Assembly District 61: Bob Donovan vs Ben Brist

The general-election matchup in Assembly District 61 now puts Republican Bob Donovan against Democrat Ben Brist. With the primary behind us, the focus shifts to two candidates whose approaches to Wisconsin’s hemp and cannabis industries represent substantially different legislative directions.

For Donovan, the final legislative session added another significant piece to an already restrictive record. His co-sponsorship of the proposed hemp ban and the Tavern League-backed three-tier regulatory legislation is particularly important when evaluating where he stands on the future of Wisconsin’s cannabinoid industry.

For Brist, the contrast is his identification with comprehensive cannabis reform, including support for AB 1061. Major cannabis-reform lobbying organizations have identified Brist as an important candidate in the effort to end prohibition in this race.

Donovan, the Republican, was very close to losing this highly competitive seat in 2022 and 2024. Now more than ever, Democrats have their eye on this seat as a flip district.

Bob Donovan: A record that deserves a closer look

Links: Campaign Website, Campaign Facebook Page, Official Assembly Representative Page

Donovan has been around Wisconsin politics since the 1980s. I am not going to repost all the nasty stuff written about Donovan over the decades, the Wiki entry does a pretty good job at the overview of his life.

In January, I published Bob Donovan (R) all over the 2026 hemp bills, documenting an unusual legislative record.

Donovan was not simply a co-sponsor of one regulatory proposal. He appeared on multiple pieces of legislation moving in very different directions:

• AB 503 / SB 499 – Hemp Ban: Donovan was an original author of AB 503, legislation seeking to change the definition of hemp in a way that would effectively eliminate much of Wisconsin’s existing hemp-derived cannabinoid marketplace.
• AB 606 / SB 681 – Three-Tier Hemp Regulation: Donovan also signed onto the proposal to place hemp-derived cannabinoid products under an alcohol-style regulatory structure.
• AB 747 / SB 682 – Consumer Safety and Hemp Regulation: My January reporting also documented that advocates visiting Donovan’s office reported he supported the Testin-Kurtz proposal, which would preserve much of Wisconsin’s existing hemp marketplace while establishing a regulatory framework.

That is a complicated record for someone representing a district with small businesses, consumers and economic interests connected to the hemp industry.

The AB 606/SB 681 proposal deserves particular attention. It was not simply a consumer-safety bill. It proposed putting cannabinoid products under a new Division of Intoxicating Products, with licensing, taxes and a three-tier distribution structure modeled after alcohol regulation. Publicly it is known as the “Three Tier Bill” or “Alcohol Take Over Bill”.

In my previous reporting, I called it what I believed it was: a bad deal for Wisconsin farmers, small businesses and consumers.

The Tavern League’s influence over this regulatory approach and the prospect of forcing Wisconsin’s independent hemp businesses into an alcohol-industry-style distribution model are important issues for voters to understand.

Both the hemp-ban legislation and the three-tier proposal ultimately failed to become law. But Donovan’s sponsorship record remains.

Ben Brist: Identified in the effort to end prohibition

Links: Ben Brist Official Campaign Website and Official Campaign Facebook Page

Ben Brist is a sixth-generation Wisconsinite, West Point graduate and former U.S. Army Captain who served seven years on active duty as an Infantry Officer. A veteran of the 82nd Airborne and 4th Infantry Division, he led 155 soldiers as a Company Commander and deployed twice to the Middle East, including service in Iraq and Kuwait. After completing his military service and graduate studies in public policy, Brist returned to Wisconsin with his wife to put down roots and pursue public service. He is running for the Wisconsin State Assembly, emphasizing accountability, leadership and making government work better for everyday people. – source

Brist interned for Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who has since endorsed him. 

The Democratic nominee, Ben Brist, enters the general election with a different policy connection worth highlighting.

A Better Wisconsin Together has identified Brist on its public-facing Fighting for Us page under its agenda to enact the sensible legalization and taxation of marijuana, specifically referencing AB 1061. The organization lists Brist among the leaders it encourages Wisconsinites to contact in support of that legislative priority.

That is significant because AB 1061 was not merely a decriminalization proposal.

The comprehensive legislation included:

• Adult-use cannabis legalization and a regulated marketplace.
• Medical cannabis provisions.
• Expungement or adjustment of past marijuana-related convictions.
• Regulation of cannabis production, processing, transportation, testing and sales.
• HDC/Intoxicating Hemp/Industrial Hemp “low dose” marketplace.
• A framework addressing the broader cannabis marketplace.

Importantly, this legislative effort also included provisions addressing intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoid products.

AB 1061 was introduced with 33 Assembly Democratic sponsors and 14 Senate Democratic sponsors. It represented a substantial legislative effort to end cannabis prohibition in Wisconsin. No Republican signed on as a co-sponsor or publicly supported this legislative effort.

Brist’s inclusion on A Better Wisconsin Together’s list gives voters a documented connection to that reform effort. It is important to distinguish that public organizational designation from a personal statement by Brist confirming his position on every provision.

Nevertheless, it gives cannabis-reform advocates a reason to pay attention to this race.

Why District 61 matters to Wisconsin cannabis reform

This is bigger than a disagreement over one hemp bill.

Wisconsin has an opportunity to move beyond decades of prohibition and establish a sensible regulatory framework that protects consumers, gives farmers and small businesses an opportunity to participate, and stops sending economic activity and tax revenue to neighboring states.

The next Legislature will have to revisit hemp regulation, medical cannabis, adult-use legalization and the future of intoxicating hemp-derived products. Additionally, the Wisconsin Legislative Council has issued a memo from May 2026 explaining how the looming federal hemp definition change creates conflict with our state hemp program, so the pressure is still on Donovan and the rest of his Republican colleagues to address the issue in a “lame duck session” should the federal definition change not be extended into the future or the federal vs state hemp regulation conflict becomes too hot not to handle.

The question for voters

Greendale, Hales Corners, Greenfield, Franklin and southwest Milwaukee voters have an opportunity to examine more than campaign promises.

What kind of cannabis and hemp policy should Wisconsin pursue?

Should Wisconsin continue down a path of prohibition, restrictive legislation and alcohol-industry-style control of hemp products? Or should the state move toward comprehensive cannabis reform, responsible consumer protections and opportunities for Wisconsin farmers and small businesses?

Those are real legislative differences, and they deserve to be part of the Assembly District 61 conversation.

My recommendation to readers is simple: look at the bills, look at the sponsorship records, and ask both candidates where they stand on the next round of hemp and cannabis legislation.

Related reporting from JaySelthofner.com

• Bob Donovan (R) all over the 2026 hemp bills
• Wisconsin’s New Three-Tier Hemp Regulation Bill: A Bad Deal
• SB 499 / AB 503 Ban Hemp Bill
• Wisconsin Democrats Go All In on 2026 Cannabis Legalization Bill SB 1045

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/