Who is running for Assembly District 1 in Wisconsin in 2026?

Joel Kitchens (R), Renee A. Paplham (D)

When is the Wisconsin 2026 general election?

Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Wisconsin › Races › Assembly District 1

Assembly District 1 — Wisconsin 2026

2 candidates on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot (official Wisconsin Elections Commission list, as of October 6, 2026). Grades reflect each candidate's public record on life, family, religious liberty, the Second Amendment, limited government and fiscal responsibility.

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Candidates

AJoel KitchensRepublican

Incumbent state representative, District 1; Republican.

LifeBFamilyAReligious libertyA2nd AmendmentALimited gov’tAFiscalA

Voted yes on all captured 2023-26 conservative priority roll calls (abortion, gender/parental-rights, Freedom to Gather, firearms, partial-veto and tax-cut measures). iVoterGuide rates Leans Conservative.

Life: Voted yes on AB 975 (2023, statutory referendum on a 14-week abortion limit), which the Heal Without Harm coalition (Wisconsin Right to Life, Pro-Life Wisconsin, Wisconsin Family Action, Wisconsin Catholic Conference) opposed as a bad strategy. No other pro-life roll call was captured for the Assembly.
Family: Voted yes on AB 377 (2023) (K-12 girls' sports), AB 378 (2023) (college girls' sports), AB 465 (2023) (ban on sex-reassignment surgery for minors), AB 510 (2023) (Parents' Bill of Rights), AB 100 (2025) (K-12 girls' sports), AB 102 (2025) (college girls' sports), AB 104 (2025) (ban on gender-transition surgery for minors), SB 405 (2025) (civil remedies for minors harmed by gender-transition procedures), SB 799 (2025) (parental access to minors' health records).
Religious liberty: Voted yes on SJR 54 (2023) ('Freedom to Gather' worship amendment), AJR 10 (2025) ('Freedom to Gather' worship amendment).
2nd Amendment: Voted yes on SB 466 (2023) (ban on firearm merchant codes).
Limited gov’t: Voted yes on AJR 112 (2023) (partial-veto limit amendment), SJR 116 (2025) (partial-veto limit amendment), AJR 109 (2023) (anti-preferential-treatment amendment), AJR 102 (2025) (anti-preferential-treatment amendment), AJR 66 (2023) (tax-increase supermajority amendment), AB 602 (2025) (scholarship tax-credit school choice).
Fiscal: Voted yes on AB 386 (2023) (income tax cut), AB 1020 (2023) (income tax cut), AJR 66 (2023) (tax-increase supermajority amendment), SB 36 (2025) (tip income tax exemption), AB 1 (May 2026 special session) (property tax relief/school funding), AB 602 (2025) (scholarship tax-credit school choice).

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Ballotpedia

DRenee A. PaplhamDemocratic

Candidate for Representative to the Assembly, District 1 (Democratic).

LifeDFamilyDReligious libertyC2nd AmendmentDLimited gov’tDFiscalD

Non-incumbent Democrat with no recorded votes or issue ratings found. iVoterGuide rates Liberal.

Life: No specific position found; Democrat; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.
Family: No specific position found; Democrat; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.
Religious liberty: No specific position found; Democrat; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.
2nd Amendment: No specific position found; Democrat; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.
Limited gov’t: No specific position found; Democrat; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.
Fiscal: No specific position found; Democrat; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.

Sources: [1]

Ballotpedia

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