Secretary of State of Wisconsin
JoCasta Zamarripa
Milwaukee alderperson (District 8, since 2020)D
- Race
- Secretary of State of Wisconsin
- Election
- 2026-11-03
- Opponents
- Jay Schroeder (R); Pete Karas (G)
- Research
- Basic
Party linenone
No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.
Said vs. did0 statements · 0 votes
JoCasta Zamarripa, a second-term Milwaukee alderperson and former five-term state representative, is the Democratic nominee for Secretary of State in an open-seat race. Her campaign says it would use the office's platform and its seat on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands to focus on child care, housing and school funding, and she says election authority should stay with the Wisconsin Elections Commission.[1][2][3]
On the ballotSecretary of State
2026-11-03
| JoCasta Zamarripa D | challenger |
| Jay Schroeder R | challenger |
| Pete Karas G | challenger |
Unopposed in the August 11 Democratic primary.
Biography
JoCasta Zamarripa, a second-term Milwaukee alderperson and former five-term state representative, is the Democratic nominee for Secretary of State in an open-seat race. Her campaign says it would use the office's platform and its seat on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands to focus on child care, housing and school funding, and she says election authority should stay with the Wisconsin Elections Commission.[1][2][3]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
JoCasta Zamarripa was born and raised in Milwaukee, and her campaign site describes her as being from the city's near south side.[4] In 2010 she became the first Latina elected to the Wisconsin Legislature, and she served five terms as a state representative.[3][1] In 2012 she came out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.[3]
Zamarripa has represented Milwaukee's District 8 on the Common Council since 2020, where her campaign says she has led efforts on city services, housing affordability and neighborhood economic development.[2][3][4] She announced her run for Secretary of State in September 2025 and, according to the Wisconsin Examiner, was unopposed in the Democratic primary.[3][5]
In their own words
Priorities
- Quoted in her campaign announcement: "I’m running for Secretary of State to be a strong voice for all Wisconsinites"[6]
- Using the office's platform and its seat on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, which helps manage more than $1.3 billion in trust funds supporting school libraries, to advocate on cost of living, child care, housing and school funding.[6]
- Keeping election authority with the Wisconsin Elections Commission rather than moving it to the Secretary of State, as reported by Ballotpedia News.[7]
Campaign moneyNo FEC filing summary matched — state candidates file with their state, not the FEC.
Profile: /people/jocasta-zamarripa
Compare all 3 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.'MAGA activist' who wants to eliminate elections commission wins GOP nod for secretary of state · Wisconsin Examiner · 2026-08-11 News report
- 2.Wisconsin's secretary of state election this year is the first in 40 years without an incumbent on the ballot · Ballotpedia News · 2026-09-16 Reference
- 3.Milwaukee Alderperson and Former State Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa Announces Campaign for WI Secretary of State · Urban Milwaukee (campaign press release) · 2025-09-04 Candidate's own words
- 4.JoCasta Zamarripa for Wisconsin Secretary of State · Campaign website Candidate's own words
- 5.Wisconsin Secretary of State | Voter Guide: 2026 General Election · Wisconsin Examiner News report
- 6.Milwaukee Alderperson and Former State Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa Announces Campaign for WI Secretary of State · Urban Milwaukee (campaign press release) · 2025-09-04 Candidate's own words
- 7.Wisconsin's secretary of state election this year is the first in 40 years without an incumbent on the ballot · Ballotpedia News · 2026-09-16 Reference