By Kim McDarison

A filing deadline for candidates seeking placement on the August 13 Partisan Primary and the November 5 General Election was Monday, according to information released within a media advisory by the Wisconsin Elections Commission Public Information Officer Riley Ketterkind.

Traditionally, the filing deadline would have fallen on June 1, which, this year, was a Saturday and the commission’s offices are closed, the advisory noted, which, by state statute, allowed for the deadline to be extended to the next business day.

While the commission has been tracking candidates and the filing status of their required paperwork, a complete and verified list of candidates will not officially be announced until Monday, June 10.

The commission’s candidate tracking document, last updated on Monday, is found here: https://elections.wi.gov/elections. 

According to the advisory, “Processing nomination papers is a significant and time-consuming task that involves nearly every employee at the agency. More than 380 candidates filed papers with our office by Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline. WEC staff have worked diligently to ensure that papers are processed and reviewed in a timely manner.”

Additionally, in a followup phone interview, Ketterkind sought to remind voters that in this election cycle, only the names of candidates running in the even numbered State Senate districts will be found on the August, if a primary in that race is required, or November general election ballots. All of the state’s Assembly districts have seats due for reelection, as do all of the state’s Congressional districts.

Two special elections also are being held, affecting Congressional District 8 and State Senate District 4, neither of which affects voters in the Fort Atkinson Online/WhitewaterWise readership area. 

As of Tuesday, the commission’s tracker notes the following:

The race for the President of the United States

In November, Wisconsin voters will cast their ballots for President of the United States. Thus far, the tracker indicates that the name of the incumbent president, Joe Biden, will appear on the ballot.

10 candidates for Baldwin’s Senate Seat

Also in November, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat, will defend her seat against a challenger from the Republican Party, with six candidates potentially throwing their hats into the primary ring.

Republican candidates whose paperwork has been approved by the commission include Eric Hovde, Madison; Rejani Raveendran, Stevens Point, and Charles E. Barman, Sharon.

Republican candidates whose paperwork approval is still pending include: John Schiess, Rice Lake; Douglas Alexander, Madison, and George C. Lucia, De Pere.  The top Republican vote-getter will advance as a challenger against Baldwin in November.

Additionally, a challenger from the Wisconsin Green Party, Jo’ EcoArchy Nathan ZeeBeSun, Ashland, has submitted paperwork which is still pending approval, as has a candidate from the Disrupt the Corruption Party Phil Anderson, Middleton. His paperwork has been approved. Also, America First Party candidate Thomas Leager, Madison, has submitted paperwork that has been approved.

Steil to defend Congressional District 1 seat

Republican Bryan Steil will face at least two challengers for his Congressional District 1 Senate seat. Wisconsin Green candidate Chester Todd, Jr., has been approved for placement on the November ballot. In addition, two Democratic candidates will vie, once pending paperwork is approved, in August for placement on the November ballot. They are Peter Barca, Kenosha, whose paperwork has been approved, and Diane M. Anderson, Racine, whose paperwork is still pending.

Fitzgerald to defend Congressional District 5 seat

Republican Scott Fitzgerald, Juneau, will face a Democratic challenger, whose name will be placed on the November ballot following the August primary. Ben Steinhoff, Pewaukee, whose paperwork has been approved, and Andrew Beck, West Bend, whose paperwork is pending, will likely race, once pending paperwork is approved. A top vote-getter will face Fitzgerald in November.

State Senate district races

While redistricting occurred earlier this year affecting all of the state’s 33 State Senate districts, only those with even numbers are up for reelection this cycle. Odd numbered districts, although they have new maps, will continue to be represented by the current office holder. Office holders who have been displaced through redistricting from their districts, or choose not to seek reelection at their term’s end, will make those declarations by June of 2026.

In the Fort Atkinson Online and WhitewaterWise readership area, constituents live in the following districts: 11, represented by State Sen. Steve Nass, R-Elkhorn, whose term ends in 2027; 15, represented by State Sen. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit, whose term ends in 2027, and 16, represented by State Sen. Melissa Agard, D-Madison, whose term is up for reelection this cycle.

Following redistricting, Agard no longer lives within her district and has filed with the commission a notification of non-candidacy. Three candidates, each of whom are state representatives, have announced their candidacies to fill the open seat. They are Melissa Ratcliff, D-Cottage Grove, who is currently serving in Assembly District 46; Jimmy Anderson, D-Fitchburg, who is currently serving in Assembly District 47, and Samba Baldeh, D-Madison, who is currently serving in Assembly District 48. Each of the candidates have filed notifications of non-candidacy in their current Assembly districts. The top Democratic vote-getter will advance to the November ballot following the August primary and will face potential write-in candidates. Paperwork submitted by each of the Democratic challengers has been approved.

State Assembly District races

Seats held by representatives serving all of the state’s 99 Assembly districts are due for reelection this cycle. In the Fort Atkinson Online and WhitewaterWise readership area, constituents live in the following districts: 31, 33, 43, and 46.

Schutt decides against run; three challengers step up

Offering a statement recently on her Facebook page, State Rep. Ellen Schutt, R-Clinton, who continues to reside in her district following redistricting earlier this year, has decided against running to defend her seat. Two Republicans, Tyler August, Walworth, and the state representative serving in Assembly District 32, and John H. Henderson, Elkhorn, will vie for a space on the November ballot as their party’s candidate. No other candidates have come forward for the open seat.

District 33 incumbent Johnson to run in 43rd; Vos enters race

Following redistricting earlier this year, State Rep. Scott Johnson no longer lives within the 33rd Assembly District. He has filed notification of non-candidacy with the Wisconsin Elections Commission, and will instead be seeking a seat in Assembly District 43, where he now resides. Two Republican candidates, Robin J. Vos and Andrew Cegielski will vie in August for a chance to be their party’s candidate in November. The top vote-getter will face Democratic candidate Alan Kupsik, Lake Geneva, and  Independent Party candidate Kelly Clark, Sturtevant, whose paperwork is pending, in the general election.

Johnson, Kurtz, Brown running in 43rd

Following redistricting, State Rep. Jenna Jacobson filed notification of non-candidacy papers leaving the 43rd Assembly District with an open seat. Two Republicans, Dylan Kurtz, Janesville, and Scott Johnson, Jefferson, will vie in August to become their party’s candidate in November. The top vote-getter will face Brienne Brown, D-Whitewater, in the general election. The commission has approved paperwork submitted by the three candidates.

Two Democrats, two Republicans seek open Assembly District 46 seat

Following redistricting, incumbent State Rep. Melissa Ratcliff filed papers of non-candidacy with the election commission. Two Democrats, Syed Abbas, Madison, and Joan Fitzgerald, Fort Atkinson, have come forward to fill the open seat, as have two Republicans, Andrew McKinney, Cottage Grove, whose paperwork is still pending, and Jenifer Quimby, Waterloo. Candidates from within each party will face off in August, with a top vote-getter from each race advancing to the November general election.

An earlier story published on Fort Atkinson Online showing changes in legislative maps, including those enacted earlier this year, is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/evers-signs-into-law-new-legislative-maps/.