More than a dozen GOP incumbents in the Legislature, House and U.S. Senate drew primary challengers.
Meanwhile, longtime Secretary of State Doug La Follette is the only Dem incumbent to draw one and will face Alexia Sabor, chair of the Dane County Dem Party, in the Aug. 9 primary.
Those seeking to challenge GOP incumbents have advocated on a host of issues, from calling to decertify the 2020 election to opposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates. One candidate is seeking a rematch after narrowly losing a GOP primary eight years ago.
Here are the federal races where GOP incumbents face challengers:
*David Schroeder, of Milwaukee, filed nomination papers May 27 to challenge U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh in the GOP primary. The Elections Commission found Schroeder had 2,778 signatures, more than the 2,000 needed for a statewide candidate. A Google search for details about Schroeder’s candidacy was unsuccessful.
*Douglas Mullenix, of Menasha, filed to run against U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Glenbeulah, in the 6th CD GOP primary. The commission found he had 1,301 signatures, more than the 1,000 needed for a congressional candidate. Mullenix wrote on his website he worked in finance and health care consulting prior to the pandemic, which “disrupted my career as many of my clients were deemed ‘unessential’, leaving me underemployed.” No Dem filed to run in the heavily GOP seat.
*David Kunelius, of Arbor Vitae, filed papers to challenge U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, in the 7th CD GOP primary. The commission hadn’t yet posted as of last night how many valid signatures he had. Kunelius previously told WisPolitics.com he’s a Republican, but closer to the moderate side than Tiffany.
*Shaun Clarmont, of Oneida, filed nomination papers to run against U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Allouez, in the 8th CD GOP primary. But the commission’s initial check of his nomination paper had him at 997 signatures, three short of what’s required. A Google search for Clarmont was unsuccessful.
Two GOP members of the state Senate are facing primary challenges, including Senate Majority Leader Devin Lemahieu.
The Oostburg Republican drew two challengers. The commission found Ruth Villareal, of Sheboygan, turned in 520 signatures, more than the 400 needed. Jeanette Deschene, of Manitowoc, also filed nomination papers this week, but the commission hadn’t posted how many signatures she had.
Villareal has spoken at 2020 decertification events, while Deschene has publicly opposed COVID-19 vaccine for health care workers and masking children at school.
Meanwhile, Jay Stone, of Pleasant Prairie, filed 603 signatures to challenge Sen. Van Wanggaard, of Racine, in the GOP primary.
Stone is a retired hypnotherapist and vice president of Honest, Open and Transparent Government in Racine. He has filed various complaints over how the 2020 election was administered.
And seven GOP members of the Assembly have drawn primary opponents, including Speaker Robin Vos, of Rochester.
The commission found Adam Steen, of Burlington, filed 392 signatures, more than the 200 needed to challenge Vos. Steen has focused on election issues in his campaign and has called for limiting voting to a single day of in-person voting on paper ballots counted by hand.
The others facing challengers are:
*Joel Kitchens, of Sturgeon Bay. Kewaunee Co. Supv. Milt Swagel, of Kewaunee, filed 394 signatures.
*Tyler August, of Lake Geneva. Bart Williams, of West Bend, filed 386 signatures.
*Robert Brooks, of Saukville. Samuel Krieg, of Port Washington, filed 227 signatures. Krieg wrote on his Facebook page he’s a student at UW-Milwaukee and is running to bring “the Next Generation of Conservatism to Wisconsin and to America.”
*James Edming, of Glen Flora. Michael Bub, of Medford, filed 285 signatures after losing the 2014 GOP primary for the seat to Edming by 19 votes. Bub wrote on his Facebook page it was time for change because, “We get a lot of talk from our current member of the Assembly but we need more action.”
*Treig Pronschinske, of Mondovi. Ryan Owens, of Osseo, filed nomination papers yesterday. But the commission hadn’t posted how many signatures he’d turned in.
*Loren Oldenburg, of Viroqua. Holly Liska, of Hillsboro, filed 234 signatures. She’s testified on various election bills before the state Legislature, and her Facebook page profile picture is her with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, who has espoused a series of conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.
