Madison Mayor Drops Bid as Ilstrup Weighs a Run

WHO:

WPR - Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced she would not seek reelection.

Isthmus - Jason Ilstrup, president of Downtown Madison Inc. (DMI), said he was “strongly considering” running for mayor.

WPR - Rhodes-Conway was first elected in 2019, defeating longtime mayor Paul Soglin.

Isthmus - The reported mayoral field includes Syed Abbas, Brian Benford, Kaleem Caire, Natalia Hacerola, Jonny Hinds, Marcus Robert Johnson, April Kigeya, and Larry “Ace” Williams.

Isthmus - Ilstrup has led DMI, a downtown advocacy nonprofit, since 2018 and has lived in Madison since 2011.

Isthmus - Ilstrup was born in Milwaukee, grew up mostly in Minneapolis, earned a law degree from the University of Minnesota, worked for Congressmen Barney Frank and Martin Sabo, and later worked for Wisconsin state Rep. Tom Nelson.

WHAT:

WPR - Rhodes-Conway said she was proud of her and her staff’s work, including leading Madison through the COVID-19 pandemic and improving public transit, expanding renewable-energy use, and investing in homeless services.

Isthmus - Ilstrup said neighbors, small-business owners, community organizers, and longtime friends had urged him to run; he planned to consult his family and people across the community.

Isthmus - Ilstrup said his priorities would include making Madison more affordable through housing construction, supporting workers and businesses, and ensuring residents feel City Hall works for them.

WPR - Rhodes-Conway faced criticism over the city’s response to the fatal police shooting of 38-year-old Corey Ruiz. A memorial became an encampment that blocked a city intersection for more than a week; 16 people were arrested.

WHERE:

WPR - The events and mayoral race concern Madison, Wisconsin.

Isthmus - Ilstrup previously worked in Milwaukee as operations director at the Iron Horse Hotel and in Madison as general manager of the now-defunct HotelRED.

WHEN:

WPR - Rhodes-Conway said she would not run in the April reelection contest.

WPR - She announced a reelection bid in July, less than two weeks before Ruiz’s death.

Isthmus - Ilstrup said he would spend the coming weeks discussing a potential campaign with family and community members.

Isthmus - Ilstrup previously said in 2024 that he had “always been interested in the position” and might consider it “at some point.” After Rhodes-Conway announced a third-term bid in July, he said he would not run in 2027.

WHY:

WPR - Rhodes-Conway cited threats to herself, staff, family, and Council members, along with concerns for personal safety and mental health. She wrote, “the price of serving has become too high.”

WPR - She said civic debate had shifted from productive discussion to “increasingly vitriolic, personal attacks” and cited implicit and explicit sexism.

HOW:

WPR - Rhodes-Conway announced her decision in a letter, saying it was “the right decision for me and my family.”

Isthmus - Ilstrup made his comments in a statement to the publication and praised Rhodes-Conway’s public service, including “two terms leading our city.”

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 19:05 UTC)

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway says she will not seek reelection, citing threats against her, her staff, her family, and City Council members. In a letter, she said the personal safety and mental-health costs of serving had become too high, and that civic debate had turned increasingly personal and vitriolic, including implicit and explicit sexism. First elected in 2019, Rhodes-Conway said she was proud of the city’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to improve transit, expand renewable energy, and invest in homeless services. Her tenure also drew criticism over the response to the fatal police shooting of Corey Ruiz, after a memorial encampment blocked an intersection for more than a week and 16 people were arrested. Downtown Madison Inc. president Jason Ilstrup says he is strongly considering a run.