ABOUT ISMAEL

Ismael Luna is a community advocate, nonprofit professional, and South Side resident running for the Wisconsin State Assembly to bring working-class leadership and real solutions to Madison.

A young man with dark hair and a beard (Ismael Luna) smiling with arms crossed, wearing a grey shirt and black jacket, standing on a snowy street in front of an old brick building with orange panels and large arched windows.

Born to immigrant parents and raised in a working-class family, Ismael has lived in the district for over 14 years. He is a proud graduate of Milwaukee Public Schools, attending Kagel Elementary and Riverside High School, and was confirmed at Our Lady of Guadalupe.

A young boy (Ismael Luna) with black hair sits on a small chair in a blue room, holding a Buzz Lightyear toy. There is a wall hanging on the left side of the image.

Ismael’s story is rooted in service and resilience. He began working at 14 to help support his family and was unhoused as a teenager. Those experiences shaped his commitment to making sure no one in Milwaukee has to struggle alone.

A man with dark hair (Ismael Luna) in a blue shirt looking up at a tall brick building with the sign "Albert E. Kagel School". The building has arched windows and flags, including the American flag, on a pole in front.

Today, Ismael works at a shelter, supporting people experiencing homelessness, and has spent years volunteering with homeless shelters, food programs, and the American Red Cross. He previously served as Vice Chair of RISE Drug Free MKE, where he worked on substance use prevention and recovery efforts.

DrugFreeMKE Week

Ismael holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in Spanish and a master’s in public policy. He has years of experience working in public policy at both the local and federal levels. His work has focused on housing, public health, community safety, and economic opportunity.

Two people (including Ismael Luna) wearing safety helmets and jackets standing on a rooftop, with one person pointing towards something in the distance against a blue sky.

As a first-generation college graduate, first-time homeowner, Christian, gay man, and person with a pre-existing health condition, Ismael brings lived experience to the policies he fights for.

Ismael is running for State Assembly to:

• Fully fund public schools

• Lower costs for families

• Repair our streets and keep them safe

• Expand access to affordable healthcare and mental health services

• Invest in drug treatment and recovery centers

• Create real public safety through housing and prevention

• Build more affordable and subsidized housing on the South Side

• Protect immigrant families and shift from punishment to humane, community-based immigration systems

• Revitalize neighborhood business corridors like Mitchell Street

Ismael believes real leadership is about showing up, listening, and delivering results.

A young man with dark hair and a beard (Ismael Luna) smiling with arms crossed, standing outdoors on a city sidewalk next to a brick building, with a street lined with cars, shops, and snow visible in the background.

“This community raised me. I was unhoused at 14, and now I help house people for a living. I’m running to represent us because the South Side deserves steady, focused leadership - someone whose full attention is on delivering results for our community every single day.”