Ed Delgado

Ed Delgado served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1992 to 1995. Delgado's career experience includes working as a sales representative.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m Ed Delgado, a Marine Corps veteran, sales professional, and Waushara County Board Supervisor running to represent Wisconsin’s 57th Assembly District.

I come from a third-generation military family and believe in service, hard work, accountability, and putting people before politics. After serving in the Marine Corps, I built my career working directly with businesses and communities across Wisconsin. I understand the challenges families, workers, and small business owners face because I see them every day.

I’m not a career politician. I’m running because too many people feel like government is no longer listening to them. Families are struggling with rising costs, taxes remain too high, and people are frustrated with politicians who talk a lot but don’t deliver results.

As a County Board Supervisor, I’ve already shown that I’m willing to step up and serve locally. I’m running for State Assembly to bring that same common-sense, grounded approach to Madison.

My campaign is focused on lowering taxes, holding government accountable, supporting small businesses, protecting our communities, and making sure working families have a voice.

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?

Families in the 57th District are being squeezed by rising costs, high property taxes, expensive groceries, and higher prices at the pump. I’m running to fight for lower taxes and a lower cost of living so working people can get ahead again. Madison needs to stop making life more expensive and start focusing on the everyday concerns of the people it serves.Government should be accountable to the people it serves. Too often, politicians spend taxpayer money carelessly and make decisions without listening to the people who will be affected. I will fight for greater transparency, responsible spending, and common-sense policies that put taxpayers first. The people of the 57th District deserve a representative who will listen, tell the truth, and remember who sent them to Madison.Strong communities are built by strong local businesses, safe neighborhoods, and opportunities for the next generation. I will support small businesses, protect our communities, and work to keep young people and families in Wisconsin by creating an environment where they can succeed. We need leadership that supports the people who work hard, raise families, and keep our communities strong.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am most committed to lowering the cost of living, reducing taxes, holding government accountable, supporting small businesses, strengthening local communities, protecting Second Amendment rights, and supporting strong border security and immigration enforcement. I believe government should focus on the issues that affect people’s everyday lives—property taxes, gas prices, grocery costs, public safety, and creating opportunities so families and young people can build a future here in Wisconsin. I am also committed to making sure government is transparent, responsible with taxpayer dollars, and responsive to the people it serves.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up most to my father. He taught by example through a lifetime of service, hard work, responsibility, and doing the right thing. Through his career in the Coast Guard, what stood out most was the way he lived every day—with integrity, humility, and a genuine concern for other people.

He believed that if you are going to be part of a community, you should leave it better than you found it. He impacted so many people in positive ways, not because he sought recognition, but because he believed it was the right thing to do. That is the example I try to follow in my own life and the kind of public servant I want to be.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The most important qualities in an elected official are honesty, accountability, common sense, and a willingness to listen. People want someone who will tell them the truth, keep their word, and remember who they work for. An elected official should be willing to stand up for what they believe, but also be willing to hear different viewpoints and stay connected to the people they represent. I believe elected officials should put service before politics, be responsible with taxpayer dollars, and focus on getting results instead of making excuses.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibility of a State Representative is to be the voice of the people they represent and to make sure the concerns of their district are heard in Madison. That means listening to the people, staying connected to the community, and fighting for policies that improve everyday life. A representative should work to lower taxes, hold government accountable, support local businesses, protect our communities, and be responsible with taxpayer dollars. Just as importantly, they should be accessible, honest, and willing to stand up for the people of the district—even when it is not politically convenient.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to leave a legacy of service, integrity, and making a positive difference. I want people to be able to say that I worked hard, kept my word, and left my community better than I found it.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was a paper route when I was 10 years old and living in Madison Heights, Michigan. I had the route for about a year, and it taught me responsibility, hard work, and the importance of earning what you have.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The governor and the state legislature should work together with mutual respect and a focus on serving the people of Wisconsin. They will not always agree, and healthy debate is part of the process, but both sides should be willing to work together where they can and put the interests of the people ahead of politics. The goal should be to solve problems, be responsible with taxpayer dollars, and make government work better for the people it serves.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Over the next decade, I believe Wisconsin’s greatest challenges will be the rising cost of living, keeping young people and families in our state, supporting small businesses, and restoring trust in government. Too many people are struggling with high taxes, higher prices, and the feeling that government is out of touch.

Wisconsin also needs to create more opportunities so young people do not feel they have to leave to build a future. At the same time, we need to strengthen our communities, support law enforcement, protect our rights, and make sure government is accountable and responsible with taxpayer dollars.

I also believe Wisconsin will face new challenges from artificial intelligence and the growth of large data centers. We need to make sure new technology creates opportunity without costing jobs, driving up energy costs, or putting additional strain on local communities and infrastructure.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

I was told decades ago that politics is the art of the possible. Compromise can be necessary in policymaking, because no one gets everything they want and government works best when people are willing to listen to each other. At the same time, compromise should never mean giving up your core principles or the values of the people you represent. The goal should be to find common ground where possible while still standing firm on the issues that matter most.

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

The first few historical events I remember were the Iran Hostage Crisis, the election of Ronald Reagan, and the gas lines and economic struggles of the late 1970s. Even as a kid, I remember the sense of frustration and uncertainty people felt. Those experiences made an impression on me and shaped how I think about leadership, the economy, and the importance of a government that people can trust.