Local
Madison mayor’s exit puts housing, transit and police accountability in focus
Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway says threats, harassment and the personal toll of public service led her to end her reelection campaign. Madison-area residents praised parts of her tenure while urging the next mayor to address development, transportation, housing and infrastructure.
MADISON, Wis. — Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway will leave office in April 2027 after withdrawing from the race for a third term, prompting residents to weigh her record and the challenges facing her successor.
Rhodes-Conway announced Friday that she was ending her reelection campaign, about three months after saying she would run again. In a written statement, she cited threats, harassment and the toll of public office on her safety, mental health and family. She also described hostile political discourse and sexism during her time in public life. She declined to comment further that day.
“It has been a tremendous honor to be your Mayor,” Rhodes-Conway said in her statement, adding that the personal cost of serving had become too high.
Kevyn Radcliffe, who lived in Madison for decades before moving to DeForest, said she had supported Rhodes-Conway and valued the representation she brought to City Hall. Elected in 2019 after defeating longtime Mayor Paul Soglin, Rhodes-Conway became Madison’s first openly LGBTQ mayor and its second woman mayor.
Radcliffe said Rhodes-Conway helped her feel seen, but she is concerned that development is changing the city’s character. She also said getting downtown has become difficult as she has aged and walking has grown more challenging, raising questions for her about transportation options as Madison discourages car use.
Longtime Madison resident Peter Carstensen said the city’s bus rapid transit system works well for his trips downtown, though he is unsure how effectively it serves the community overall. Rhodes-Conway listed bus rapid transit, the CARES mental health crisis response program, and housing and infrastructure investments among her administration’s accomplishments.
Carstensen criticized the mayor’s handling of the aftermath of the July fatal police shooting of Corey Ruiz, which prompted protests and criticism of the administration’s response. He said the episode will remain a challenge for the city and its next mayor, while acknowledging that Rhodes-Conway faced a difficult situation.
Looking ahead, Carstensen said affordable housing, road repairs and upgrades to aging water and sewer systems should be priorities. Radcliffe said she hopes a younger generation will take leadership.
The mayoral primary is scheduled for Feb. 16, with the general election set for April 6. Rhodes-Conway is expected to remain in office until April 2027.