Miguel Aranda

Miguel Aranda earned a high school diploma from Whitewater High School and a graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin in 2022. His career experience includes working as an educator and administrator.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Dear Neighbors,

I’m a lifelong Whitewater resident and the son of Mexican immigrants who made this community home more than 35 years ago. I was raised in a working-class, mixed-status family in a mobile home, where hard work was how we survived - and how we showed love.

I’ve worked in call centers, caregiving, retail, custodial services, fast food, and manufacturing. I know what it means to punch a clock, do demanding work, and take pride in jobs too often overlooked. No job has ever been beneath me, including public service.

For over a decade, I’ve worked in education, helping students and families find pathways to opportunity. Today, I serve as an Associate Director of a pre-college program and earned my MBA from UW–Whitewater.

I’m also proud to serve as Vice President of the Whitewater Unified School District School Board, where I’ve seen how government decisions impact families.

My wife and I are raising three children in this region. Like many families in Wisconsin’s 1st District, everything I do is about building a better future.

I’m running to be a voice for working families -grounded in real lived experience, not theory. Everyone deserves dignity, fairness, and a government that works.

This campaign is about bringing people together and fighting for a future where families have a real chance to get ahead. I’d be honored to earn your support.

Miguel Aranda

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?

Childcare is essential infrastructure for working families. I will fight for 20 weeks of fully paid family leave so parents can care for newborns without risking their income. I support capping childcare costs at 7% of household income and expanding subsidies for low- and middle-income families. We must invest in childcare centers, especially in rural areas and childcare deserts, while supporting home-based providers with training and grants. I’ll also strengthen tax credits, incentivize employer-provided childcare, and expand options for families working nights and weekends.Every child deserves a quality education, no matter their zip code. I will work to fully fund Special Education under IDEA and increase teacher pay while expanding loan forgiveness to support educators. I support strengthening Title I, Pell Grants, literacy programs, and early childhood education, along with universal school meals tied to local agriculture. We must also invest in career pathways, apprenticeships, and technical education so students can access good-paying, in-demand jobs without being forced into one path.Our immigration system must be humane, fair, and functional. I will work to stop enforcement actions that violate due process while supporting a pathway to citizenship for DREAMers and long-term residents. We need to expand work visas in key industries like agriculture, healthcare, and technology, and hire more immigration judges to reduce backlogs. I support modernizing visa systems and family reunification processes, while maintaining smart, effective border management that reflects today’s economic and humanitarian realities.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Childcare, Education, and Immigration Reform - specifically policies supporting children and their families.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Center for Freethought Equality

American Federation of Teachers, Local 6510

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