Voters across Cudahy, South Milwaukee, St. Francis and parts of southern Milwaukee will decide this fall whether to keep Democratic Rep. Christine M. Sinicki in the state Assembly seat she has held since 1998 or hand it to Republican challenger Kyle Cleary. The two are the only candidates listed for Assembly District 20 on the Nov. 3 general election ballot, according to Wisconsin Elections Commission records.
A Long-Held Seat on the Ballot Again
Sinicki is the incumbent representative for the district and is running for reelection against Cleary, according to WUWM. The Wisconsin Elections Commission document lists Kyle Cleary as the Republican candidate and Christine M. Sinicki as the Democratic candidate for the seat, with the race drawing a total of two candidates for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Assembly District 20 covers Cudahy, South Milwaukee, St. Francis and some parts of southern Milwaukee, per the station's reporting.
Sinicki was first elected to the Assembly in 1998, according to Wisconsin Watch. A separate Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau profile describes her as having served in the Assembly since 1999, a discrepancy that leaves her exact length of service from differing sources. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, in reporting the race, referred to Sinicki as the Assembly's longest-serving current member.
Where Sinicki Stands on the Issues
Sinicki told the station her priorities include public education, health care, veterans support and infrastructure. She also said she wants to create more worker housing and develop ways to help fund child care and health care for all, the station's report notes.
On data centers, a flashpoint issue as Wisconsin weighs major new developments, Sinicki said growth needs to be reined in. “We need to slow it down and make sure regulations are in place to protect rate payers, the environment and jobs,” she said, per the same account.
A Challenger Without Much of a Public Record Yet
Cleary did not respond to the station's questions, and the outlet said it could not readily find a campaign website or social-media page for him. That silence leaves most of his platform undefined in the public record so far, though unofficial Milwaukee County primary results obtained in connection with this reporting show Cleary carried the August Republican primary with 2,163 votes, or 99.68%, with all 21 precincts reporting.
The matchup echoes 2024, when Sinicki, a longtime incumbent, faced Republican Mike Moeller, a business executive from South Milwaukee, according to Wisconsin Watch. Neither Sinicki nor Moeller had a primary opponent that year, and both advanced to the general election, the outlet reported.
A District Democrats Are Expected to Keep — With Bigger Stakes
Wisconsin Watch characterized District 20 as a likely Democratic seat ahead of the 2024 election and described Sinicki as a strong favorite to win another term. This year's contest carries broader weight statewide: Democrats have a chance of winning the Assembly majority if they flip a handful of competitive districts elsewhere, even as Republicans are considered likely to retain control overall, according to WUWM.
For District 20 voters, though, the ballot choice remains straightforward — a familiar, long-serving incumbent against a newcomer who has yet to lay out a detailed platform publicly. Both candidates are from Milwaukee, and the outcome will be decided when polls close on Nov. 3.
