Today is a Special Election Day in two Assembly districts and one state Senate district.
Most of the attention will be on state Senate district 10 where state Rep. Adam Jarchow (R-Balsam Lake) is facing school board member Patty Schachtner(D-Somerset). As readers of our daily newsletter (subscribe for free here) are aware, the race has become a proxy fight against President Donald Trump even though the president is not on the ballot. Wisconsin Democrats are also hoping to win this seat along the Minnesota border as part of a larger battle to take the state Senate prior to redistricting after the 2020 census.
The Senate seat opened when Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls) was appointed Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary by Governor Scott Walker.
There is also a special election in the 58th Assembly District where Washington County Board Chairman Rick Gundrum (R-Slinger) faces Dennis Degenhardt, a Vice Chair of the Washington County Democratic Party. This is a very strong Republican district so it is unlikely to be competitive. Owen Robinson of Boots and Sabers says turnout is only expected to be 15 percent, although he noticed an unusual amount of people voting early when he voted.
Some Racine residents will also have an opportunity to vote today for state Representative in the 66th Assembly District. The seat became vacant when Cory Mason (D) became the mayor of Racine. However, voters will not have much of a choice. There is no Republican running and the Democrat, Greta Neubauer, a Mason staffer and anti-fossil fuel fanatic.
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