Area Election Challenges in November

Eleven members of the state Legislature will face no major party opposition on their way to a new term, while more than two dozen incumbents are facing primary challenges. Wis Politics reports Dems fielded candidates in all 16 Senate races on the fall ballot and 97 of the 99 Assembly seats. Republicans, meanwhile, had candidates turn in nomination papers in 11 of the Senate seats up this fall and 84 of the Assembly districts. Monday was the filing deadline for candidates to qualify for the fall ballot. The deadline to file challenges to submitted signatures is Thursday. The Elections Commission will meet Monday to formally decide who makes the ballot this fall.

Two years ago, seven incumbent members of the Assembly — all Republicans — faced primary challenges with each surviving. This year, four Dems drew a primary challenger. Meanwhile, 22 Assembly GOP incumbents are facing primaries, including: Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, Speaker Pro Tempore Kevin Petersen, and Joint Finance Co-chair Mark Born.

The GOP primaries include two districts where Republican incumbents were paired under the new maps. Richland County’s incumbent representative, Republican Tony Kurtz of Wonewoc, representing the newly drawn 41^st Assembly District, is being challenged by democratic candidate, Julia Henley of Blue River. In addition, a Democratic candidate by the name of Scott Walker, of Prairie du Chien, filed to run against GOP state Rep. Travel Tranel. The Cuba City Republican is the last GOP member of the state Assembly who voted in 2011 against Act 10, the signature achievement of former GOP Gov. Scott Walker.