A Guest Column by Donald Dantzler, Fitchburg City Councilman, District 3, and Dane County Supervisor, District 33: Wisconsin’s Future Will Be Decided by Who Shows Up!
Donald Dantzler
by Donald D. Dantzler Jr., Fitchburg City Councilman, District 3, and Dane County Supervisor, District 33
Wisconsin is once again at a political crossroads. The decisions voters make this November will shape our state’s direction, not only in Madison, but in classrooms, neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities across Wisconsin.
The stakes are especially high because voters will decide who serves as governor and which party controls the Wisconsin State Assembly and Senate. Republicans currently hold majorities in both legislative chambers, and every Assembly seat is on the ballot, along with the odd-numbered Senate districts.
For Democrats, this election offers an opportunity to regain control of the Legislature and elect David Crowley as governor. If elected, Crowley would make history as Wisconsin’s first Black governor. That possibility is significant not because representation alone solves every problem, but because leadership should reflect the people it serves and open doors that have too long remained closed.
But history is not made by possibility alone. It is made when people register, learn about the candidates and issues, make a plan, and cast their ballots.
As a local elected official, I see how state decisions reach our communities. State policy affects the resources available to local governments, the opportunities available to students, the stability of families, and the ability of communities to respond to challenges. The choices made in the Capitol can either help local leaders meet residents’ needs or make that work more difficult.
That is why legislative control matters. The Assembly and Senate shape the state budget and decide which proposals receive attention, which communities are heard, and what priorities guide Wisconsin. A change in control would not guarantee agreement on every issue or solve every challenge overnight, but it would give voters the opportunity to choose a different direction and hold a new set of leaders accountable for the results.
The governor’s race matters just as much. A governor can set priorities, propose budgets, sign or veto legislation, and help determine how the state responds to the needs of its people. David Crowley’s candidacy gives Wisconsin voters the chance to consider a leader with experience serving a diverse community and a record in local government. Voters should look closely at every candidate’s experience, plans, and commitments and decide who is best prepared to lead.
For many people, politics can feel distant, divisive, or exhausting. It is understandable to wonder whether one vote can make a difference. But elections are decided by the people who participate. When turnout is low, a relatively small number of voters can determine outcomes that affect millions. When more people take part, elected officials hear from a broader cross-section of the state.
That includes young voters, working families, people who have moved recently, residents who have felt overlooked, and anyone who has ever wondered whether their voice matters. It does! Your vote is one way to make your priorities visible and to help decide who will represent you.
Turnout cannot be an afterthought. We need to talk with our families, neighbors, coworkers, and friends. We need to share accurate information and not social media “hit pieces,”z encourage people to check their registration and polling details, and help one another make a voting plan. If you are eligible, learn what options are available in your community, including early voting, and make sure you know the deadlines and requirements. The Wisconsin Elections Commission provides official election information at elections.wi.gov.
We should also remember that voting is not the end of civic engagement. It is one part of it. After the election, residents must continue asking questions, attending public meetings, contacting elected officials, and holding leaders accountable. Democracy is strongest when participation continues between elections, too. That includes residents who supported me, and those that didn’t, continue to hold my feet to the fire!
This moment carries particular meaning for Black Wisconsinites and for everyone who believes leadership should reflect the full breadth of our communities. The prospect of electing the state’s first Black governor is a milestone worth recognizing. Yet the work is bigger than any one candidate or election night. We must keep building a state where every child has a chance to succeed, every family can pursue stability, and every community has a genuine voice in decisions that affect its future.
I am proud to serve Fitchburg and Dane County, and I know that progress depends on people working together. No candidate can deliver meaningful change alone. It takes residents who stay engaged, public servants who listen, and communities willing to participate even when the process feels difficult.
This November, Wisconsin voters have a consequential choice. They can help determine who leads the state, whether control of the Legislature changes, and which priorities receive attention in the years ahead.
Please make your voice heard. Wisconsin’s future depends on it!