MADISON, Wis. — During Tuesday's primary, Dane County voters voted to advance State Sen. Melissa Agard and former Dane County Board Supervisor Dana Pellebon to the general election in November.

The two women are vying to become the next Dane County Executive.


What You Need To Know

  • Agard came in first place Tuesday, with a decisive 57.3% of the vote, or 61,283 total votes

  • Pellebon came in second, garnering 17.4% of the vote, or 18,560 total votes

  • The position of Dane County Executive comes with a four-year term and a salary of more than $140,000 per year

  • Madison Alderwoman Regina Vidaver and Wes Sparkman, the director of Dane County’s Office of Equity and Inclusion, were eliminated from the race

Agard came in first place Tuesday, with a decisive 57.3% of the vote, or 61,283 total votes. Pellebon came in second, garnering 17.4% of the vote, or 18,560 total votes.

Madison Alderwoman Regina Vidaver and Wes Sparkman, the director of Dane County’s Office of Equity and Inclusion, were eliminated from the race. 

Pellebon is the executive director of RCC Sexual Violence Resource Center of Dane County. Before that, she was the director of housing and operations of Porchlight, Inc. 

Pellebon came in second, garnering 17.4% of the vote, or 18,560 total votes. (Spectrum News 1/Cody Taylor)

Pellebon, who lives in Fitchburg, also held public office as a Dane County Supervisor from 2022 through the spring of 2023.

“I am a person in the community that just has done the work and wants to continue that work that I do in a space that makes a difference,” Pellebon said.

(Spectrum News 1/Cody Taylor)

She said the real work for the November election starts now, as she works to compete with Agard’s campaign fundraising, and reach more voters.

Some of the issues Pellebon said she is most passionate about include criminal justice reform, the environment and improving access to affordable food and housing.

“At three o'clock in the morning when people are in trouble, I am the person they call, so I want to be able to operationalize those systems throughout the county,” Pellebon said.

Agard declared victory in the primary around 10 p.m. Tuesday. She said her years of experience in the State Senate and Assembly, and on the Dane County Board of Supervisors, set her apart in the race.  

Agard came in first place Tuesday, with a decisive 57.3% of the vote, or 61,283 total votes. (Spectrum News 1/Cody Taylor)

She said she wants to lead the county she’s spent her whole life living in.

“Going to the executive branch in a community that really raised me, that provided me with so many opportunities, where I am raising my kids, it really feels humbling,” Agard said. 

(Spectrum News 1/Cody Taylor)

Some of the things she’s advocated for in state government include abortion rights, workforce development and marijuana legalization.

She said her goal is to empower all Dane County residents.

“We are in a place where people feel they are safe and they belong, and we need to continue to protect that for everyone that lives, works and plays in our community, especially our kids,” Agard said. 

The position of Dane County Executive comes with a four-year term and a salary of more than $140,000 per year. It includes managing county government services, departments and finances.

This marks the first time in more than a decade that Dane County will elect a new county executive.

Longstanding Dane County Executive Joe Parisi retired in May. Parisi endorsed Agard in the primary election. Former Dane County Supervisor Jamie Kuhn is currently serving as the county’s interim executive.

Over the coming months, both Agard and Pellebon will work to convince voters they are the right candidate for the job.