Former Dane County Board Supervisor April Kigeya launched her campaign for Madison mayor Thursday, placing affordability, child care and support for working-class families at the center of her bid. In a video posted Thursday morning, Kigeya highlighted her work on the County Board advocating for child care and services for student-parents. She said her campaign aims to build “a city that includes us all.” Kigeya scheduled a campaign launch event for 7 p.m. Thursday at Hayes Place, 1145 North Sherman Ave. She served on the Dane County Board after running unopposed in both 2022 and 2024. Her district included Madison’s far west side and portions of western suburbs. Kigeya left the district after moving in January 2026. During her time on the board, Kigeya co-chaired the Community Justice Council’s Racial Disparities Subcommittee and served as vice chair of the Public Protection and Judiciary Committee. Her entry adds another challenger to a mayoral contest that already includes former Madison Alders Syed Abbas and Brian Benford, along with One City Schools founder Kaleem Caire. Incumbent Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced earlier this summer that she would seek a third term. Kigeya’s focus on child care and family affordability places issues that affect household budgets and access to work and education at the heart of the campaign. The race will give Madison voters competing approaches to the city’s future as candidates seek to define what inclusive growth and public investment should look like.