Kenosha County, Wisconsin

Wisconsin Assembly District 65

2 candidates are tracked for Wisconsin Assembly District 65 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Valerie Kretchmer and Ben DeSmidt. Candidate information follows official Kenosha County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Valerie Kretchmer (Republican), Ben DeSmidt (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Ben DeSmidt 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, Ben DeSmidt, is on the ballot.

Wisconsin › Kenosha County › Wisconsin Assembly District 65

Valerie Kretchmer

Republican

Top priorities

Focus on education fundamentals and reform special education funding
Support accountability and community-driven policing for safer neighborhoods
Provide real tax relief and responsible spending for affordability

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Valerie Kretchmer is a business professional with a background in budgeting, procurement and operational efficiency, and a longtime Pleasant Prairie resident, per her campaign website. She has served on the Pleasant Prairie Parks Commission, working on ADA-compliant playground design at Prairie Springs Park, and previously ran for the Kenosha Unified School District Board.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Ben DeSmidt

DemocraticIncumbent

Biography

Ben DeSmidt taught at Carthage College from 2005 to 2020 and co-owns Union Park Tavern in Kenosha, per his official legislator biography. He describes himself as a fourth-generation elected official in Wisconsin. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

Next on your ballotWisconsin Senate District 11

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Wisconsin Assembly District 65 in 2026?

When is the Wisconsin Assembly District 65 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 Kenosha 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 Kenosha County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Kenosha County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Kenosha County Sheriff Wisconsin Assembly District 32 Wisconsin Assembly District 64 See all 5 Kenosha County races

Candidate profiles

Valerie Kretchmer, full profile Ben DeSmidt, full profile Official Wisconsin election office