AD 7: Karen Kirsch (D) vs Lee Whiting (R)
This is a rematch from 2024 Election Cycle which Kirsch won with 58% of the vote.
Karen Kirsch (D-Greenfield)
Karen Kirsch (D) adding herself as a co-sponsor to AB 747 is more significant than it may appear on the surface.
First, timing matters. Even late in the session, co-sponsorship is a public declaration of alignment — and in Kirsch’s case, it carries extra weight because she sits on the very committee currently holding up AB 747. That committee is widely viewed as being stacked with co-sponsors of the competing AB 606, making her support a notable signal inside a politically lopsided room.
Second, she’s a newly elected Assembly representative with no prior co-sponsorship history. That means this isn’t routine. It’s an intentional move that helps define her legislative identity early in her tenure.
Her background also matters. Kirsch is a senior art producer and vice president of marketing, and a former nonprofit campaigns director and health care organizer. She serves with Citizen Action of Wisconsin (Health Care for All board) — a group known for disciplined messaging, grassroots mobilization, and lobbying muscle. That’s not just a résumé line; it’s infrastructure.
For advocates, there are three takeaways:
- Her co-sponsorship suggests a willingness to take a position even within a challenging committee environment.
- Her organizing and marketing background — and her ties to Citizen Action — offer a blueprint for how to sharpen messaging, mobilize supporters, and apply pressure strategically.
- It makes her a contender for a seat on the future Wisconsin Cannabis Caucus.
If you’re working the field, the moment she added herself as a co-sponsor was the time to pay attention. Not just to the bill numbers, but to the players, the committee math, and the organizing networks behind them.
There is still time to let your elected official know to Support AB 747:
And let your elected officials know that you opposed AB 606:
Please follow her campaign on facebook page and visit his official website for more details on this candidate.
vs
Lee Whiting (R-Milwaukee)
Lee Whiting ran for election to the Milwaukee Common Council District 11 in 2024 and lost in the primary and did not advance to the final ballot.
Relevant experience: former safety and civic commissioner and business owner.
Campaign website: https://www.leewhitingforassembly.com/
Stance on Cannabis Reform = Unknown. His campaign has been contacted multiple times with no response.
Stay tuned and get active!
Where to get active?
Statewide:
The Wisconsin Cannabis Activist Network maintains a profile on the Action Network Platform, which contains all the action alerts for statewide legislation. Please sign up as a volunteer and become politically active during the 2026 election.
All of the 2026 Election Coverage Sponsors are mapped out on The Stoner’s Travel Guide to Wisconsin website, please support them. Plan a road trip to visit one of their retail stores, many also are “Authorized Dealers” of the book I co-wrote and have the book for sale in their retail locations.
Locally:
The 7th Assembly district is located in southeast Wisconsin, the district comprises part of central Milwaukee County, including parts of the cities of Milwaukee, West Allis, and Greenfield. The district also contains Alverno College, Calvary Cemetery, Mount Olivet Cemetery, and American Family Field, home of the Milwaukee Brewers.
2026 Election Coverage Sponsor Smokin Glass in Milwaukee (Greenfield) is paying attention and working hard to help protect hemp in Wisconsin. Thank you for all you are doing! Feel free to visit Smokin Glass at 4649 South 108th Street in Greenfield and please follow them on Facebook for updates as they happen!
In the event that we end up with divided government in the 2027-28 legislation session, the official formation of The Wisconsin Cannabis Caucus would be a must first step towards reform. The official establishment of this Caucus will represent the growing, bipartisan support in Wisconsin.
Although session as ended we still urge you to contact your elected officials. The top four action alerts are still functionable on The Wisconsin Cannabis Activist Action Network for you immediate use.
And as always, let’s keep on our federal lawmakers to extend the “hemp definition change” implementation date so the 2027 elected officials can present stand alone legislation rather than a definition change unvetted and snuck into a continuing resolution funding bill (the ultimate political pork!).
Sources: RPubs, CNanalysis (Very Likely Dem +19) WisPolitics /2024 Assembly Races (60% Dem), Davesredistircing, PeoplesMaps, Ballotpedia
