities — to build better, stronger, cleaner infrastructure, to cultivate new industries that will create thousands of high paying jobs, and to give our family farmers and rural communities more autonomy to control their own economic and energy futures.

INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE & PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Over the past eight years, we've been fixing the damn roads. Since President Trump has taken office, however, Wisconsin has lost millions in federal funds that would have assisted in rebuilding our infrastructure, bringing high-speed rail to Wisconsin, and fixing roads in places like Milwaukee, Madison, and cities, villages, and towns throughout Wisconsin. That's why, now more than ever, we need a Governor who will stand up for Wisconsin and the needs of our communities.

Expanding our connection infrastructure will give more Wisconsinites the ability to commute to work and school. It builds our businesses, supports our agricultural producers, and feeds our kids. That's why, as Governor, Kelda will help local communities modernize their public transportation systems, while she continues the fight for high-speed rail across Wisconsin, connecting us to the entire Midwestern region. It's also why Kelda will continue fighting for universal broadband access, so that every single Wisconsinite has access to fast, affordable internet service.

Rebuilding our infrastructure means making our roads safer, making our communities greener, making our family farms more profitable, and making our lives easier and better. As Governor, Kelda will partner with local communities to deliver the funding and projects they prioritize, and that all of us need to thrive.

ENSURING EVERY COMMUNITY THRIVES

Just as Republican politicians have chronically underfunded schools, they have also starved local governments of the funds they need to maintain critical public services: police and fire protection, water and sewer, libraries, snow and trash removal, social services, and public health. While modest progress was made several years ago, too many communities have been left behind and the shared revenue formula is deeply inequitable. Municipalities across Wisconsin have been forced to cut to the bone, and have no room in their budgets to respond to urgent needs or plan for better futures. Their other option is to repeatedly hold divisive referendums, asking voters to raise their own property taxes simply to keep the lights on. Meanwhile, GOP legislators in the capitol hoarded a multibillion dollar surplus for years as local communities withered and property taxes went up even higher.

As Governor, Kelda will fix our broken revenue sharing system, and fund our local community services, by giving back your tax dollars to your communities, instead of raising your property taxes.

Do you have a question or idea to share? Please email Kelda's campaign at forward@keldaroys.com. If you need assistance with a state government issue or would like to share feedback about a legislative matter, please email Kelda's capitol office at Sen.Roys@legis.wi.gov.