2026 Wisconsin State Assembly Candidate Forum

The 2026 Wisconsin State Assembly District 30 candidate forum, hosted by River Channel on October 14, 2026, featured incumbent Shannon Zimmerman and challenger Kevin Noki discussing affordability, childcare and housing, education funding, health care, public safety, transportation, broadband, and water quality. No motions, votes, contract awards, or procurement decisions occurred; the candidates debated policy priorities and possible future state investments rather than approving expenditures. Topics included transportation improvements near Hudson, broadband expansion, shared-revenue support for emergency services, and a proposed agricultural science building at UW–River Falls.

Budget discussions included school vouchers, which Kevin Noki said cost $623 million in 2024–25 and $700 million in 2025–26, with potential spending reaching $1 billion after the cap was removed; Zimmerman supported structural changes to school funding and district consolidation while defending voucher programs. The candidates also debated a roughly $2 billion data-center tax-credit provision, with Zimmerman noting qualifying companies must spend $50 million in Wisconsin. Other funding topics included property-tax relief, special-education funding, childcare support, and the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program. These were campaign positions, not new allocations or procurement actions.