Social Worker and Disability Rights Advocate Jessica Seawright Launches Campaign for Wisconsin State Assembly District 21

MILWAUKEE, WI – On Monday morning in the heart of Oak Creek, social worker and disability rights advocate Jessica Seawright launched her campaign for Wisconsin’s 21st Assembly District. Jessica is a social worker, parent, and problem solver running to flip the 21st District and bring practical, compassionate leadership to Madison.

Jessica Seawright isn’t your typical candidate. For more than two decades, she has served her community. She started in the emergency room, helping people in crisis. Today, she develops neighborhood programs, leads statewide efforts to transform mental health care, and has spent thousands of hours as a therapist listening to everyone she serves.

When her son needed better access to community spaces, Jessica took action, securing a grant to make her local community garden accessible for people with mobility needs. Now she’s ready to take her commitment to action and service to Madison, where she’ll be the voice District 21 has been missing.

“I’ve seen what happens when people feel heard and supported,” Seawright said. “I’ve also seen what happens when they don’t. It’s time to show up and do the work.”

The 21st Assembly District, which includes portions of Oak Creek, Milwaukee, and Greenfield, will be a key battleground in the 2026 elections as Democrats work to flip the State Assembly for the first time in over a decade.

State Senator Chris Larson (SD-7) and State Representative Christine Sinicki (AD-20) joined Seawright at the launch, praising her as the candidate best prepared to win the 21st District, help secure a Democratic majority, and deliver real solutions for Wisconsin families.

Read below for Jessica Seawright’s full prepared remarks announcing her candidacy for the State Assembly in the 21st district:

Friends, neighbors, family—

When I look around, I see the heart of our community. I see small business owners, disability-rights advocates, educators, parents, nurses, and veterans. I see people who work every single day to keep us safe, healthy, and moving forward—caregivers at home, medical staff in our clinics, teachers and aides in our classrooms, case managers and crisis workers on the front lines. To each of you: thank you. Your service inspires my own.

I’m also grateful to Senator Chris Larson and Representative Christine Sinicki for being here. They open doors, hold meetings without a time limit, and remind us that real representation comes from the people. They’ve shown me that democracy works best when we invite more voices in—and as a disability rights advocate who has been doing the work for Oak Creek, Milwaukee, and Greenfield, I’m ready to be the voice our district is missing in Madison.

Today, I am excited to announce that I’m running for State Assembly District 21.

Listen, I’m not your typical candidate. But I have what it takes to flip this Assembly seat and deliver for every corner of the 21st—from Bender Park to the Garden District. Let me tell you why.

For more than two decades, I’ve worked side-by-side serving my community. I started in the emergency room, helping people in crisis. I’ve led statewide efforts to transform mental health care, spent thousands of hours as a therapist listening to real people, and developed neighborhood programs that meet families where they are. The people closest to the problem know the real solutions—and that is my strength. I bring people together, listen, and deliver results.

My dad is here today and gave me advice I’ll never forget: “Jess, if you run for office, never talk down to people or make them feel less than.” That’s how I was raised, and it’s the spirit I’ll bring to representing this community.

I come from a family that embodies Wisconsin values. My grandfather was a Teamster truck driver who grew up in the Great Depression. My grandmother was raised in the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, part of the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa Indians. My father is a Marine veteran of Desert Storm who now relies on VA services. My mom is a registered nurse who worked through the pandemic in Oak Creek and Franklin ERs. My brother attends Milwaukee Area Technical College, and my spouse and I are proud AFT union members. Four generations of veterans. Union members. Teachers. Small business owners. Nurses. Social workers. My family is proud to call Wisconsin home.

And like so many of you, I know what it’s like to juggle rising costs and shrinking paychecks. I’m raising a child with complex medical needs. Every day I navigate our health, education, and safety systems—and I see where they fall short.

That’s why I will fight for healthcare that doesn’t bankrupt families, for an economy that working people can afford, and for schools that serve every child.

I’m also serious about safety. And it’s personal to me. I’ve worked with clients whose worlds have grown smaller because they fear violence in their schools, churches, or workplaces. Real safety means stable housing, good jobs, and quality schools—not just responding after harm is done. We need leaders who will invest in stopping harm before it happens. That’s what it means to be serious about safety.

Access to quality Healthcare is vital for a safe community. But right now, healthcare costs are crushing families. Too many people choose between groceries and prescriptions or skip doctor visits because they fear the bill. I’ll fight to expand BadgerCare so your coverage isn’t tied to your job, negotiate prescription drug prices, and make mental health care affordable and accessible. Healthcare should never push anyone into bankruptcy.

We also need to bring housing costs down. Young families can’t afford to buy homes, and seniors on fixed incomes are being priced out of neighborhoods they’ve lived in for decades. And the rent – it’s too high! There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Different communities need different approaches, and I’ll show up to listen to local leaders to find solutions that work.

Who’s ready for fully funded public schools?! It’s about time! For more than a decade, our children have been feeling the consequences of underfunded schools. Every resident—whether they have a child in school or not—feels the higher property taxes from being forced by the state to go to referendum after referendum. It’s time to end this cycle. I’ll fight for full state funding, work with school boards and teachers, and invest in career training so every adult has a path to a good-paying job.

I’ve seen what happens when people feel heard and supported. I’ve also seen what happens when they don’t. It’s time to show up and do the work.

To my neighbors in Oak Creek, Milwaukee, and Greenfield: I’m asking you to expect more from your representative. More listening. More showing up. More hard work.

This Assembly seat came within a few hundred votes of flipping last time. It’s going to take all of us, working together, to finish the job.

I’m Jessica Seawright. I’m a parent, social worker, and problem solver. It’s time to put our community first and flip the 21st! Let’s get to work!

For more information about Jessica Seawright’s campaign, please visit www.JessicaSeawright.com.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.