Common Council President Alicia Halvensleben narrowly defeated Republican State Rep. Scott Allen to become mayor of Waukesha.
In a narrow upset Tuesday, Common Council President Alicia Halvensleben defeated longtime Republican state Rep. Scott Allen to become mayor of Waukesha, a conservative stronghold in Waukesha County.
Halvensleben captured 9,535 votes, or 51.2%, to Allen’s 9,081 votes, or 48.8%, according to final unofficial results. The contest marked the first open-seat mayoral race in the city in two decades, following incumbent Mayor Shawn Reilly’s decision not to seek a fourth term.
The outcome comes despite Halvensleben’s controversial past. Court records show she was twice convicted for driving after revocation of her driver’s license, with the violations occurring just five months apart in 2017 and 2018.
They followed a drunk driving arrest which led to her license revocation. Critics argued the repeated offenses raised serious questions about judgment and respect for legal authority—core issues for a community that values law and order.
Allen, a conservative lawmaker who has represented the area in the state Assembly since 2015, campaigned on fiscal responsibility and public safety and earned endorsements from local leaders including Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow.
Voters’ choice of Halvensleben, who has drawn support from Democrat groups, signals a potential shift in the traditionally Republican suburb.
