Cruz holds a safe Democratic seat in Wisconsin's diverse Racine district. While her seat is not competitive, she is part of a critical Democratic effort to flip the Wisconsin Assembly in 2026 — Democrats need to hold all current seats and pick up 5 more to gain control. As a member of the Assembly Education Committee, she has become a leading voice against Republican-backed school consolidation bills and introduced the flagship Keep Our Promise Act to guarantee special education funding — co-signed by every Democratic legislator.
Cruz won unopposed in 2024 in both the primary and general election. As treasurer of the Wisconsin Hispanic Legislative Caucus, she is part of a growing coalition of Latino lawmakers. She has emerged as a key education policy voice, leveraging her 21 years as a public school teacher and union president to challenge chronic special education underfunding — noting that private voucher schools receive 90% reimbursement while public schools get as low as 35%.
Key dates to watch: Primary on August 11, 2026 and General Election on November 3, 2026.