A special election will take place on July 18 to fill the vacant 24th Assembly District. The seat was represented by Rep. Dan Knodl (R-Germantown) from 2009 until his resignation in May. Knodl won a special election for the 8th Senate District on April 4, replacing former Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), who resigned last year.
Gov. Tony Evers (D) announced his order of the special election last month. Candidate nomination papers were due May 23. According to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, only two candidates will appear on the ballot, and a primary election will not be held.
Republican candidate Paul Melotik, of Grafton, currently serves as vice chair of the Ozaukee County Board and as a member of the Grafton Town Board. He began his career as an accountant and has since co-owned and operated several businesses including the Fire Ridge Golf Course. Melotik’s campaign announcement states in part: “[W]e must be able to clearly articulate a positive conservative vision for the future. Smaller government, less regulation, and a robust private sector are what will position the state for future success.”
Democratic candidate Bob Tatterson, of Mequon, is a former engineer and technology executive who currently owns and operates Xponential Ventures, a business consulting and investment firm. According to his campaign announcement, Tatterson “fully supports Governor Evers’ 2023-2024 budget proposal” and also supports “legislative action to encourage the harnessing of Wisconsin’s natural energy resources with proven and economical solar, wind and biomass technologies.” Tatterson ran for the 24th Assembly District in 2022, when he was defeated by then-Rep. Knodl, taking 38.9 percent of the vote to Knodl’s 61.0 percent.
Perennial Republican candidate Spencer Zimmerman filed a campaign statement for this race but did not submit the nomination papers or other materials required to become an official candidate.
The 24th Assembly District covers a mostly suburban area north of the City of Milwaukee, including the communities of Grafton and Germantown and portions of Mequon and Menomonee Falls. It is a reliably Republican district that gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels won with 57.5 percent of the vote in 2022.