Who is running for Assembly District 65 in Wisconsin in 2026?

Valerie Kretchmer (R), Ben DeSmidt (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 65

Assembly District 65 — 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

BValerie KretchmerRepublican

Candidate for Representative to the Assembly, District 65 (Republican).

LifeBFamilyBReligious libertyB2nd AmendmentBLimited gov’tBFiscalB

Non-incumbent Republican; no legislative voting record captured. iVoterGuide rates Conservative.

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

Sources: [1]

Ballotpedia

FBen DeSmidtDemocratic

Incumbent Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Assembly for District 65 (first term, 2025-26).

LifeDFamilyFReligious libertyF2nd AmendmentFLimited gov’tFFiscalD

Incumbent Democrat; Assembly floor votes captured on 10 graded roll calls (2023-26), opposing conservative positions on marriage/family, religious liberty, Second Amendment and limited government; a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate. iVoterGuide rates Verified Liberal.

Life: No specific position found; Democrat; iVoterGuide rates Verified Liberal.
Family: Voted no on 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, opt-in to federal school-choice scholarship tax credit).
Religious liberty: Voted no on AJR 10 (2025, 'Freedom to Gather' amendment, 2nd consideration).
2nd Amendment: Designated a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate (2026).
Limited gov’t: Voted no on SJR 116 (2025, limit on governor's partial veto, 2nd consideration) and AJR 102 (2025, ban on government preferential treatment, 2nd consideration).
Fiscal: Voted yes on SB 36 (2025, income tax exemption for tips); voted no on SJR 116 (2025, limit on governor's partial veto, 2nd consideration) and AB 602 (2025, opt-in to federal school-choice scholarship tax credit).

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

Ballotpedia

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