September 2004 Primary Election

By Andy Franken

The Hamilton Consulting Group

Sept. 17, 2004

© 2004 The Hamilton Consulting Group

Print Version

Go to our Wisconsin Elections 2004 pages for an overview of all the candidates for the November elections.

United States Senate

GOP Primary:

• Tim Michels -  183,490 (42.5%)

• Russ Darrow - 129,661 (30.0%)

• Bob Welch - 100,868 (23.4%)

• Bob Lorge -17,503 (4.1% )

Tim Michels  won a hotly contested GOP Primary with a margin wider than most pundits predicted. Michels is the co-owner and vice president of Michels Corporation, Brownsville, Wisconsin. He served twelve years of active duty service as an Airborne Ranger Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army Rank of Major. Former Commander of the Army’s elite Honor Guard with duties at the White House, State Department, and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He is still serving in the IRR (reserves).

Michels will face  U.S. Senator Russ Feingold in what promises to be another very close statewide race for the U.S. Senate.  National GOP powers have indicated that the Wisconsin race may be one of the targets this November.

U.S. House of Representatives

1st Congressional District

DEM Primary:

• Jeff Thomas - 13,923 (58.3%)

• Chet Bell - 9,967 (41.7% )

Incumbent Republican Paul Ryan  will face perennial Democratic candidate and retired surgeon Jeffrey Chapman Thomas. Libertarian Don Bernau and Independent Norman Aulabaugh are also in the race.

2nd Congressional District

GOP Primary:

• Dave Magnum GOP 26,369 61.2%

• Ron Greer GOP 16,704 38.8%

Incumbent Democrat Tammy Baldwin  will face Republican David Magnum. Magnum and his late wife, Lynn, founded Magnum Broadcasting, Inc. 12 years ago in Tomah. The company currently operates eight radio stations and one television station in the La Crosse, Green Bay and Madison markets.

4th Congressional District

DEM Primary:

• Gwen Moore - 48,757 (64.4%)

• Matt Flynn - 19,177 (25.3%)

• Tim Carpenter - 7,801 (10.3%)

GOP Primary:

• Gerald Boyle - 11,616 (52.5%)

• Corey Hoze - 10,489 (47.5%)

Incumbent Democrat Gerald Kleczka announced his retirement early this year. There is a wide open Democratic primary for this historically Democratic seat. State Senator Gwen Moore  is likely to make history in November and become the first African American representative in Wisconsin history. Moore faces Gerald Boyle in the November election.  Moore won two consecutive terms to the Wisconsin State Assembly (1989-92) and then in 1992 was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate, becoming the first African-American woman to hold this office. Moore is currently serving her third term in the Senate.

Independent, Robert R. Raymond and Constitution Party candidate Colin Hudson round out the field.

5th Congressional District

DEM Primary:

• Bryan Kennedy - 17,753 (72.7%)

• Gary Kohlenberg - 6,663 (27.3%)

Incumbent Republican F. James Sensenbrenner serves as chair of the Committee on the Judiciary and serves on the Committee on Homeland Security. He will face Democrat primary winner Bryan Kennedy in the general election. Libertarian Tim Peterson is also running.

Democratic Senate Primaries

Senate District 4

This Senate seat is being vacated by Senator Gwen Moore who won the Democratic Party nomination in the 4th Congressional District. This Milwaukee-based seat is solidly Democratic.

• Lena Taylor - 10,042 (46.9%)

• Johnnie Morris - 7,735 (36.1%)

• James White - 3,633 (17.0%)

Rep. Lena C. Taylor (D-Milwaukee) who was elected to the Assembly in a 2003 special election faces no general election opposition and will move to the State Senate.

Senate District 10

• Gary Bakke - 3,801 (45.4%)

• Alice Clausing - 3,455 (41.2%)

• Elise O'Meara Nooney - 717 (8.6%)

• Dennis Paulaha - 403 (4.8%)

New Richmond Democrat Gary Bakke is past-president of the State Bar of Wisconsin and is a semi-retired attorney concentrating on mediation, counseling small businesses and business litigation for Bakke-Norman, S.C.  He will face Incumbent Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls) in the general election.

Senate District 16

This seat was vacated by Sen. Chuck Chvala (D-Madison). Chvala has served the district since 1984.

• Mark Miller - 8,578 (58.2%)

• Tom Hebl -  6,166 (41.8%)

Rep. Mark Miller (D-Madison) has served in the State Assembly since 1998 and is a former military pilot and real estate manager. He will face Republican Eric Peterson who is the owner and operator of the Foxboro Golf Club in Oregon.

Senate District 32

• Brad Pfaff - 8,632 (79.3%)

• Monte Jacobson - 2,258 (20.7%)

Democrat Brad Pfaff of Onalaska is a former legislative aide and senior policy advisor to U.S. Rep. Ron Kind. He will face Republican candidate Dan Kapanke.

Republican Senate Primaries

Senate District 12

• Tom Tiffany - 8,903 (60.5%)

• Gary Baier - 2,995 (20.3%)

• William Raduege - 2,825 (19.2%)

Republican Tom Tiffany is the owner of Wilderness Cruises on the Willow Flowage in Northern Wisconsin. He will face incumbent Democrat Roger Breske.

Senate District 14

This seat is being vacated by Republican Senator Robert Welch of Redgranite who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate.

• Luther Olsen GOP 10,546 (60.1%)

• Roger Cross GOP 5,381 (30.7% )

• John Spillner GOP 1,613 (9.2%)

Rep. Luther Olsen of Berlin currently represents the 41st Assembly District. Rep. Olsen is a former feed, seed and fertilizer dealer and has served in the State Assembly since 1994. Olsen has no general election opposition.

Senate District 20

• Glenn Grothman GOP 27,564 (78.9%)

• Mary Panzer (i) GOP 7,389 (21.1%)

Rep. Glenn Grothman, also of West Bend has served the 58th Assembly District since 1993. Grothman received his B.B.A. and J.D. from the UW-Madison and is a former practicing attorney. He has been the Majority Caucus Vice Chairperson since 1999. Grothman has no opposition in the general election.

Senate District 30

• Gary Drzewiecki GOP 6,404 (52.7%)

• David Steffen GOP 5,738 (47.3%)

Gary Drzewiecki was elected to the Senate 1992 and reelected in 1996. He was defeated for re-election in 2000 by Democrat Dave Hanson.  His victory results in a rematch with Incumbent Dave Hanson.

Democratic Assembly Primaries

Assembly District 11

This seat was vacated by Johnnie Morris who unsuccessfully sought election to the 4th Senate District.

• Jason Fields Dem 2,793 (45.5%)

• Leonard Goudy Dem 2,172 (35.4%)

• Jim Malloy Dem 1,173 (19.1)

Fields faces no general election opposition.

Assembly District 12

This seat was vacated by Rep. Shirley Krug who began a campaign for the vacant 4th Congressional District seat in Milwaukee. She withdrew from that race.

• Fred Kessler Dem 3,112 (55.5%)

• Rene Settle-Robinson Dem 2,496 (44.5%)

Kessler will face Constitutional Party candidate Joan Tatarsky of Milwaukee in the general election.

Assembly District 18

This seat is being vacated by Rep. Lena Taylor ran successfully for election in the 4th Senate District.

• Tamara Grigsby 3,231 (64.0%)

• Walt Love 1,128 22.3%

• Jim Zaffiro 692 13.7%

Grigsby faces no general election opposition.

Assembly District 25

• Bob Ziegelbauer (i) 3,375 (70.6% )

• Anne-Marie Suchomel Woznicki 1,405 (29.4%)

Incumbent Bob Ziegelbauer (D- Manitowoc) was first elected to the Assembly in 1992. He faces no general election opposition.

Assembly District 34

• Mary Kinnunen 1,892 (76.0%)

• Tony Hallman Dem 597 24.0%

Kinnunen will face incumbent Dan Meyer (R-Eagle River)

Assembly District 44

This seat was vacated upon the announced retirement of incumbent Wayne Wood (D-Janesville).

• Mike Sheridan Dem 2,556 (47.7%)

• Kevin Murray Dem 1,840 (34.4%)

• Thomas Brien Dem 958 (17.9%)

Mike Sheridan is president of United Auto Workers Local 95. Sheridan will face Republican Ty Bollerud, a foundation and chimney contractor and independents Knipp is a former Janesville property appraiser and  Steve Trueblood of Janesville is a former legislative aide and an ordained minister.

Assembly District 48

This seat was vacated when incumbent Mark Miller decided to make a bid for the 16th Senate District.

• Joe Parisi Dem 5,006 (67.9%)

• Amy Dixon Dem 2,369 (32.1%)

Joe Parisi has served as Dane County Clerk since 1996 and will face Republican Dan Long in November.

Assembly District 51

• Todd Miller Dem 1,231 61.6%

• Emmett Reilly Dem 767 38.4%

Miller faces incumbent Stephen Freese in the general election.

Assembly District 71

• Louis Molepske  - 2,783 (81.4%)

• Jesse Higgins - 635 (18.6%)

Incumbent Louis Molepske, Jr. (D- Stevens Point) is a former local government ambassador to Santo Tomas, Nicaragua and special prosecutor, Portage Co. D.A. office; assistant city attorney and mayoral assistant, City of Stevens Point. He was first elected to the Assembly in a July 2003 special election. Molepske faces no general election opposition.

Assembly District 73

• Frank Boyle - 4,166 (54.3%)

• Dick Pukema - 3,509 45.7%

Incumbent Frank Boyle (D- Superior) was first elected to the Assembly in 1986. He will face Republican Larry Brunner of Brule in November.

Assembly District 79

• Sondy Pope-Roberts - 2,910 (83.4%)

• Bob Menamin - 580 (16.6%)

Incumbent Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Verona). She is a former associate director of the Foundation for Madison's Public Schools. Pope-Roberts was first elected to the Assembly in 2002.  She will face Republican challenger Keith Bakken of Mt. Horeb. Bakken is the cousin of former Wisconsin and NFL place kicker, Jim Bakken.

Assembly District 80

This seat was vacated upon the announced retirement of incumbent Mike Powers (R-Albany).

• Gof Thomson - 1,848 (54.4%)

• Janis Ringhand - 1,549 (45.6%)

Gof Thomson is a community banker from New Glarus. He will face Republican Brett Davis. Also in the race is independent candidate Patrick O'Brien of New Glarus

Assembly District 89

• Bruce Berman Dem 818 (59.5%)

• Don Peterlin Dem 557 (40.5%)

Berman will face incumbent Speaker John Gard (R-Peshtigo) in November.

Assembly District 93

• Jeff Smith - 1,617 (55.6%)

• Howard White - 1,292 44.4%

Smith will face incumbent Rob Kreibich (R-Eau Claire), a former WEAU-TV anchorman. Kreibich was first elected to the Assembly in 1992.

Assembly District 94

• Vicki Burke Dem 1,711 (61.5%)

• Mark Seitz Dem 1,069 (38.5%)

Vicki Burke is a La Crosse county supervisor and retired teacher. She will face incumbent Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem). Huebsch was first elected to the Assembly in 1994 and is a member of the Joint Committee on Finance.

Republican Assembly Primaries

Assembly District 6

• John Ainsworth - 4,549 (65.9%)

• JP Drengler -2,359 34.1%

Incumbent John Ainsworth (R-Shawano) was elected to the Assembly in 1990 and currently serves as chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee. Ainsworth has no general election opposition.

Assembly District 13

• Matt Adamczyk - 2,408 (53.3%)

• Scott Nelson - 2,108 (46.7%)

Matt Adamczyk of Wauwatosa is a junior partner with Adamczyk Heating & Cooling and a former 8th grade mathematics teacher. He will face Incumbent David Cullen (D- Milwaukee) who was first elected to the Assembly in a May 1990 special election

Assembly District 32

• Tom Lothian - 2,802 (72.9%)

• Joseph Guido GOP 1,042 (27.1%)

Incumbent Thomas Lothian (R-Williams Bay) was first elected to the Assembly in 2002. He  will face Democrat Ryan Schroeder in the general election.

Assembly District 38

This seat was vacated upon the announced retirement of incumbent Majority Leader Mickey Foti.

• Joel Kleefisch - 4,174 (48.3%)

• Ron Counsell - 2,743 (31.7%)

• Kenneth Berg - 1,726 (20.0%)

Joel Kleefisch of Oconomowoc worked as an award-winning investigative TV journalist.. He served as a legislative aide to Majority Leader Foti.  He will face Democrat Pam Johnson of Oconomowoc and independents Andrew Sellinger of Rubicon  and Adam Beardsly in the general election.

Assembly District 40

• Jean Hundertmark - 4,126 81.2%

• John Schultz - 958 18.8%

Incumbent Jean Hundertmark (R-Clintonville) has served as assistant majority leader since 2003. She will face Democrat Cornelius Van Handel of New London in the general election.

Assembly District 41

This seat was vacated upon incumbent Luther Olsen’s bid for the 14th Senate District.

• Joan Ballweg - 2,406 (28.7%)

• Peter Sensenbrenner - 1,179 (14.0%)

• Lance Buchholtz - 1,089 (13.0%)

• Mike Gustin - 929 (11.1%)

• Rich Slate - 860 (10.2%)

• Dan Priske - 802 (9.6%)

• Marv Wagner - 628 (7.5%)

• Matt Metoxen - 374 (4.5% )

• Leon Zuehls - 130 (1.5%)

Joan Ballweg  is a Waupun businesswoman from Markesan, served as mayor of Markesan from 1991 to 1997, and owns and operates Ballweg Implement Co. along with her husband Tom. She faces third party opposition from James Tostenson of Fremont, in the general election.

Assembly District 45

This seat was vacated upon the announced retirement of incumbent Dan Schooff (D-Beloit).

• Brian Brown - 1,566 (63.9%)

• Chad Murry - 884 (36.1%)

Brown will face off against Democrat Chuck Benedict of Beloit.

Assembly District 46

This seat was vacated when incumbent Tom Hebl decided to make a bid for the 16th Senate District.

• Nick Voegeli - 2,105 (56.0%)

• Hariah Hutkowski - 1,653 (44.0%)

Voegeli will face Democrat Gary Hebl (Tom’s brother) of Sun Prairie.

Assembly District 50

• Sheryl Albers - 4,920 (65.6%)

• John Deitrich - 2,116 (28.2%)

• Craig Buswell - 464 (6.2%)

Incumbent Sheryl Albers will face Democrat Will Buros of Cazenovia and Libertarian Tom Kuester of Rock Springs in the general election.

Assembly District 58

Incumbent Glenn Grothman (R- West Bend) vacated the seat to challenge Senate Majority Leader Mary Panzer (R- West Bend).

• Pat Strachota - 6,683 (61.1%)

• Rick Karshna - 4,259 (38.9%)

Strochota will face Democrat Dennis Uhlig of Cedarburg, who currently works in a travel agency and gift shop. He is a former English teacher.

Assembly District 69

• Scott Suder - 4,980 (83.3%)

• Diane Murphy - 996 (16.7%)

Incumbent Scott Suder (R- Abbotsford) was first elected to the Assembly in 1998.  Suder has no opposition in the general election.

Assembly District 85

This seat was vacated due to the election of incumbent Greg Huber (D-Wausau) as circuit judge in Marathon County.

• Sarah Kamke - 1,623 (43.3%)

• Bill Marcis - 978 (26.1%)

• Linda Minnihan - 799 (21.3%)

• Ed Gale - 352 (9.4%)

Kamke will face Democrat Donna Seidel of Wausau in the general election.

Assembly District 99

• Don Pridemore - 3,221 (44.0%)

• Michael Lehman - 3,037 (41.5%)

• Deb Baker - 1,060 (14.5%)

Incumbent Michael Lehman  was defeated by Don Pridemore of Hartford. Pridemore has no opposition in the general election.

Assembly Districts with Democratic and Republican Primaries