2024 Wisconsin State Legislature Voter Guide: Assembly District 88

This is part of The Recombobulation Area and Civic Media’s 2024 Wisconsin State Legislature Voter Guide. Read the first part of the series, “New Board, New Game,” here. See the full district-by-district breakdown of the Wisconsin State Senate here. See the comprehensive Voter Guide here.

D: Christy Welch

R: Ben Franklin

There are two districts in Brown County that could go a long way toward determining which party wins the majority in November. They are both part of State Senate District 30, another we’ve identified as a “toss-up.” Needless to say, the road to control of the Assembly goes through the Green Bay suburbs. 

The 88th includes the cities of De Pere, Allouez and Bellevue, and is an open seat, following the pending retirement of Republican incumbent John Macco. There was a competitive GOP primary to find his potential replacement, and there, Ben Franklin (no, not that one) defeated Phil Collins (not that one, either), about 68% to 32%. Franklin is an Air Force veteran and a business owner. This is the first time he’s running for elected office. 

The Democrat in the race is Christy Welch, who did not face a primary challenge. She is the Chair of the Democratic Party of Brown County, elected in 2022, and was a delegate at this year’s Democratic National Convention. She works in a leadership role at a Green Bay manufacturing company. 

This is as much of a swing district as it gets in Wisconsin, another won by both Tony Evers (by about 3.5%) and Ron Johnson (by 2%) in 2022, and won by 0.5% by Donald Trump in 2020. Given this dynamic, and with no incumbent on the ballot, this one could truly go either way. 

CNalysis: TOSS-UP

• Proj. margin: D+1

Modeled 2022 outcome: R+4.2

Wisconsin Eye interview: