She beat the culture war in her own backyard

Rachel Maes just won a seat on the Brown County Board of Supervisors in the April 7, 2026 Wisconsin election. She’s a Green Bay city attorney, a community leader, and my friend. She’s also a trans woman who was targeted, outspent, and harassed during her campaign — and won anyway. This is what it looks like when a community chooses its neighbor over the culture war. In this episode, Rachel and I talk about why she ran, what she faced on the campaign trail, and what it felt like when the votes came in. We dig into her vision for Brown County, her transition on her own terms, and what her victory means for northeast Wisconsin — and for ANYONE who wondered if there’s still room for them here. Spoiler: there is.