LaToya Bates
LaToya Bates (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Wisconsin State Assembly to represent District 37. She declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]
Biography
LaToya Bates was born in Wisconsin. She earned a bachelor's degree from Alverno College, a graduate degree from the Alverno College, and a graduate degree from Cardinal Stritch University. Her career experience includes working as an educator, business owner, and faith leader.[1]
Bates has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]
- Alverno College
- Black Church Food Security Network
- Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism
- Democratic Party of Dodge County
- Democratic Party of Fond du Lac County
- Milwaukee Food Council
- Milwaukee Reentry Council
- Minnesota Farmers Market Association
- National Association of Women Business Owners
- National Education Association
- Nehemiah Services
- Prison Action Milwaukee
- Wisconsin Farmers Market Association
- Wisconsin Women in Conservation
- WisDems
- Wounded Wings Association
Elections
2026
See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for Wisconsin State Assembly District 37
LaToya Bates is running in the general election for Wisconsin State Assembly District 37 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | LaToya Bates (D) | |
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
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2024
See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2024
General election
General election for Wisconsin State Assembly District 37
Incumbent Mark Born defeated LaToya Bates in the general election for Wisconsin State Assembly District 37 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mark Born (R) | 68.6 | 20,977 |
| LaToya Bates (D) | 31.4 | 9,608 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 4 | ||
| Total votes: 30,589 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 37
LaToya Bates advanced from the Democratic primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 37 on August 13, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | LaToya Bates | 100.0 | 2,973 |
| Total votes: 2,973 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 37
Incumbent Mark Born defeated Steve Rydzewski in the Republican primary for Wisconsin State Assembly District 37 on August 13, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Born | 69.4 | 4,701 |
| Steve Rydzewski | 30.6 | 2,068 | ||
| Total votes: 6,769 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Bates in this election.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
LaToya Bates has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to LaToya Bates asking her to fill out the survey. If you are LaToya Bates, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?
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You can ask LaToya Bates to fill out this survey by using the button below or emailing progress@latoyabates.com.
2024
LaToya Bates completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bates' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- Healthcare Access Rural communities need access to mental health treatment, level one trauma centers, and family care providers. Access helps ensure timely care for medical and mental health needs. I will advocate for quality healthcare and will seek ways to lower out of pocket costs for medication, doctor and emergency room visits. No one should be denied lifesaving medical treatment because of where they live or the type of insurance they have. In the Wisconsin State Assembly, I’ll continue to amplify the voices of women to ensure we have agency in matters of health and control of our medical and reproductive decisions.
- Improving Schools and Educational Programs An educator and mother, I have first hand knowledge of the challenges teachers face. Funding must reach our students to eliminate crowded classrooms, serve rural communities, and support those who have special education needs. I want to restore unions and protect teachers’ power to make decisions for their students and their classroom. The arts are essential. I support having library media and technology programming, a school nurse and social worker in every school. We can’t move Wisconsin forward without investing in our kids and that includes creating pathways to college.
- Lower Costs for Families People in Wisconsin work hard to put food on the table, gas in the tank and care for their families. Grocery bills are getting larger while our grocery bags are smaller. We feel the pinch at the pump with gas prices and other everyday expenses higher than before. Many big corporations continue to put profits over people offering low wages and high prices. Let’s stop giving tax breaks to big business that inflate prices on essential goods and services. Instead, let's support our families and ensure they take home what they need to provide for themselves.
As a Marine, my Papa fought. My Nana, mother and daughter marched. I had to run. I have a long list of people prepared me for this journey. My Nana, Thelma Thompson, and Papa, Orsby Moffett, taught me the power of my vote and my integrity. Zoreah Emami, Gwen Moore, Sr. Patricia Jensen, Lena Taylor, Whoopi Goldberg, Elizabeth Palmer, Sarah Godlewski, Tammy Baldwin, Frances Huntley-Cooper, Vel Phillips- women who taught me to lead, give and live. I am inspired by my children, Wynter and Emerald who have uncapped expectations that elevate their goals and objectives. I look up to people who keep fighting and cling to faith that better can be and work until it is. I am privileged to know so many amazing people that are oft unsung, but are true heroes.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
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Candidate Wisconsin State Assembly District 37 |
Personal |
Footnotes
