Bryna Caves has spent the last 20 years serving her community as an ICU nurse, daycare owner, political organizer, and small farmer.
She began her healthcare career in high school at the Veterans Home and worked her way up to the Trauma and Life Support ICU at University of Wisconsin—Madison. She has also taken travel nursing assignments across the country, from the East Coast to Queen’s Medical Center in Hawaii, gaining firsthand experience with how different healthcare systems operate.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she served on the frontlines caring for some of the sickest patients in the state at a time of tremendous fear and uncertainty. Years of working in life-or-death situations have strengthened her ability to remain calm under pressure, lead during crises, and advocate fiercely for others. Expanding access to affordable healthcare, lowering insurance costs, and holding insurance companies accountable are among her top priorities.
Bryna also understands firsthand the challenges families face with childcare costs. When daycare for two children under age two cost more than her mortgage, she took action and started her own childcare business. What began as a solution for her family grew into a fully licensed family daycare caring for eight children. She believes every child deserves access to high-quality, affordable care and supports fully funding public schools, and expanding early child programs to include full day 3K education.
“If you want to change systems like healthcare and childcare, you have to understand how they actually work,” Bryna says. “I’m the only candidate in this race who has read and followed the entire DCF 250 handbook. I understand the regulations, operating costs, and challenges childcare providers face because I lived them. And I paid my assistant $15 an hour because it was the right thing to do.”
In addition to her healthcare and childcare work, Bryna has become an active community organizer. In February 2026, she organized a political rally at the Wisconsin State Capitol to honor the life of Alex Pretti. The event drew hundreds, including three gubernatorial candidates, the First Unitarian Society, and a 150-member Justice Choir. The event was covered by the Cap Times in an article titled “Pissed,” highlighting Bryna’s message about the growing frustration many Wisconsinites feel with the current state of politics.
“It’s not left versus right anymore,” she said. “Most of us are in the middle, and most of us are pissed.”
Bryna also runs Wild Way Farm, a small organic farm business she operates with her children. Together they grow food regeneratively and learn the value of hard work, stewardship, and self-sufficiency. She plans to donate as much produce as possible to local food pantries.
“Many of my neighbors are struggling because of inflation and gas prices. The first things people cut from their budgets are fresh fruits and vegetables because they’re expensive,” Bryna says. “I’m not afraid of hard work or getting my hands dirty. I can help with that.”
She is documenting her campaign on social media, follow her @brynacavesforWIassembly on Instagram and Facebook. Her website is brynacaves.com. You can reach her by email bryna@brynacaves.com or by phone at 608-200-2103.
