Renuka Mayadev is an American Democratic politician from Columbus, Ohio. She will become a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Wisconsin's 77th Assembly district in 2025. She currently serves as a program advisor for the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
Renuka Mayadev | |
|---|---|
| Member-elect of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 77th district | |
| Assuming office January 6, 2025 | |
| Succeeding | Shelia Stubbs |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1974 (age 49–50) Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Daniel Tokaji |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Madison, Wisconsin |
| Alma mater | Georgetown University Law Center Northwestern University |
| Profession | Legislator, politician, nonpofit executive |
| Website | Campaign website |
Early life and career
editMayadev was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1974. She attended public schools in Columbus. Mayadev later attended Northwestern University, majoring in economics. She later attended Georgetown University Law Center, where she got her degree.
After completing her education, Mayadev served in the office of Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, where she was a policy advisor on juvenile justice, public safety, and workers' compensation, among other issues.[1] Later she entered the private sector, working as an executive for the nonprofit United Way - Central Ohio. She also served as the Executive Director for the Children's Defense Fund - Ohio for six years.[2]
During her time at the Children's Defense Fund, Mayadev worked with Marian Wright Edelman.[3]
Since 2021, Mayadev has served on the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association Board of Directors.[4]
Wisconsin State Assembly
editFollowing the 2024 redistricting which ended the 2011 gerrymander in Wisconsin, the 77th district's boundaries were altered, moving to encompass almost the entirety of the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus and its surrounding residential areas. The district's representative, Shelia Stubbs, was moved into a neighboring district. As a result, the 77th district was left open and Mayadev was one of three Democrats who ran for the Democratic nomination, with the other two being pharmacist Thad Schumacher and County Board Supervisor Chuck Erickson.[5][6][7] In the primary, Mayadev had been endorsed by several prominent Democrats, including former governor Jim Doyle and state senator Kelda Roys and went on to defeat her two opponents with 48% of the vote.[8]
As no Republican candidates filed to run, Mayadev did not face a candidate in the November general election and will take office in January 2025.[9]
Personal life
editMayadev lives in Madison with her husband and two children. Her husband, Daniel Tokaji, is the Dean of the University of Wisconsin Law School.[3][10]
Electoral history
editWisconsin Assembly (2024)
edit| Year | Election | Date | Elected | Defeated | Total | Plurality | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Primary[11] | Aug. 13 | Renuka Mayadev | Democratic | 4,802 | 48.80% | Thad Schumacher | Dem. | 2,784 | 28.30% | 9,840 | 5,038 |
| Chuck Erickson | Dem. | 2,241 | 22.77% | |||||||||
| General | Nov. 7 | Renuka Mayadev | Democratic | --unopposed-- | ||||||||
References
edit- ^ "Meet Renuka Mayadev". Mayadev for Assembly. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ "Renuka Mayadev, JD". Wisconsin Partnership Program. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Chappell, Robert (September 20, 2024). "Renuka Mayadev, set to become first South Asian in Assembly, looks to focus on health and well-being". Madison 365. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ "Staff & Boards of Directors". Wisconsin Early Childhood Association. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ "Mayadev campaign: Mayadev for Wisconsin Assembly District 77". WisPolitics. March 13, 2024. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ Erhardt, Oliver (March 22, 2024). "Chuck Erickson, Renuka Mayadev announce campaigns for Wisconsin Assembly". The Daily Cardinal. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ "Schumacher campaign: Pharmacist announces candidacy for Assembly District 77". WisPolitics. March 4, 2024. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ Bereny, Annika; Hartlaub, Gabriella (August 14, 2024). "Madison-area districts see old, new faces after Wisconsin primaries". The Daily Cardinal. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ Bereny, Annik; Hartlaub, Gabriella (November 5, 2024). "Uncontested Madison-area Legislature candidates win easy victories on election night". The Daily Cardinal. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ^ "University of Wisconsin Law School dean named". University of Wisconsin Law School. July 14, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ County by County Report - 2024 Partisan Primary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. August 26, 2024. p. 77. Retrieved October 23, 2024.