Who is running for Assembly District 51 in Wisconsin in 2026?

Todd Novak (R), Ben Gruber (D), Nathan Tataje (Independent)

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 51

Assembly District 51 — Wisconsin 2026

3 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

ATodd NovakRepublican

Incumbent state representative, Assembly District 51; Republican.

LifeBFamilyBReligious libertyA2nd AmendmentALimited gov’tAFiscalA

Voted for the abortion-related legislation, girls'-sports, gender-transition and parental-rights bills and Freedom to Gather amendment, SB 466 (firearm merchant codes) and the partial-veto/anti-preference amendments and tax cuts. iVoterGuide rates Leans Conservative.

Life: Voted yes on AB 975 (2023 14-week abortion limit referendum). Pro-life groups (Wisconsin Right to Life, Pro-Life Wisconsin, Wisconsin Family Action, Catholic Conference) opposed AB 975 as inadequate, so this vote alone is not treated as decisive.
Family: Voted yes on 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 sex-reassignment surgery for minors), SB 405 (2025 civil remedies for minors harmed by gender-transition procedures), SB 799 (2025 parental access to minors' health records) and AB 602 (2025 school-choice scholarship tax credit); did not vote on AB 377 (2023 K-12 girls' sports), AB 378 (2023 college girls' sports) and AB 465 (2023 ban on sex-reassignment surgery for minors).
Religious liberty: Voted yes on SJR 54 (2023 Freedom to Gather amendment, 1st consideration) and AJR 10 (2025 Freedom to Gather amendment, on the Nov 2026 ballot).
2nd Amendment: Voted yes on SB 466 (2023 ban on firearm merchant category codes).
Limited gov’t: Voted yes on AJR 112 (2023 partial-veto limit amendment), SJR 116 (2025 partial-veto limit amendment, on the Nov 2026 ballot), AJR 109 (2023 amendment barring government race/sex preferences), AJR 102 (2025 amendment barring government race/sex preferences, on the Nov 2026 ballot) and AJR 66 (2023 supermajority-for-tax-increases amendment).
Fiscal: Voted yes on AJR 112 (2023 partial-veto limit amendment), SJR 116 (2025 partial-veto limit amendment, on the Nov 2026 ballot), AB 386 (2023 income-tax cut), AB 1020 (2023 income-tax cut), AJR 66 (2023 supermajority-for-tax-increases amendment), SB 36 (2025 income-tax exemption for tips) and AB 602 (2025 school-choice scholarship tax credit).

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

Ballotpedia

DBen GruberDemocratic

Candidate for Representative to the Assembly, District 51 (Democratic).

LifeDFamilyDReligious libertyC2nd AmendmentFLimited gov’tDFiscalD

Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate (2026). 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: Designated a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate (2026).
Limited gov’t: No specific position found; Democrat; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.
Fiscal: No specific position found; Democrat; iVoterGuide rates Liberal.

Sources: [1] [2]

Ballotpedia

N/RNathan TatajeIndependent

Candidate for Representative to the Assembly, District 51 (no party affiliation).

Independent candidate; no legislative voting record or group endorsements found (iVoterGuide rates Leans Liberal). Not graded.

Sources: [1]

Ballotpedia

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