Democratic Rep. Kalan Haywood is facing a Republican opponent for his Milwaukee Assembly seat for the first time since he was elected, as minister and state contract administrator Alciro Deacon mounts a challenge in District 16 ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. The district sits entirely inside the city of Milwaukee, and the matchup arrives as voters across the state say they are anxious about housing costs, gas prices and grocery bills.
Kalan Haywood and Alciro Deacon are the two candidates listed for the seat, according to WUWM, which reported that the district is currently represented by Haywood, who is running for reelection against Deacon. The Wisconsin Elections Commission confirms just two names on the ballot for Assembly District 16: Democrat Haywood and Republican Deacon. Per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, this marks Haywood's first time facing a Republican challenger; he last faced a general-election opponent in 2020, when independent candidate Dennis Walton ran against him.
Haywood's Long Run in Madison
Haywood was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 2018 at age 19 while still in college, the Journal Sentinel reports, and he is now seeking election to the seat for the fifth time. He serves as the Democratic Assistant Minority Leader in the Assembly, first in line to Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, according to the same report. Haywood traces his interest in politics back to age 13, saying he wanted to get involved to help make progress and be part of the solution, per the Journal Sentinel.
Haywood's platform centers on affordable housing, economic opportunity, public safety, voting rights, breaking cycles of poverty and sustainable wages, the Journal Sentinel notes. He has also emphasized affordable housing. On housing specifically, he wants to create more units and revitalize older housing stock while expanding pathways to homeownership and creating jobs, according to the report. He also supports funding for public transportation infrastructure to help residents offset rising gas prices.
Property Taxes and Schools
Haywood has said his district faces historically high property taxes, with many of the hardest-hit residents being seniors on fixed incomes, per the Journal Sentinel's reporting. He supports investment in public schools. The Journal Sentinel also reports that Wisconsin school districts have held at least one referendum to raise property taxes for public education over the past five to ten years. Separately, WUWM reports Haywood's platform includes expanding the homestead tax credit, capping prescription drug costs, and co-authoring a family and medical leave insurance program.
Who Is Alciro Deacon?
Deacon has worked as a state contract administrator and also works as a minister, the Journal Sentinel reports.
This is not Deacon's first run for office. The Journal Sentinel reports that he challenged Democratic state Sen. LaTonya Johnson six years before this race and lost that bid by more than 52,000 votes in 2020. This time, Deacon is running for the Assembly seat.
Neither candidate responded when WUWM sent out its election questionnaire, the station reported, and it noted that Deacon does not have a campaign website or social media page readily available.
The Bigger Picture for Wisconsin Voters
The race unfolds against a backdrop of persistent economic unease. A Marquette Law School Poll conducted in late September found the public remains gloomy on the economy, inflation, and gas and grocery prices, with Democratic registered voters somewhat more likely than Republicans to say they were certain to vote in November — 85% compared to 78%. WUWM notes that Republicans have firmly controlled the Wisconsin Legislature for more than a decade, while Democrats are eyeing an Assembly majority by flipping competitive districts.
Housing investment has also become a statewide talking point. Wisconsin's 2023-25 biennial budget delivered $525 million for workforce housing — described by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority as the largest such state investment in history — funding that has supported more than 1,600 workforce housing units statewide. More than 30,000 housing units have been built statewide since 2019 to address workforce, senior and family housing needs, according to the same announcement. The $525 million figure was part of the 2023-25 biennial budget.
