Candidate Answers: Josh Mittness, AD50
We sent all candidates for the state legislature with contested primary races a set of questions. We are publishing their responses as we receive them.
Here’s responses from Josh Mittness, who is running in Assembly District 50. AD 50 is South of Madison. It leans +14 Democratic, and is an open race because Jenna Jacobson gave up the seat to run for State Senate against Republican incumbent Howard Marklein in SD17.
We wrote a little about Mittness and his competition back in May. Old Dan liked him most in this race, and these answers also align with our values. You can read more about Mittness or support him by visiting his campaign website.
The Questionnaire
1. Yes or no, will you help repeal or re-write the following harmful legislation:
Collective bargaining restriction (2011 Act 10)?
Yes.
The Shared Revenue Deal (2023 Act 12)?
Yes.
Felony trespass for water protectors (2019 Act 33)?
Yes.
The 1848 abortion law?
Yes.
The anti-BDS law (2017 Act 248)?
Yes.
The IHRA law (2025 Act 143)?
Yes. Various civil liberties organizations have pointed out that it violates the 1st amendment by punishing political criticism of the government of Israel.
2. Yes or No, will you vote for the following proposed legislation?
The socialist caucus' tax plan?
Yes. The richest among us need to pay their fair share.
Yes.
Yes.
Tenant Protections, including Right to council?
Yes.
Yes.
The Hospital Accountability Act?
Yes.
The Climate Accountability Act?
Yes.
Yes, but I think it needs to be $25 instead, so I would push for that, and for getting rid of the sub-minimum wage also.
Yes.
High speed train connecting Milwaukee and Madison to Chicago and Minneapolis?
Yes.
3. How else will you use your position in the legislature to advance an agenda that promptly delivers a more affordable life to people struggling in our state?
I want to create a permanent raise in the minimum wage by tying it to inflation, cost of living and increases in productivity so we do not get left behind again by politicians who care more about billionaires than regular people.
I am going to fight for universal childcare.
I will fight for full public funding of elections, ranked choice voting and fusion ballots so people don’t feel left out of the political system, and so that regular everyday people can run for office without the support of corporate lobbyists or being independently wealthy.
I will fight for true bodily autonomy for all encoded in the constitution.
I believe we need a moratorium on AI Data Centers.
I will push to legalize cannabis in a way that doesn’t limit the business to giant corporations and finally step into the next century. This also means expunging the records of people who have had their lives ruined by our archaic drug laws.
I will work hard to lower the out of control cost of housing.
On every issue, this is not the time for half-way solutions that accept defeat before negotiations even start. This is the time for bold action. It is decades past time for a change, and taking baby steps in times like these are not going to get anything accomplished.
With this trifecta, we really need to hit these issues out of the park for the people who are struggling the most, or we will end up losing it just 2 years later.
The powers that be have squeezed every last drop out of us regular, everyday working families and retired people of Wisconsin, and we won’t survive much longer if something isn’t done immediately.
There can be no more of the status quo that put us here in the first place.
4. In recent years the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and the Senate and Assembly Coordinating Committees have heavily prioritized fundraising, especially from wealthy elites and the business community. How have you seen this impact Democratic Party policies, electoral success, and internal culture?
The people of Wisconsin are sick and tired of nothing getting done- and that is because of the money in politics. We cannot have candidates that are going into office with puppet strings already attached before they are even sworn in.
The Democratic Party is the party that is known for fighting for the people and for progressive change and I would like to help get us back to those roots. I run into a lot of people who tell me they have stopped voting altogether because they feel like both sides are bought and paid for.
Aside from all of the things I wish to accomplish while in office to make lives better for all of us, the number one goal of my campaign is to prove that we can do this without taking money from corporate lobbyists or being independently wealthy.
Once we succeed in doing that, it will show that it is possible for anyone to get involved in politics as long as they are willing to work as hard as we are.
I have some amazing volunteers who also work full time jobs on top of working for the campaign, and a very talented and smart life partner who are all making this dream a reality. I want to see a revolution of sorts that fills the ballots of our future elections with real people who will be personally affected by the decisions coming out of the Capitol.
This campaign has never been just about me- it is about changing the way we do politics for good.
That’s why I have the first endorsement in over 6 years from Senator Russ Feingold as well and the Working Families Party.
“The people of Wisconsin deserve to have a vision of the future that lies beyond our next paychecks.”