Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford

Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford (also known as Dina Nina) is a member of the Madison Common Council in Wisconsin, representing District 15. She assumed office on April 18, 2023. Her current term ends on April 20, 2027.

Martinez-Rutherford (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Wisconsin State Assembly to represent District 76. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. She advanced from the Democratic primary on August 11, 2026.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford. I’m a food service worker, small business owner, and proud transgender woman. I currently serve on the Madison Common Council, representing District 15 on the Isthmus and near east side.

I don’t have the typical background of someone who runs for the Assembly. I’ve worked for $2.33 an hour plus tips for most of my career in the service industry. I’ve experienced homelessness and gone without healthcare for much of my life. And as a transgender woman, I know what it feels like to see your basic rights and freedoms come under attack. And I know that I’m not alone. I don’t just see the challenges our neighbors are facing – I live them.

I’m running for the State Assembly because I believe in a Wisconsin where we take care of each other and we can all afford to live in the communities we love. We deserve a legislator who is ready to hit the ground running and deliver the bold policies we need to lower costs and protect our democracy.

The 76th District has a long history of progressive leadership. We stand up for our neighbors and help those in need. I'm running to bring those same values to the State Capitol and build a government that works for us – not billionaires and big corporations.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Getting into politics was never in the plan. But we are witnessing unprecedented attacks on our democracy and freedoms, all while the cost of living continues to rise. Republicans in the state legislature would rather give tax breaks to the rich than actually improve the lives of working people in Wisconsin. I’m running to change that.

This fight isn’t political for me. It’s personal. I have lived experience of homelessness and poverty. I know what it feels like to live in constant fear that one medical emergency will send you into bankruptcy. I work multiple jobs just to barely make ends meet, and I wake up everyday furious that my existence as a trans woman is being debated by politicians who will never have to live with the consequencesAs an alder on the Madison Common Council, I have a proven record of delivering for our communities. I’ve secured over $60 million in affordable housing investments, expanded mental health services through our CARES program, removed credit score from subsidized housing applications, and sponsored a first-in-the-state moratorium on the construction of data centers in Madison. I know how to get things done, and I will bring that same urgency and drive to the State Assembly.

Flashy slogans and buzzwords aren’t going to get us out of this mess. People in District 76 don’t need more promises – we need a legislator who is ready to turn values into action and show up every day ready to fight for us.Working people across Wisconsin are doing everything right but still falling behind. Rent, groceries, health insurance, and property taxes keep climbing, and our state government has failed to act. We need bold, progressive change to meet this moment, make life affordable, and protect our rights.

In the Assembly, I’ll fight for a living wage tied to inflation, truly affordable housing, universal healthcare and childcare, strong unions, and fully funded public schools that will allow us to lower property taxes. I will also work tirelessly to protect our democracy and defend our neighbors who are being attacked by this authoritarian federal government. Now more than ever, we need leaders with a backbone who will fight like hell for working p

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As someone who has experienced housing insecurity, one of the issues I am most passionate about is addressing Wisconsin’s housing crisis. We don’t just need more housing – we need housing people can actually afford. In Madison, I’ve secured over $60 million for affordable housing development and reformed zoning codes so we can build different types of homes. But we can only do so much when the state ties our hands. In the Assembly, I will pass a Tenant Bill of Rights, reduce property taxes so people aren’t priced out, expand eligibility for affordable housing units, and restore local control by repealing the bans on rent stabilization and inclusionary zoning so that local governments can meet the needs of their residents. I believe housing

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

I’m proud to be the labor endorsed candidate in this race, having earned the support of IBEW Local 159, IAFF Fire Fighters Local 311, IUPAT District Council 7, and my former union the Association of Professional Flight Attendants.

Our campaign has been endorsed by a broad coalition of progressive organizations, including Fair Wisconsin PAC, Advocates for Trans Equality, the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, Families United for Trans Rights, the Center for Freethought Equality, and the Freedom from Religion Action Fund. I am also honored to have been endorsed by over 65 current and former elected officials, many of whom I have worked with, because they know that I will always show up and fight for the people I represent.

With grassroots support from acro

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Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2023 Candidate Connection survey.