“RCG” A Rising Republican Voice
Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara: A Rising Republican Voice with Unapologetic Policy Independence
In the ever-evolving landscape of Wisconsin politics, Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (RCG) has emerged as one of the Republican caucus’s most pragmatic and forward-thinking voices. A family nurse practitioner by trade, Cabral-Guevara has used her healthcare credentials not only as a foundation for her legislative portfolio, but also as a springboard for leadership within the Senate GOP.
Elected to serve as Majority Caucus Vice-Chair for the 2025–26 legislative session, Cabral-Guevara holds a front-row seat in the shaping of Republican strategy under the re-elected leadership of Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu. Her elevation to this role speaks volumes—not only about her work ethic and caucus loyalty but also about the respect she commands among her peers. At just two years into her first term in the Senate, this position places her in rare company.
But where Cabral-Guevara truly sets herself apart is in her independent policy approach. Despite the entrenched opposition to cannabis reform within her party, Cabral-Guevara continues to raise the issue when others remain silent. In fact, among the 18 Wisconsin Republican state senators, she was the only one to include a marijuana-related question in her 2025 constituent survey. It’s a data point that highlights her willingness to break the echo chamber and test the political temperature on an issue her party often ignores.
This isn’t a new direction for her, either. During her time in the State Assembly, she made headlines as the only Republican co-sponsor of a bipartisan medical marijuana bill. Her stance earned her a “B+” rating from NORML—a rarity for a sitting GOP legislator in Wisconsin.
Some Republican colleagues might see this as risky, but Cabral-Guevara appears to understand something many others overlook: younger, swing-district, and independent voters are increasingly cannabis-friendly. And if Republicans want to compete in suburban districts or expand their base among liberty-minded voters, leaders like Cabral-Guevara are showing the way.
It’s not just cannabis, she has consistently focused on practical solutions grounded in healthcare expertise and public feedback—not talking points. Her legislative work is driven less by ideological rigidity and more by evidence, access, and affordability.
That style of governance may not generate headline-grabbing theatrics, but it’s quietly redefining what a next-generation Republican leader can look like in Wisconsin.
As the GOP Senate caucus navigates a challenging 2025–26 session—with looming budget fights, policy rifts, and an increasingly vocal Democratic minority—Cabral-Guevara’s leadership role offers both balance and a reality check. If the party is going to modernize without fracturing, it will need more lawmakers like her: informed, unafraid, and willing to ask questions others won’t.
Bottom line: In a Capitol often defined by caution and conformity, Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara is charting a new path—one that may prove key to the future of Republican relevance in Wisconsin.
The 19th Senate district of Wisconsin is one of 33 districts in the Wisconsin Senate. Located in central Wisconsin, the district comprises all of Waushara County, most of Winnebago County, western Outagamie County, southern Waupaca County, and part of eastern Adams County and southeast Portage County. The district also contains Lake Poygan and Hartman Creek State Park.
If you are a constituent of Senator Cabral, please take her survey now and also use the following letter writing campaign to let her and your Assembly Representative know to Make Cannabis Reform a Priority for Wisconsin. If you are not a constituent of the Senator, use the form below to contact your elected officials.
