The Ballot Brief
Iowa County, Wisconsin

Wisconsin Assembly District 51

3 candidates are tracked for Wisconsin Assembly District 51 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Nathan Tataje, Todd Novak and Ben Gruber. Candidate information follows official Iowa County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Nathan Tataje (American Solidarity), Todd Novak (Republican), Ben Gruber (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Todd Novak is the sitting member, per the Wisconsin Elections Commission's incumbent listing and the Legislature's roster. Wisconsin has no runoffs; the August 11 partisan primary set each party's nominee, and unopposed nominees still print. The field is the Wisconsin Elections Commission's certified Candidates on Ballot list for the November 3, 2026 general election (read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Todd Novak, is on the ballot.

Wisconsin › Iowa County › Wisconsin Assembly District 51

Nathan Tataje

American Solidarity

Top priorities
  • Permanent property tax relief through a dedicated Rural School Endowment
  • Protecting local zoning authority from state and corporate overreach
  • Environmental stewardship regarding large-scale data centers' impact on property values and aquifers

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Nathan Tataje is a first-generation American whose parents immigrated from Peru and Nicaragua, and he lives in rural Arena, per his American Solidarity Party candidate page. He serves as Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus Council 7811 and describes his campaign as rooted in working-class experience rather than a political career.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Todd Novak

Republican Incumbent

Biography

Todd Novak has served as Mayor of Dodgeville since 2012 and previously worked as government and associate editor of the Dodgeville Chronicle, per his official legislator biography. He was appointed to the Southwest Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and was first elected to the Assembly in 2014. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

Ben Gruber

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Lowering everyday costs for families
  • Rebuilding rural communities and protecting natural resources
  • Strengthening workers' right to organize

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Ben Gruber has worked as a volunteer EMT, firefighter, paramedic, police officer and conservation warden, per his campaign website. He grew up in a rural, working-class family as the oldest of three children.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
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Questions about this race

Who is running for Wisconsin Assembly District 51 in 2026?

3 candidates are tracked for Wisconsin Assembly District 51 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Nathan Tataje, Todd Novak and Ben Gruber. Candidate information follows official Iowa County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Wisconsin Assembly District 51 election in Wisconsin?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Wisconsin are on the Wisconsin election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Iowa County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Iowa County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Wisconsin election office, or see the full Iowa County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Iowa County ballot

2 tracked races in Iowa County, Wisconsin. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

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Candidate profiles
Nathan Tataje, full profileTodd Novak, full profileBen Gruber, full profileOfficial Wisconsin election office