Alicia Halvensleben is heading to City Hall after a narrow 51%–49% win in Waukesha, a result that stands out in a traditionally Republican-leaning city. While backed by Democrats, she emphasized her campaign focused on local priorities, not party labels, built on thousands of voter conversations and on-the-ground outreach.
Halvensleben, currently Common Council president, said her municipal experience helped distinguish her candidacy and prepared her to “hit the ground running” when she’s sworn in April 21. She plans to build on outgoing Mayor Shawn Reilly’s leadership, pointing to continued stability, recovery from the parade tragedy, and infrastructure improvements like the city’s water system.
Looking ahead, her top concern is long-term financial sustainability. She warned of potential budget shortfalls and called Wisconsin’s shared revenue system “broken,” signaling a push to work with state lawmakers on structural reform rather than short-term funding fixes. She also stressed that municipal funding challenges cut across party lines, framing the issue as a statewide, nonpartisan problem.
