Marisabel Cabrera

Marisabel Cabrera (born December 12, 1975) is an American lawyer and Democratic politician from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is a Wisconsin circuit court judge in Milwaukee County, since August 2024. She previously served three terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Wisconsin's 9th Assembly district from 2019 to 2024.

Biography

Born and raised in Milwaukee's south side, Cabrera graduated from Nathan Hale High School in 1993. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, in Spanish and Latin American Iberian Studies, and earned her J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law in 2002. She was admitted to the state bars of Wisconsin and Florida, and worked as an immigration attorney in private practice and with the non-profit group Voces de la Frontera ("Voices from the Border"). She is the former chair of the Milwaukee Police and Fire Commission and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Latino Caucus. For her work with the Latino Caucus, she was recognized by the Democratic Party of Milwaukee County with the 2016 Rising Star Award.

In 2018, she successfully challenged incumbent Assemblymember Josh Zepnick in a Democratic primary election, after losing an earlier attempt in 2016. She was elected without opposition in the 2018 general election. In 2017, Zepnick had been accused of sexually harassing two female colleagues; he had been stripped of his committee assignments and Assembly privileges but refused to resign.

In the Assembly, Cabrera serves on the committees on the Judiciary, International Affairs and Commerce, Small Business Development, Consumer Protection, Constitution and Ethics, and State Affairs.

In October 2023, Cabrera announced that she would run for a Wisconsin circuit court judgeship in Milwaukee County, to succeed the retiring judge Marshall B. Murray. Cabrera narrowly won the election in April 2024, and took office as a judge in August 2024.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (2016–2022) Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 2016 Primary Democratic 1,851 62.28% Dem. 1,118 37.62% 2,972 733 General Democratic 11,981 72.77% Rep. 4,458 27.08% 16,464 7,523 2022 General Democratic 8,644 71.99% Rep. 3,345 27.86% 12,007 5,299

Wisconsin circuit judge (2024)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 2024 General Nonpartisan 61,625 50.99% Non. 58,366 48.30% 120,852 3,259