Neubaurer Wins Democratic Primary In Assembly District 66 Race

A political progressive who was motivated to run for the Wisconsin Assembly in part by her dislike of President Donald Trump won a Democratic primary in a special election Tuesday night.

Greta Neubaurer, 26, will more than likely take the office in the 66th State Assembly District race because there’s no Republican opposition in the general election next month. She’ll replace another Democrat, Cory Mason, who was recently elected Racine mayor.

In Tuesday’s primary, Neubaurer beat another progressive, Racine Alderman John Tate, by an 8-point margin.

Neubaurer said she’s eager to serve and is excited by her party’s prospects next year.

“Seeing Donald Trump getting elected last year was a huge catalyst for me,” Neubaurer told reporters at her election night party. She said she’s inspired by Democrats’ recent gains around the country.

“I’m really excited to be part of that movement and hopefully will help build it here in Wisconsin,” she said.

Neubaurer is the daughter of Jeff Neubaurer, who served four terms in the Assembly in the 1980s, and Lisa Neubaurer, a state appeals court judge in Waukesha.

Jeff Neubaurer told reporters that he never pushed his daughter to enter politics.

“We’ve always said to our kids that they should pursue their dreams and do what they find to be their path and their calling,” he said. “And she came to this place and her conclusion utterly on her own.”

Neubaurer got her start in politics as a high school student working on former President Barack Obama’s first campaign. She later became the director of a national environmental group, and returned to Wisconsin this past summer to serve as an aide in Mason’s Assembly office.