| LaKeshia Myers | |
| State: | Wisconsin |
| State Assembly: | Wisconsin |
| District: | 12th |
| Term Start: | January 6, 2019 |
| Predecessor: | Fred Kessler |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Birth Date: | 21 May 1984 |
| Birth Place: | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Alma Mater: | Alcorn State University (BA) Strayer University (EdM) Argosy University (EdD) |
| Residence: | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
LaKeshia N. Myers (born May 21, 1984)[1] is an American educator and Democratic politician from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Wisconsin's 12th Assembly district since 2019.[2]
Myers was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated from Rufus King High School in 2002. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alcorn State University in 2006 (from 2005 to 2006 she was National Membership Director of College Democrats of America), a Master of Education from Strayer University in 2009, and a doctor of education from Argosy University in 2016. In addition to working as Director of Education for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and a trainer of teachers at Milwaukee Public Schools, she has been a small business owner, a clerk for the United States House of Representatives, and a legislative aide for Wisconsin State Senator Lena Taylor.[3] She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
In 2012, after a drastic redistricting by the Republican-controlled legislature removed his home from the 12th and changed the racial complexion completely,[4] Kessler (who had served in the Assembly on and off since 1961) faced a challenge in the Democratic primary from African-American newcomer Mario Hall, who was reported to be a school choice supporter with backing from pro-voucher organizations.[5] Kessler (who had to move into the redrawn district) won with 71% of the vote, and faced no challenger in the November general election. Kessler was re-elected without opposition in 2014 and 2016.
In 2018, Myers (who has been active in various African-American and other civic organizations) announced her candidacy, saying that she ran because "neglect and starvation" had hurt Wisconsin's educational system, advocating that fewer people be re-imprisoned for minor probation and parole violations, and denouncing what she calls the district's economic decline. Kessler has been a frequent critic of Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele on issues from privatization of Milwaukee public schools to the public subsidies which financed the Fiserv Forum; and the Leadership MKE political action fund (financed almost completely by Abele) reported spending over $57,000 in support of Myers' candidacy. In the primary she defeated the 78-year-old Kessler with 3,709 votes to his 2,545.[6] [7] Afterwards, she told the Associated Press, "I think the district made their voices clear with, it's time for us to cash in on that seat by having someone, a person of color, represent us in this district." (She is the only African-American woman in the Assembly from the Milwaukee area, and one of only two statewide.)[8] [9] She drew 17,428 votes in the general election, with only 274 write-in votes against her.[10]
Myers left her state assembly seat to run for the state's senate, but lost to Dora Drake.[11]
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Primary Election, August 14, 2018| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 6, 2018