Meet Jessica

Jessica Katzenmeyer is a proud, hard-working Wisconsinite who knows what it means to go the extra mile. After moving here for college 24 years ago, Jessica fell in love with the state and wanted to do everything within her power to make a difference. In 2002, she earned her B.A. in communications with a minor in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

 

With a proud union background, Jessica worked for UPS for over 12 years. She was an active member of Teamsters Local 344, serving three years as elected Secretary on their Political and Legislative Committee, five years on the UPS Safety Committee, and three years on the UPS Employee Relations Committee. The lessons learned from serving in these roles were invaluable, but none were as important as understanding that when people work together, it is possible to make the world a better place.

 

Jessica decided to turn her passion into action beyond her workplace. She became an active member of her community, volunteering with local and statewide campaigns, advocating for LGBTQ rights, and even performing with her local theater group. In 2017, Jessica became an esteemed alum of Emerge, an organization dedicated to helping women become leaders in government.

 

However, Jessica lost nearly everything to a devastating house fire in 2019. A mere day after, she fell into a coma and had to be immediately hospitalized, where she nearly died because of health complications brought on by the fire. If it weren’t for the Affordable Care Act, Jessica would have owed over $80,000 to save her life.

 

The tragic event motivated Jessica to be part of the solution to our country’s ongoing healthcare crisis. She was fortunate to have healthcare but understood that not everyone is as lucky. It became her goal to be a voice for those who do not have access to affordable healthcare.

 

In 2020, Jessica ran for Wisconsin State Assembly with the hope of helping other Wisconsinites who know what it means to struggle. She became a leading voice in Wisconsin on LGBTQ rights as the state’s second-ever transgender candidate to run for state office, quickly gaining national recognition as an alum of the Victory Institute and being named a top-10 candidate to watch in multiple publications.

 

Today, Jessica serves on the City of West Allis Plan Commission while being self-employed. Staying true to what initially motivated her to become a community activist, Jessica is running for State Senate to fight for the issues which impact everyday Wisconsinites who know what it means to work hard and overcome adversity.