People in the State Assembly’s new 77th District — extending from the UW Campus to Madison’s South Side — will have not one but two Indian women to vote for in November: Kamala Harris and Renuka Mayadev.
Renuka Mayadev won the Democratic primary to represent a district with no Republican candidate and is running unopposed in November. In January, she will become the first South Asian person to serve in the State Assembly.
“My parents came from India in the late 1960s with virtually nothing, but they taught me and my sisters, love of country, and (that) you have to give back. You have to give back. And so that’s why I wanted to run,” she said in an interview for the 365 Amplified podcast.
Listen to the full interview on today’s podcast:
Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, she worked in state government — including a stint in the office of Gov. Ted Strickland — and the nonprofit sector. She came to Madison four years ago when her husband Daniel Tokaji was named Dean of the University of Wisconsin Law School. She joined the UW School of Medicice and Public Health as a program adviser on maternal and women’s health.
“My whole career has been dedicated to women, children and families, because I know that our system, as it sits today, isn’t perfect,” she said. “We see disparities, health disparities, and that’s some of what I work on … that takes macro system change, and we can do that. We can do that. And that’s why I wanted to run, because we can do that in our political system and our policies.”
She said working for civil rights leader Marian Wright Edelman at the Children’s Defense Fund also inspired her.
“She taught me that when you see injustice, you have to stand up. That’s why I ran,” she said. “Our rights are under attack here and across the country—women, children, and working families deserve better.”
New legislative maps created a new district covering Madison’s central city and south side as well as a new opportunity in the form of an open seat. Rep. Shelia Stubbs represents much of the district under the previous maps but will now represent the neighboring 78th.
The new maps are also likely to form a much more evenly-divided legislature.
“It’s going to change the dynamics for the better,” she said. “There are now incentives to come to the table and actually do the work together.”
In addition to her own focus on maternal and child health, Mayadev said while campaigning she heard that her future constituents are concerned about reproductive rights, public education and the environment.
“We should expand BadgerCare,” she added. “We could cover thousands of people immediately, just doing that. And then we need to fully fund the UW and not hold the pay of our employees and staff hostage because of political games.”
The fall general election will take place November 5. For more information on how to register, where to vote and what will be on your ballot, visit myvote.wi.gov.
