As the upcoming November 3 election approaches, voters across east-central Wisconsin are preparing to cast their ballots in the race for Wisconsin Assembly District 39. The legislative contest features a competitive campaign between incumbent Republican state Representative Alex Dallman and Democratic challenger Michael Skivington, presenting area residents with distinct backgrounds and perspectives on state policy.
Assembly District 39 encompasses a large geographic footprint centered primarily in western Fond du Lac County. Municipalities within this part of the district include the city of Ripon, along with the villages of Rosendale, Brandon, and Fairwater. The district also covers several surrounding rural townships, including Ripon, Rosendale, Eldorado, Metomen, Springvale, Lamartine, and Alto.
Beyond its western Fond du Lac County territory, the legislative district extends across several surrounding counties in the region. The boundaries incorporate the entirety of Green Lake and Marquette counties, while also covering designated sections of Adams, Columbia, and Winnebago counties, creating a predominantly rural constituency in the state Legislature.
Seeking reelection to represent the district in Madison is Republican incumbent Alex Dallman, a 34-year-old resident of Markesan. Dallman has held the District 39 seat since he was first elected to the State Assembly in 2020, and he currently lists his primary occupation as a state legislator.
Dallman’s professional and community background includes earning a bachelor’s degree from Edgewood University in 2015. In civic life, he previously served as chairman of the Green Lake County Republican Party and is affiliated with several local organizations, including the Green Lake County Farm Bureau, the Berlin Conservation Club, the National Rifle Association, and St. John's Lutheran Church in Markesan.
Explaining his decision to run for another term, Dallman described himself as an active rural advocate in the state Capitol working to limit government growth and spending. He highlighted his past legislative achievements, pointing to major tax reductions and targeted infrastructure investments as key milestones while pledging continued constituent accessibility.
Looking toward a potential new term, Dallman identified several core policy areas, including safeguarding agriculture and tourism as fundamental regional economic drivers. His broader platform also emphasizes promoting career and technical education, advancing regulatory reduction, upholding Second Amendment protections, maintaining election integrity, and defending pro-life principles.
Among his top stated priorities, Dallman focuses on lowering the cost of living by cutting taxes, easing regulations, and broadening market opportunities for Wisconsin businesses. Furthermore, he emphasizes reforming the state school funding system, arguing that Wisconsin faces a serious property tax issue that requires structural adjustments to lower the financial load on property taxpayers.
Challenging Dallman is Democrat Michael Skivington, a 57-year-old independent real estate agent who resides in the Town of Green Lake. Skivington enters the legislative race with a professional background centered in both the private sector and public education, as well as experience in county-level government.
Skivington’s prior public service includes serving two terms as an elected supervisor on the Green Lake County Board. Outside of local government, his career in education includes working as a high school teacher for grades nine through twelve, in addition to serving as a college professor.
Skivington’s academic credentials include a Ph.D. in education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which he earned in 2006. He previously received a master’s degree in education in 2002 and a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1997, both from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Skivington is bilingual in English and Spanish and has lived and studied in several foreign countries.
In his community, Skivington has been an active member of the Federated Church of Green Lake for over 25 years, serving on the Diaconite Board, acting as an usher, and volunteering at community brat fries. He has been married for 36 years to his wife and real estate partner, Carol. The couple has two adult children: Claire, an attorney and UW Law graduate who co-founded and manages the AAU Travel Basketball Team Dogs Basketball with her husband Derrick, and Spencer, a public school teacher who graduated from UW-Oshkosh.
Skivington stated that his motivation for seeking office is rooted in the belief that robust political competition is vital to a healthy democracy. He argued that contested races challenge candidates to perform better and ultimately make elected officials more responsive and accountable to the citizens they represent.
Both Dallman and Skivington confirmed that they have no criminal convictions, pending charges, or conflicts of interest. As the November 3 vote approaches, constituents across Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Adams, Columbia, and Winnebago counties will decide which candidate will represent District 39 in the Wisconsin State Assembly.
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