26-year-old Ismael E. Luna Facing Election Fraud Allegations In The 8th Assembly District In Wisconsin

Luna won the Democrat nomination for the 8th Assembly District in the Southside on Tuesday's Primary election, but his campaign has opened a can of worms and is now facing allegations that he might have engaged in election fraud.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

August 12, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Ismael Luna, 26, the candidate that won the Democrat nomination in the 8th Assembly District in the Southside of Milwaukee is now facing serious allegations from Representative Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D-Milw) that Luna used the 1423 W. Walker Street address for the purpose to run for the State Assembly seat, but never lived at the address. The home and address that Luna used for his political campaign website, nomination papers, Declaration of Candidacy and registering to vote is actually owned by his stepfather, Ismael Rios Beltran, according to sources including the City of Milwaukee property owner records.

Rep. Ortiz-Velez in a prior announcement that she will be filing a formal complaint with the state elections commission challenging challenger Ismael Luna's residency and ballot eligibility. The complaint outlines substantial evidence indicating that Luna does not legally reside within the district he was seeking to represent.

While Luna claims to be a resident of the district, public property and records indicate otherwise. The complaint details that Luna currently owns two separate homes outside of the district's boundaries and maintains his primary, day-to-day residence at one of those out-of-district properties, which is at the S. Honey Creek Drive in Milwaukee where he resides with his partner.  The S. Honey Creek Drive home has a valued market of $386,000, Luna is also the alternate owner with his partner of a property on S. 35 Street in the City of Greenfield, which has a market value of $265,000.

Furthermore, the Ortiz-Velez campaign raised alarm over the out-of-state financial interests backing Luna’s candidacy including the Assembly Democrat Campaign Committee (ADCC) led by Democrat Minority Leader Representative Greta Neubauer (D-Racine). Luna’s campaign has been heavily subsidized by dark money organizations and special interest groups based in Washington, D.C., and New York, according to Rep. Ortiz-Velez.

Representative Ortiz-Velez released the following statement regarding the alleged complaint:

"The people of this district deserve a representative who actually lives in our neighborhoods, shops at our local businesses, and understands the daily realities our families face. When you combine this with the flood of dark money pouring into his campaign from Washington, D.C., and New York, it becomes entirely clear who Ismael Luna is actually working for—and it isn't us. We are calling on the election commission to conduct a swift and thorough investigation to protect the integrity of our local elections."

Luna who won the Democrat nomination for the 8th Assembly District could face a possible election fraud criminal probe. Rep. Ortiz-Velez is expected to file her complaint with the Wisconsin Election Commission, Wisconsin Department of Justice and the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.