MONROE — District 17 Senate Candidate Corrine Hendrickson stopped by Christina’s Family Daycare in Monroe on Oct. 1. Hendrickson spent nearly two decades in the child care industry, including running her own business — Corrine’s Little Explorers in New Glarus. 

In 2020, she began advocating for the industry and the feasibility of keeping certified day care centers open across the state. Her  travels took her not only to the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, but testifying in front of U.S. Congressional Committees about the lack of pay for workers and how the rising costs are effecting families across the country.

On Wednesday, Oct. 1, Hendrickson caught up with some old friends in the industry: Tom and Christina Becker — plus the preschool children they care for. 

“This is my weekly kid fix,” she said. She helped the kids with chalk, taught them about native insects and creatures in the backyard, collected high five after high five, and talked with the Beckers and parents that stopped by to pick up their kids. And she did it all with a natural, unforced smile.

“At the end of the day, my job as a rep is to listen to people and go and talk to them and learn about the different parts of their life and what government is doing ... to ensure we have a baseline of affordability, we have a baseline of a quality of life. Our Declaration of Independence says, ‘We the people’ and talks about ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Hendrickson said. “We can’t have any of those things if we don’t have affordable access to health care, if you don’t have a house, if you don’t have childcare, if your public schools are underfunded. That’s why I’m running.”

They discussed the successful launch New Mexico had with its state-wide child care program — from being approved in 2020 to opening up for the entire state this past month.

“Other states are doing some really cool things, and I think we could be next,” she said.

Christina Becker has been in the child care industry for more than 30 years herself. She and her husband Tom have been able to make their in-home care center work, but with costs rising in all directions, they fear what will follow. It was just this summer that Hendrickson gave up her child care center, and she’s not alone — Monroe lost multiple options this past summer, and two more are likely shuttering by Summer 2026.

“Considering June is when the last payment goes out, it’s going to be brutal,” Hendrickson said. “I already know several that are looking at bankruptcy in the next six months — if they can hold out that long.”

Hendrickson said Wisconsin is primed to follow in the footsteps of New Mexico. She said it took advocates there 10 years of bureaucracy and working with politicians before the universal option was put on a state ballot for voters. Even then, those in office didn’t just reluctantly give in after years of pestering.

“We’re at five years and we’re already targeting and looking to replace them at this point,” Hendrickson said. 

While Wisconsin has been at it for five years, she said the Badger State could likely take that next step sooner than later. One reason? She is one of three Democratic challengers looking to take the seat of incumbent Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green).

To learn more about Hendrickson’s campaign and policy positions, go to www.corrinefor17.com.