Tseffos promises 'different' campaign as she announces candidacy for State Senate
Tseffos said her campaign would center on lowering costs, supporting kids, and investing in safe communities.
Enthusiastic supporters applauded as Emily Tseffos announced her candidacy for Wisconsin Senate District 19 on Nov. 7.
Tseffos ran in Assembly District 56 last year, where she lost to incumbent Dave Murphy. She knocked on thousands of doors during her campaign and said she found common ground with voters of all opinions. At the press event, Tseffos said the people and their stories have stuck with her.
“These folks may not all vote the same way, but they all matter,” she said. “And I’ll represent them, too, because this campaign isn’t about who’s right or left. It’s about who’s being left behind.”
Tseffos grew up in Slinger and enjoyed small-town neighborliness.
“Growing up here, I learned what community really means; you don’t wait for permission to help someone or for someone else to do the work,” Tseffos said. “You just show up. I believe that kind of strength and care demonstrate the values that built Wisconsin: hard work, honesty, and taking care of your own.”
In that spirit, Tseffos set to work when SNAP benefits were halted. In just two weeks, with the help of family, neighbors, and volunteers, she organized a districtwide food drive for food pantries in New London, Dale, Hortonville, Appleton, Waupaca, Omro, and Manawa, with more on the way. So far, the efforts have raised over $2,000 and collected more than 4,000 pounds of food.
Tseffos said her campaign would center on lowering costs, supporting kids, and investing in safe communities. That includes, she said, advocating for affordable health care, tackling the cost of childcare, fully funding public schools, improving access to mental health services, and investing in rural emergency services.
As a seasoned organizer, Tseffos said she planned to build local teams throughout the district to help raise support based on listening and finding common ground.
“This campaign is going to look a little different than what people are used to,” she said. “Because it can’t be about one candidate – not in a district like this, it’s got to be about all of us. Whether you’re a lifelong Democrat, an Independent who’s tired of the noise, or a Republican who knows your party’s lost its way – this campaign is for you.”
The incumbent, Rachael Cabral-Guevara, has represented the district since the new voting maps were adopted in February 2024. If she decides to seek re-election, Cabral-Guevara will be running for the first time in the new 19th Senate District. Cabral-Guevara also served one term in the Assembly.
She has not yet announced if she is running again.
Senate District 19 curves west and around Appleton, Menasha, Neenah, and Oshkosh. To the west, it reaches into portions of Waupaca, Portage, Waushara, and Adams counties. Senate District 19 is made up of three Assembly districts: AD55, represented by Nate Gustafson (R-Omro), AD56, represented by Dave Murphy (R-Hortonville), and AD57, represented by Kevin Petersen (R-Waupaca).
Tseffos is currently the Chair of the Democratic Party of Outagamie County.
