MEET JULIANA
Juliana is the product of a working-class family. Her mom was a nurse, and her dad is a chef, a retired restaurant owner, and a veteran. When Juliana was nine, her mom passed away from cancer. Her family lost their home in the recession in suburban Illinois and relocated to Beloit, WI. There, her dad opened Mama Lou’s Shrimp and BBQ Smokehouse, named for Juliana’s great-grandmother. By age 15, Juliana co-managed the business as her dad battled congestive heart failure. Soon after, her family moved to Madison to be closer to the VA, where Juliana graduated from Madison West High School.
Juliana’s background taught her the power of community. In 2020, she co-founded the Madison BIPOC Coalition during the Black Lives Matter movement and led the fight for racial justice. At 21, while still a student at UW-Madison, her community elected her as the District 8 Alder -- and re-elected her two years later. As Alder, she legalized duplexes citywide, helped pass over 1,000 units of affordable housing, invested millions in homeless and undocumented communities, stood up for Gaza and Madison’s communities of color, and delivered fair municipal maps.
The struggles working families in Madison are facing are not hypothetical to me. I’ve lived through it and survived. But, we deserve more than just surviving - we deserve to thrive.
TURNING HARDSHIP INTO ACTION
Juliana knows exactly what it’s like when the system fails. Three years ago, her dad survived a major episode of cardiac arrest. He beat a 6 out of 100 odds of living, thanks to the dedicated first responders and healthcare workers at the Meriter and VA hospitals. But his life came at the cost of an over $500,000 medical bill and an eviction from a greedy landlord.
These experiences shaped Juliana and drove her to fight for families facing the same in public service. She graduated from UW–Madison in 2022, worked as a Federal Legislative Liaison at the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), and now serves as the Chief of Staff to Wisconsin’s first Filipino American state representative. Throughout it all, she’s learned that these hardships are not accidents, but the result of a rigged system and leaders unwilling to fight hard enough.
“I believe we can create a better future with leaders who will fight for Madison.”
GET INVOLVED
READ MY POLICY!
Everyone deserves a place to call home. I will fight for a people-first housing system that invests in long-term solutions and makes it easier to build the homes we need.
Read moreEveryone should be able to work hard and live with dignity. I will fight for an economy that rewards labor and guarantees essentials like fair wages, child care, and affordable food.
Read moreKids deserve better than partisan neglect. I will deliver no-cost child care, fully fund schools, and pass Healthy School Meals For All.
Read moreNo one should have to choose between their health and their daily needs. I will expand Medicaid, introduce a single-payer health care option, increase pay for healthcare workers and caregivers, and enshrine reproductive care so families get the care they need.
Read moreOur state was built by the progressive working class. But politicians have betrayed that legacy with the passage of Act 10. I will raise wages, strengthen worker's rights, and make it easier to start and grow local cooperative businesses.
Read moreWisconsin can lead on climate. A Climate Bill of Rights will ensure clean air and water, create good jobs, and protect the communities most affected.
Read moreHigher education should open doors, not trap people in debt. I will reinvest in campuses so every student can succeed.
Read moreNo one should be left behind. I will protect LGBTQ+ people, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities, and put people first in housing and health.
Read moreSafety means prevention and fairness. I will invest in violence prevention, pass gun safety, and expand treatment and support instead of mass incarceration.
Read moreDemocracy only works when everyone can participate. I will end gerrymandering, expand voting access, and protect free and fair elections.
Read moreMadison pays more than it gets back. I will secure a fair share of state funding and modernize local revenue so core services are sustainable.
Read more