Mahlon Mitchell

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Mahlon Mitchell

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 14, 2018

Personal

Profession

President, Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin

Contact

Campaign Facebook

Personal Twitter

Mahlon Mitchell (Democratic Party) ran for election for Governor of Wisconsin. He lost in the Democratic primary on August 14, 2018.

Mitchell was a Democratic candidate for Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor in the recall election against incumbent Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch.

Click here for more information on the August 14 Democratic primary election. Click here for more information on the November 6 general election.

Biography

Mitchell was born in Milwaukee and grew up in Delavan, Wisconsin.

Mitchell worked as a street outreach coordinator, linking at-risk youth with community services, and for six years as a real estate agent. For the last 15 years, he has worked as a firefighter and is serving as President of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin - the youngest African American to hold the position.

Elections

2018

See also: Wisconsin gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 and Wisconsin gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 14 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for Governor of Wisconsin

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Wisconsin on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tony Evers (D)	49.5	1,324,307
		Scott Walker (R)	48.4	1,295,080
		Phillip Anderson (L)	0.8	20,225
		Maggie Turnbull (Independent)	0.7	18,884
		Michael White (G)	0.4	11,087
		Arnie Enz (The Wisconsin Party)	0.1	2,745
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	980

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,673,308
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Wisconsin

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Wisconsin on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tony Evers	41.8	225,082
		Mahlon Mitchell	16.3	87,926
		Kelda Roys	12.8	69,086
		Kathleen Vinehout	8.2	44,168
		Michael McCabe	7.4	39,885
		Matthew Flynn	5.9	31,580
		Paul Soglin	5.2	28,158
		Andy Gronik	1.2	6,627
		Dana Wachs	0.8	4,216
		Josh Pade	0.4	1,908

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 538,636
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Bob Harlow (D)
• Michele Doolan (D)
• Andrew Lust (D)
• Jeff Rumbaugh (D)
• Ramona Whiteaker (D)
• Mike Crute (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Wisconsin

Incumbent Scott Walker defeated Robert Meyer in the Republican primary for Governor of Wisconsin on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Scott Walker	91.6	417,276
	Submit photo	Robert Meyer	8.4	38,269

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 455,545
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Ryan Cason (R)

Green primary election

Green primary for Governor of Wisconsin

Michael White advanced from the Green primary for Governor of Wisconsin on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michael White	100.0	817

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 817
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for Governor of Wisconsin

Phillip Anderson advanced from the Libertarian primary for Governor of Wisconsin on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Phillip Anderson	100.0	1,673

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,673
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2012

See also: Rebecca Kleefisch recall, Wisconsin (2012)

Mitchell was defeated Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor in the recall election against incumbent Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch.

Recall of Wisconsin Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Rebecca Kleefisch Incumbent	52.9%	1,301,739
	Democratic	Mahlon Mitchell	47%	1,156,520
	Scattering	-	0.1%	3,077
Total Votes				2,461,336
Election results via Wisconsin Government Accountability Board

He defeated Ira Robins and protest candidate Isaac Weix in the primary on May 8.

Recall petitions were turned in on January 17, 2012 and certified on March 30. Mitchell declared his candidacy on March 19, 2012.

Wisconsin Lt. Governor Recall - Democratic Primary, 2012
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Mahlon Mitchell	51.3%	396,302
Isaac Weix	25.5%	197,148
Ira Robins	21.4%	165,325
Scattering	1.8%	13,575
Total Votes		772,350
Election results via Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.

Issues

Mitchell discusses his campaign with Wisconsin Public Television's Here and Now host, Frederica Freyberg:

Campaign themes

2018

Campaign website

The following themes were found on Mitchell's official campaign website.

“	Economic Opportunity Wisconsin needs an all hands working economy. We can’t get there by cutting our way to prosperity while giving handouts to the wealthy and corporations. We do it by building an economy that works for everyone. We will create jobs, support Wisconsin businesses and strengthen our economy while expanding opportunity to every corner of our state. Working people will see more money in their pockets, local municipalities will grow, and small businesses will be able to reinvest, and responsible budgeting will lead to economic growth in Wisconsin. I believe in economic opportunity for everyone and my administration will get Wisconsin working again. Raise the minimum wage to $15 hour. Wisconsinites deserve a living wage. No one should need to work two or three jobs just to make ends meet. Anyone who works full time should be able to support themselves and their family. Expand the child care tax credit. It’s hard work raising a family and taking care of children. It’s even harder when money is tight. We need to expand the child tax credit to help more low and middle income families access early education for their children. End the Manufacturers and Agriculture tax credit. It’s time to stop giving tax giveaways to the top earners in our economy by ending the Manufactures and Agriculture tax credit that is currently costing the state nearly $300 million each budget cycle. With more revenue from those who can afford it we can put more money in the hands of working families. Pay off the state debt. My administration will be responsible with our budget and stewards of our tax dollars. It’s our obligation to future generations to pay down our state debt. The longer we wait, the more it costs and the greater burden we shift to our children. Empower local governments through shared revenue. Madison should be empowering local communities, not using them as a source of revenue. The best example is Milwaukee, when in 2015 it sent $1.37 billion to Madison while the state returned only $227 million. That’s a difference of over $1 billion. Wisconsin has an obligation to aid local governments so they have the resources they need to provide services to their residents. Strengthen food assistance programs. Low-income residents have enough hurdles to overcome, restricting options and forcing them to jump through hoops to access vital food assistance is not the answer. We need to expand eligibility to give our most vulnerable the help they need to get back on their feet. Expand program eligibility for renting assistance. Everyone has a right to live in safe, clean housing without being “stuck” where they don’t want to be. Working Wisconsinites should have the freedom to live where they need to be, not where they’re forced to live. Support our Veterans There are more that 370,000 veterans in Wisconsin. It’s important that we provide opportunities for housing, job training, and healthcare as they re-enter civilian life. Education Wisconsin is the birthplace of the progressive tradition. The Wisconsin I know proudly believes in the power of education and the importance of funding our public schools and universities. Under my leadership as governor, Wisconsin will be a state that reinvests in education once again. We will fulfill the Wisconsin Idea and give students opportunities that are second to none. Fully invest in K-12 education. Making Wisconsin stronger than it’s ever been starts from the ground-up. My administration will value and support our K-12 teachers, students, and schools by adequately funding our public education and reducing class sizes. Fully invest in the UW-System. Our universities aren’t just an educational asset – they are huge drivers of economic growth. I believe in the Wisconsin Idea, where higher education can provide opportunities for everyone. We will work to reverse the massive cuts to our UW System and provide new investments for the next generation. Allow refinancing for student loans. People are able to refinance their mortgage or auto loan. The same should be true with student loans. Putting money back in the pockets of young professionals provides new opportunities, economic reinvestment, and creates stability for an entire generation of Wisconsinites. Create a student loan forgiveness program. Americans owe more in student loans than they do credit cards. To combat this, we will institute a student loan forgiveness program upon commitment to public service. If you attend a Wisconsin state university, you’ve made an investment in the state of Wisconsin, and we want to make an investment in you. Whether a K-12 teacher or police officer, if you’re giving back to your community, Wisconsin will thank you for your service. Support our technical colleges. Technical colleges give students the opportunity to gain the skills necessary to obtain a family sustaining job. I will restore the heavy cuts made to our technical college system and work on expanding programs to meet the demands of our changing economy. Devote resources to apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeship programs are a pathway to family-sustaining jobs. Investing in these programs ensures all students can gain new skills for a new job. Healthcare I believe that healthcare is a right. There are still too many Wisconsinites without coverage, and many more who are covered but struggle to afford the care they need. We’re going to close these gaps and make sure that everyone in Wisconsin has the healthcare they need to live full and productive lives. Expand Medicaid, which will expand healthcare to over 80,000 Wisconsinites. For too long, Governor Walker has refused to accept federal Medicaid dollars, which has prevented tens of thousands of low-income Wisconsinites from accessing health coverage. This is unconscionable, and as governor I will not stand for it. One of my first acts as governor will be to expand Medicaid to ensure coverage of an additional 80,000+ Wisconsinites. Make BadgerCare a public option. There are still 300,000 Wisconsin residents without coverage. Making BadgerCare a public option will allow anybody who wants to purchase healthcare coverage to be able to through the state. Support Women’s Health. I support a woman’s right to choose and make her own healthcare decisions. I would restore full funding to Planned Parenthood, a critical health care provider for women in Wisconsin. Expand the SeniorCare program. Our seniors deserve the best care and access to services they can get. It’s time to make SeniorCare permanent. Expand Family Care. Long-term care is a crucial component to ensure those around us in our communities have the services they need. Seniors and adults with disabilities need a long-term and stable approach to the best care available. Lower the cost of prescription drugs. We need transparency laws to see the true costs of prescription medications to ensure Wisconsinites aren’t being taken advantage of by pharmaceutical companies, and work to lower costs for patients. Fight the opioid crisis. The growing opioids crisis has led to far too many overdoses and deaths across Wisconsin. It’s time we take strong steps to combat it. We will give help to those who are already addicted and also give support to families and communities that have been ravaged by this crisis. Criminal Justice Reform Our criminal justice system is broken. Our state currently spends more tax dollars on the Department of Corrections than it spends on the UW System. Since 1990, Wisconsin’s prison population has tripled. Wisconsin’s prisons are designed to house about 16,000 inmates. Today they hold roughly 23,000. We are misusing resources and it’s preventing our state from reaching its full potential. It’s time for real criminal justice reform in Wisconsin that focuses on rehabilitation and reducing recidivism. We also need to address the factors contributing to Wisconsin having the highest rate of incarcerated African-American males in the country. End “truth in sentencing”. This is a failed program that has led to prison overcrowding and greater recidivism. We need to provide rehabilitation opportunities, and work to bring prisoners back into society. Expand the Early Release Program. We need to focus on rehabilitation for non-violent substance abuse offenders. The ERP is a treatment program to address alcohol and other drug abuse needs. There are 5,900 inmates on the waiting list for a treatment bed in the ERP program. “Ban the box.” We know that finding a job can be hard enough as it is. But it’s nearly impossible to find employment when needing to list criminal convictions on an application. Formerly incarcerated individuals who have paid their debt to society need a fair shot at getting a job and giving back to their community. Strengthen gun safety laws. I support universal background checks, mandatory two-day waiting periods for gun purchases, and limiting the sales of semi-automatic rifles. Legalize marijuana. I support the legalization of marijuana and using tax revenue to fund opioid recovery, and education. I also support commuting sentences for marijuana convictions. Invest in job training and workforce development. Our criminal justice system should be focused on rehabilitation and reducing recidivism. We need to create pathways for prisoners to learn new skills and reenter the workforce upon release. Reform the juvenile detention system. I support moving juvenile detainees to smaller regionally facilities, ending solitary confinement for juveniles, and focusing on rehabilitation. Transportation and Infrastructure The state of Wisconsin continues to lack adequate funding for transportation and infrastructure projects. The last state budget, passed in September of 2017, was 11 weeks late after disagreement on how to fund the $1 billion deficit in the state's transportation fund. Our roads are ranked the second worst in the nation, it is time we made improving our infrastructure a priority. Fix our local and county roads. Deteriorated roads cost taxpayers hundreds of dollars a year in car repairs. We need to ensure safe roadways for residents and businesses in our state. Support rail investments. I support using federal funds for a Milwaukee-to-Madison high-speed rail line. Investing in high-speed rail is smart, economical, and brings the people of our state and region closer together. Index the state gas tax to raise infrastructure revenue. By indexing the state gas tax based on the consumer price index (CPI) we will be able to responsibly fund transportation projects. Restore prevailing wage for state infrastructure projects. For every dollar spent with an out of state contractor, two dollars are lost in economic activity. It is also harder to enforce quality standards for infrastructure projects. Restoring prevailing wage would lift workers and keep state money in Wisconsin. Leverage all federal infrastructure money. My administration will comply with the federal government to increase the vital federal dollars available for infrastructure projects. Environment and Renewable Energy Wisconsin can be a national leader in renewable energy and a green economy. We’re going to create a clean environment for generations to come by setting ambitious goals that make substantial investments in our future. This benefits both our environment and the future of Wisconsin’s economy. Incentivize renewable solar and wind power. Extend tax credits to businesses and homeowners looking to invest in solar and wind energy. Fully fund and depoliticize the DNR. In order to protect our environment, we need a fully funded, independent Department of Natural Resources. Set new energy goals. States are taking the initiative across our country and we should too. By 2040, we will strive to have 50% of our electricity in our state come from renewable energy sources. Use clean energy in government. Set goal to make all state government buildings powered by clean energy by 2030. Take the initiative on protecting our environment. Wisconsinites are proud of our environmental tradition and strive to a higher standard. I will continue to apply for a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency to set our own, more focused, stricter environmental standards. Improve the quality of our waterways. Communities and businesses across Wisconsin rely on clean water. We will enforce restrictions on dangerous chemicals that affect our groundwater, lakes, and streams. Support a clean-energy economy. Create incentives for companies that build and invest in green jobs and clean environmental technology, not companies like Foxconn, in order to encourage the next generation of jobs to invest in Wisconsin. Agriculture Farming is a generational Wisconsin tradition and provides nearly $90 billion to our state’s economy and over 400,000 jobs. We have an obligation to ensure family farms are successful, grow, and remain a family enterprise. Protect our family farms. Corporate farms have an unfair competitive advantage over family farms. It’s important for Wisconsin to protect those family farms that have invested their time, money, and labor in our state for generations. Support loan access to small farms. We will create new state financial programs for family-owned and other small farms to ensure they have access to the capital necessary to make new investments and remain sustainable. We will also explore the option of creating a dedicated financial institution dedicated to family-farm lending to protect our important heritage. Help small farms get their product to market. We will make investments in state trade efforts to increase these exports geared toward small farms to larger markets across the country. Enact the “Family Farming Initiative”. This initiative is a package of reforms and protections to ensure that family farms are able to be passed down from one generation to the next, that they aren’t taxed unfairly, that the market remains fair, and their land is assessed at a fair value. Voting Rights and Fair Elections Wisconsin once enjoyed a rich tradition of progressive, transparent government that was open and accessible to everyone. It’s time we support a basic tenet of democracy – the more people who vote, the better – not only to restore what has been rolled back in recent years, but to make big steps forward to ensure our state government serves the peoples' interests and that everybody has the ability to vote. End Voter ID. Voter ID requirements disenfranchise and discriminate against Wisconsinites. Voting should be easy, open, and free. Restrictive policies that inhibit anybody’s ability to cast a ballot are wrong. Automatic voter registration. Make voter registration is automatic when acquiring a state issued ID or upon turning 18. Expand early voting. Having only one day to vote is archaic and does not reflect the reality of voters' busy lives. Expanding the early voting period will give people more time to cast their ballot. Reinstate the Government Accountability Board. Eliminate the partisan elections and ethics commissions and return to an accountable and independent oversight. End gerrymandering. Voters choose their politicians, politicians shouldn’t choose their voters. We will end partisan gerrymandering by passing non-partisan redistricting reform.	”
—Mahlon Mitchell for Governor

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Mitchell and his wife, April, live in Fitchburg with their two daughters.

See also

• Governor of Wisconsin
• Wisconsin gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
• Rebecca Kleefisch recall, Wisconsin (2012)
• Scott Walker recall, Wisconsin (2012)

External links

Suggest a link

• Official campaign website
• Mahlon Mitchell on Facebook
• Mahlon Mitchell on Twitter
• Mahlon Mitchell on YouTube
• Mahlon Mitchell on Flickr