Assembly District 88: Ben Franklin vs. Brandy Tollefson — A 220-Vote Race in Brown County

Assembly District 88 is one of Wisconsin’s closest legislative contests. In 2024, Republican Ben Franklin defeated Democrat Christy Welch by just 220 votes out of 33,818 cast. The district includes De Pere, Allouez, Bellevue and portions of Green Bay, Ledgeview and Rockland. Franklin is seeking a second term against Democrat Brandy Tollefson, treasurer of the De Pere School Board.

Ben Franklin: Incumbent, but where does he stand on cannabis?

Franklin was elected in 2024 and has a legislative record that voters can examine on issues ranging from economic development and taxes to public safety and veterans affairs.

But when it comes to Wisconsin hemp and cannabis reform, his position remains publicly unclear.

WCIC has tracked Franklin as having an unknown position on hemp and cannabis reform. Constituents have attempted to get answers, but have not received a response. During the 2025–26 session, Franklin did not co-sponsor the hemp or cannabis reform legislation WCIC was tracking.

That distinction matters. Franklin has sponsored and co-sponsored other legislation, but he has not put his name on the reform proposals that would address Wisconsin’s changing hemp and cannabis markets.

With federal restrictions on intoxicating hemp products approaching, voters and local businesses have a reasonable interest in knowing whether Franklin supports a regulatory approach or simply intends to remain silent while the industry faces uncertainty.

Those in the existing hemp cannabis industry should reach out to this politician now as an elected official and candidate. (FranklinforWisconsin Website; Franklin for Wisconsin Facebook Page)

Brandy Tollefson: A documented connection to comprehensive cannabis reform

(Tollefson Campaign Website / Tollefson Campaign Facebook)

Tollefson is a working mother of three, an accounting manager and treasurer of the De Pere School Board. Her campaign has focused on affordability, health care and public education.

There is another policy connection worth noting for voters interested in cannabis reform.

Tollefson is listed by an organization supporting AB 1061 as a supporter of the legislation. That is a meaningful indication of where she may stand on marijuana legalization, although voters should distinguish an organization’s public listing from a detailed policy statement directly issued by the candidate.

AB 1061 was not simply a marijuana legalization bill. It was comprehensive legislation covering adult-use cannabis, medical cannabis, criminal-record relief and regulation of cannabis production, processing, testing and sales. Importantly for Wisconsin’s hemp industry, the bill’s language also addressed intoxicating hemp products, incorporating them into the broader regulatory framework.

From the perspective of cannabis reform advocates, that connection is an important signal. It suggests Tollefson is aligned with an effort to move Wisconsin away from prohibition and toward a regulated system that includes both marijuana and intoxicating hemp products. Her precise position on the details of that framework is still worth asking about. Her campaign and the general issue of marijuana legalization has attracted enough attention for the Half Court Fund about this race:

The hemp and cannabis question

The next Legislature will face important decisions about Wisconsin’s hemp and cannabis policies. Federal restrictions scheduled to take effect in December, 2026, have put additional pressure on farmers, manufacturers, retailers and employees who depend on the existing hemp market.

The contrast in the public record for this race is worth documenting:

• Tollefson: Listed as a supporter of AB 1061 by an organization backing the legislation. The bill included comprehensive cannabis reform and provisions addressing intoxicating hemp products.
• Franklin: No publicly established position on the reform measures WCIC has tracked, no co-sponsorship of those hemp or cannabis reform proposals, and no response to constituent outreach documented in the WCIC thread.

Neither candidate should be exempt from answering direct questions. But voters deserve to know what is documented, what is inferred from public affiliations, and what remains unanswered.

My take

A 220-vote margin in 2024 makes Assembly District 88 an important district to watch. The candidates offer different backgrounds and priorities, but the hemp and cannabis issue deserves a place in the conversation.

Tollefson’s association with AB 1061 gives reform-minded voters a policy connection to examine. The legislation’s comprehensive approach matters because it recognized that marijuana legalization and the regulation of intoxicating hemp products are connected policy questions.

Franklin has had the opportunity to make his position known. So far, the public record tracked by WCIC does not provide that answer.

Assembly District 88 belongs on the list of Wisconsin races where a few hundred votes can make all the difference. In 2024, Ben Franklin defeated Christy Welch by just 220 votes. That’s fewer than 420 votes—and it raises an interesting question for Wisconsin’s cannabis reform community: Are there 420 voters in this Brown County district who care enough about ending marijuana prohibition and regulating intoxicating hemp products to make those issues part of their decision at the polls?

Stay tuned

I will continue to provide you additional 2026 Wisconsin State Election coverage throughout the campaign season. This next election is extremely important for cannabis reform and I will continue to bring you information as more candidates make their political moves.

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 has ended for 2025-26 we still urge you to contact your elected officials, as they technically can continue to work, hold committee hearings and potentially vote on any issue that is deemed to be a great priority to Wisconsinites. The top action alerts are still functionable on The Wisconsin Cannabis Activist Action Network for you immediate use.

A huge thank you once again to all my Election Coverage Sponsors, please support them if you can. One easy way to find them all and where they are throughout our great state of Wisconsin is to use The Stoner’s Travel Guide to Wisconsin website map and tag system, here you go, check them all out: https://thestonerstravelguide.com/places/tags/2026-election-coverage-sponsor/