Rhodes-Conway beats longtime Mayor Soglin to become first openly gay mayor of Madison

Amanda Quintana by Amanda Quintana

2017 Bobbie Harte

Satya Rhodes-Conway will be the next mayor of Madison.

At 9:25 p.m. Tuesday, numbers showed Rhodes-Conway beating Mayor Paul Soglin with 62 percent of the vote and 92 percent of precints reporting.

This was Rhodes-Conway’s first run for mayor.

Alicia Key’s Girl on Fire�played as @SatyaForMadison entered her watch party. It’s official – she will be the next mayor of @CityofMadison! #News3Now pic.twitter.com/L33vwDJ0wC

— Amanda Quintana (@AmandaQTV) April 3, 2019

Some of the issues she’s advocating for include developing affordable housing, improving transportation with rapid transit, rooting out systematic racial inequities and preparing for climate change.

During her campaign, Rhodes-Conway said her experience serving on the Madison Common Council for six years and in her current role managing the Mayors Innovation Project, a think tank that works with mayors across the country, has prepared her to be mayor.

“It is literally my job to answer questions from mayors from all around the country and help them work on policy, programs and implementation,” she told News 3 Now during the campaign.

“THEY’RE CALLIN’ IT!” Satya Rhodes-Conway supporters just found out their candidate will be the next mayor of Madison. She will be the first openly gay mayor in the city. #News3Now pic.twitter.com/SxAmznrOxr

— Amanda Quintana (@AmandaQTV) April 3, 2019

She has been with the Mayors Innovation Project at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center on Wisconsin Strategy for 13 years.

She also currently serves on the Madison Food Policy Council.

“We really need a change in Madison,” Rhodes-Conway said.

Soglin has been mayor for 22 years, serving terms in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, and has been back in office since 2011.

BREAKING: @SatyaForMadison unseats longtime Madison Mayor Paul Soglin. Soglin has served on and off in the role for 22 years #news3now

— Keely Arthur (@news3keely) April 3, 2019

Rhodes-Conway will be the first openly gay mayor of Madison. She celebrated her victory at Prism Dance Club on Tuesday night.

For more election results, click here.

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