Compiled By Kim McDarison
Across the state of Wisconsin voters will be heading to the polls on Tuesday, Aug. 9.
Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The partisan primary will see races in which multiple candidates from within each political party are vying for an open seat. Winners in the primary election will advance to the Nov. 8 general election, during which the winners for each open seat will ultimately be decided.
One candidate from each party vying for each available seat will advance to the general election.
Voters are asked to select candidates on the primary ballot from within a single party.
Voters looking to check their registration status as well as find their polling place can visit: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/.
Voters arriving at the polls are required to show a photo ID, such as a drivers license, state ID or U.S. passport.
Those who hold an absentee ballot, but have not yet returned it, may do so at their polling place. To be counted within election tallies, all ballots must be delivered to a polling place by 8 p.m. on election day.
Names placed on the primary ballot include statewide candidates running for governor, U.S. senator, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and state treasurer.
Jefferson and Walworth county candidates whose names will appear on the primary ballot, and biographical information about each, is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/primary-election-guide-jefferson-walworth-countywide-races-on-aug-9-ballot/.
Candidates running in statewide races and brief biographical information follows.
Candidates for Governor
Gov. Tony Evers is the incumbent, running unopposed by candidates from within his Democratic party. Four Republican candidates have come forward as challengers. They are Rebecca Kleefisch, Tim Michels, Timothy Ramthun and Adam Fischer.
One Republican challenger will emerge from the primary election to face Evers in November.
Tony Evers
The 46th governor of Wisconsin, Tony Evers assumed office in 2019 after defeating two-term Gov. Scott Walker. Prior to his election as governor, Evers served as the Wisconsin superintendent of public schools from 2009 to 2019. He is 70 years old, married, and the couple has three children.
According to his Wikipedia profile, Evers was born and raised in Plymouth, Wis., and was educated at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, were he received a Ph.D. He worked as a schoolteacher for several years, then as a school administrator, a principal and, later, district superintendent. Evers first ran for superintendent of public instruction in 1993 and again in 2001, losing both elections. Evers was instead appointed deputy superintendent, serving in that position from 2001 to 2009. In 2009, he ran for superintendent of public instruction again, this time winning. He was reelected twice, in 2013 and 2017. Evers’ full wikipedia profile is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Evers. Information supplied by Ballotpedia about this candidate is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Tony_Evers.
Rebecca Kleefisch
The 44th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, Rebecca Kleefisch assumed office in 2011, serving under then-Gov. Scott Walker. She was succeeded in office in 2019 by Mandela Barnes, who serves today as the 45th lieutenant governor. Kleefisch is 46 years old, married, and the couple has two children. According to her Wikipedia profile, Kleefisch was born in Pontiac, Mich. Her family later relocated to Ohio, where she won the title of Miss Ohio Teen USA 1994. On Aug. 16, 1994, she competed in the nationally televised Miss Teen USA 1994 pageant as Miss Ohio Teen USA in Biloxi, Mississippi, but did not place in the competition. Kleefisch graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She was a reporter for WIFR-TV in Rockford, Ill, and then was a reporter and later morning anchor for WISN-TV in Milwaukee before leaving in 2004. Kleefisch formed her own company, Rebecca Kleefisch Enterprises, Inc. and was a contributor to Charlie Sykes‘ program on WTMJ Radio in Milwaukee. Her full Wikipedia profile is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_Kleefisch. Information supplied by Ballotpedia about this candidate is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Rebecca_Kleefisch.
Tim Michels
According to his Wikipedia profile, Tim Michels is an American politician and businessman from Brownsville. He co-owns and co-manages Michels Corporation, a family-owned and operated construction company. He is 59, married, and the couple has three children. He graduated from Lomira High School in 1980, and obtained a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1984 from St. Norbert College. He received an MBA from the University of Chicago in 1997 and an MPA from the Illinois Institute of Technology the same year. Additionally, he served as an Airborne Ranger Infantry officer in the U.S. Army for 12 years, earning the rank of major. He is a member of the American Legion and VFW. Michels ran for a state Senate seat in 1998, losing that race to then-Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, who was succeeded by Sen. Devin LeMahieu. Michels’ full Wikipedia profile is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Michels. Information supplied by Ballotpedia about this candidate is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Tim_Michels.
Timothy Ramthun
A member of the State Assembly from the 59th district since 2019, Timothy Ramthun, according to his Wikipedia profile, is an American consultant and politician. The 59th district includes Hartford, Kewaskum, Calumet, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, and Washington County. Ramthun was born in Kewaskum, and, after graduating from high school, he obtained various certifications in technology and business management. He served on the Kewaskum Board of Eduction and held the position of president on that board for two years. Ramthun ran unsuccessfully for an Assembly seat in 2014. His full Wikipedia profile is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Ramthun. Information about the candidate as supplied by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Timothy_Ramthun.
Adam J. Fischer
Adam Fischer does not currently have a profile available on Wikipedia. Communicating through his campaign page, he describes himself as “One pissed off American,” noting in his biographical information that he is a “Christian Republican.”
Fischer notes on his page that he was a police officer for six years before he broke his back. Told by doctors he might not walk again, Fischer writes that he “knew my Lord will heal me and I will return to work and life.” Fischer noted that he lives on a hobby farm in Mauston where he raises chickens and bees. He describes himself as a business owner, a participant in “corporate America,” and a member of the Teamsters Union. His campaign page can be found online. Information supplied by Ballotpedia about the candidate is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Adam_Fischer.
Candidates for U.S. Senator
While in recent days several candidates have dropped out of the running for an open U.S. Senatorial seat, including Democrats Alex Lasry, Sarah Godlewski and Tom Nelson, five Democratic challengers remain. They are Mandela Barnes, Steven Olikara, Kou Lee, Peter Peckarsky and Darrell Williams. On the Republican side, incumbent Sen. Ron Johnson will face Republican challenger David Schroeder. A winning candidate from within each party’s primary race will advance to the November election.
Ron Johnson
The senior U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, Ron Johnson assumed office in 2011, after defeating then-incumbent Russ Feingold. He has since served for two terms, winning a second election in 2016, beating Feingold in a race for the seat a second time. After pledging not to run for a third term, Johnson reconsidered, announcing his candidacy in January. Johnson is 67, married, and the couple has three children. According to his Wikipedia profile, Johnson was born in Mankato, Minn., and attended the University of Minnesota earning a degree in business and accounting. In 1979, he moved to Oshkosh and worked at a plastics company owned by his wife’s family. Described in his profile as a “staunch ally” of Donald Trump, Johnson voted for Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017, supported Trump’s decision to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), launched investigations into his political opponents and promoted false claims of fraud in relation to Trump’s defeat in the 2020 presidential election. He has rejected the scientific consensus on climate change. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson resisted stay at home orders, used his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security Committee to invite witnesses to push fringe theories about COVID-19, and spread misinformation about COVID-19 vaccinations, according to his Wikipedia profile. His full Wikipedia profile is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Johnson_(Wisconsin_politician). Information supplied by Ballotpedia about the candidate is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Ron_Johnson_(Wisconsin).
David Schroeder
David Schroeder does not currently have a profile available on Wikipedia. According to his campaign page, he is a semi-retired civil servant, citing his service as a former educator and postal employee, and has also operated, along with his wife, as a small rental property business owner. He was born in Wisconsin and holds a master’s degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in physics. Schroeder’s campaign page can be found online. Information about the candidate supplied by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/David_Schroeder_(Wisconsin).
Mandela Barnes
The 45th lieutenant governor of Wisconsin, Mandela Barnes assumed office in 2019. He was preceded by Rebecca Kleefisch. Prior to holding his current position, he was a state representative serving the 11th district, holding that seat from 2013 to 2017. According to his Wikipedia profile, Barnes is the first African American to assume Wisconsin’s lieutenant governorship. Barnes in 35 years old. He was born in Milwaukee and holds a bachelor’s degree from Alabama A&M University. Additionally, his profile notes information under a heading of “2018 Tax Delinquencies,” stating that in that year, Barnes did not pay his city of Milwaukee tax bill, owing $2,225.43 with interest and penalties as of mid-June 2019. He also was found guilty by a Milwaukee municipal judge for not paying three parking tickets and was fined $108. Under a heading of “College Degree Credibility Issues,” the website states, that Barnes did not graduate from Alabama A&M in the year that he had previously stated, but did receive his diploma in 2020. Professionally, Barnes worked for various political campaigns and in the office of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, eventually becoming an organizer for M.I.C.A.H., a Milwaukee-based interfaith coalition that advocates social justice. Barnes served as the deputy director of strategic engagement for State Innovation Exchange, a national progressive public policy organization based in Madison. His full Wikipedia profile is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandela_Barnes. Information supplied by Ballotpedia about the candidate is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Mandela_Barnes.
Steven Olikara
Steven Olikara does not currently have a profile available on Wikipedia. According to his campaign page, he is the son of Indian immigrants, an entrepreneur and nonprofit leader. His page states: “He attended Wisconsin public schools and graduated as a University of Wisconsin Badger.” He grew up in the Greater Milwaukee area, the page notes, and found his path to public service through music, playing in multiple bands and becoming a DJ for a community-focused radio station. Olikara is the founder and CEO of Millennial Action Project, which, the page states, “is the largest nonpartisan organization of young legislators in the country.” His campaign page can be found online. Information about the candidate supplied by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Steven_Olikara.
Kou Lee
Kou Lee does not currently have a profile available on Wikipedia. According to his campaign page, Lee is a native of Laos. His page expresses his concerns about “pitting people against each other,” calling such behavior a “cancer polluting our discourse and sickening our democracy.” On his page, Lee describes fleeing with his parents from the “atrocities in Laos,” during the aftermath of the Vietnam War, arriving in Thailand. He next lived in a Hmong refugee camp until his family could come to American. Lee holds a degree from Michigan State University, and, his page states, has enjoyed a successful career in business. His campaign page can be found online. Information about the candidate as supplied by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Kou_Lee.
Peter Peckarsky
Peter Peckarsky does not currently have a Wikipedia profile. According to his campaign page, he was born and raised in Milwaukee, and holds degrees in electrical engineering and political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He also holds a law degree from Case Western Reserve University. According to his page, “Sen. Edward M. Kennedy placed Mr. Peckarsky’s senior thesis in the Congressional record in support of his opposition to the Anti-Ballistic Missile system.” His page notes that Peckarsky has worked as an investigative reporter and White House correspondent in Washington and elsewhere. His campaign page can be found online. Information about the candidate as supplied by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Peter_Peckarsky.
Darrell Williams
Darrell Williams does not currently have a Wikipedia profile. According to his campaign page, he was too poor to be born in a hospital and was instead delivered by a midwife in Mississippi. As a child, his page states, he learned the value of hard work picking cotton in the fields. Earning $3.35 an hour, his mother raised six children. On his page, Williams writes that he understands the importance of having “a job that pays a family supporting wage.” When he was 16, Williams notes, he joined the U.S. Army. He attended Rust College, which he described as “an excellent historically Black college,” and came to Wisconsin where he served for 25 years as an educator, principal, interim superintendent of schools, and was selected as National Principal of the Year by the National Alliance of Black School Educators in 2013. Williams’ campaign page can be found online. Information about the candidate as supplied by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Darrell_Williams.
Candidates for Lieutenant Governor
Two Democratic challengers, Peng Her and Sara Rodriguez, will race for a place as the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor on the November ballot, and eight Republicans will race against one another for a place on the November ballot as the Republican candidate. They are: Patrick Testin, Will Martin, Kyle Yudes, Roger Roth, David C. Varnam, Cindy Werner, David D. King and Jonathan Wichmann.
Peng Her
Peng Her does not currently have a Wikipedia profile. According to his campaign page, he is a first-generation American arriving in the U.S. from Laos when he was 5. The Her family arrived in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1976 and became citizens in 1986. Her worked at a Pella Windows factory to put himself through college, earning a bachelor’s degree in physics and a master’s degree in applied physics both from DePaul University. He notes that he was the first Hmong physicist to work at the Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago. He moved to Madison and met his wife. In Madison, he ran a restaurant for five years, before selling it. According to the page, Peng has worked with the nationally renowned UW-Madison Institute for Research on Poverty where he was part of the DreamUP Wisconsin initiative, a community-university collaboration to expand economic opportunity. Most recently, he has served as the founder and CEO of the Hmong Institute, a nonprofit focused on providing education, training and outreach to improve healthcare and educational achievement for communities of color around Wisconsin. His campaign page can be found online. Information provided by Ballotpedia about the candidate is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Peng_Her.
Sara Rodriguez
Serving in the Wisconsin Assembly representing district 13, Sara Rodriquez assumed office in 2021. District 13 includes constituents living in Brookfield, Elm Grove, and western Wauwatosa. Rodriguez, according to her Wikipedia profile, is a registered nurse. She is 47, and the parent of two children. She was born and raised in Milwaukee and holds a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Illinois Wesleyan University. After college, she volunteered with the Peace Corps and served for two years in Samoa. She has also volunteered with the World Health Organization. After returning to the U.S., she continued her education earning a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in nursing from John Hopkins University. Professionally, she has worked as an ER nurse at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, and at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in its Epidemic Intelligence Service from 2004 to 2006. In 2011, she returned to Wisconsin and was employed as vice president of Clinical and Analytical Services at The Benefit Services Group, Inc., until 2014. She then worked three years as vice president of Clinical Services at Honeywell Life Care Solutions. From 2017 until her campaign for the Assembly in 2020, she was vice president for Population Health and Integrated Care Management at Advocate Aurora Health. Information about the candidate as provided by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Sara_Rodriguez.
Patrick Testin
Patrick Testin serves as president pro tempore of the Wisconsin Senate and represents district 24, which includes the cities of Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids. He assumed this, his second term, in 2021 and has served in the state Senate since 2017. Born in Madison, he is 34 years old and married. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science earned in 2011 at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. According to his Wikipedia profile, Testin made a run for an Assembly seat in 2012, but lost that bid. In 2016, he ran again, this time for a Senate seat. He was successful in that bid. Information supplied by Ballotpedia about the candidate is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Patrick_Testin.
Will Martin
Will Martin does not currently have a Wikipedia profile. According to his campaign page, Martin is a small business owner and cites his experience in Wisconsin’s Executive branch, working to lead reforms and other initiatives under Govs. Tommy Thompson and Scott Walker. Under Walker, he notes, he served as Wisconsin’s Strategic Workforce Initiatives director in the Department of Workforce Development. Under Thompson, he served as deputy director and helped implement “the nation’s most ambitions welfare-to-work reform,” Martin wrote. Martin’s campaign page can be found online. Information provided by Ballotpedia about the candidate is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Will_Martin.
Kyle Yudes
Kyle Yudes does not currently have a Wikipedia profile. According to his campaign page he was born in Green Bay and grew up in Oconto. After graduating from high school, he moved to Eau Claire where he has resided for the past 22 years. He is married and the father of five boys. Professionally, he has been an entertainer and promoter/coordinator, traveling across the U.S. and Canada for 25 years. Yudes writes: “For the past year, I have been traveling throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota educating, empowering and enlisting the people to run for office, starting in their own backyard.” Information suppled by Ballotpedia about the candidate is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Kyle_Yudes.
Roger Roth
President of the Wisconsin State Senate, Roger Roth has served in that body, representing constituents in the 19th district, since 2015. Prior to winning his Senate seat, he served in the Assemble, representing district 56, between 2007 and 2011, according to his Wikipedia profile. The 19th State Senate District includes northern Winnebago County and southwest Outagamie County, along with Appleton, Menasha and Neenah. Roth is 44. He was born in Appleton. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Prior to entering politics, he worked for his family’s homebuilding business and served in the Wisconsin Air National Guard, joining in 2003. He served four tours of duty during the Iraq War. During the course of his political career, according to his profile, he supported a resolution backing a Republican lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act, the federal health care reform legislation signed into law by President Barack Obama. Information about the candidate provided by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Roger_Roth.
David C. Varnam
David Varnam does not currently have a Wikipedia profile. According to his campaign page, Varnam was first elected mayor of Lancaster in April 2016 after serving nearly three years as a member of the Common Council. Varnam stood up for taxpayers by vetoing a 40 percent stormwater fee increase, defeating a proposed wheel tax, and keeping Lancaster the city with the lowest property taxes in Grant County. He is a past president of Grant County Economic Development and a board member of the Lancaster Area Chamber of Commerce. He also has served as a U.S. congressional aide and represented the global Christian ministry, Focus on the Family, on federal issues as an issues response analyst. He has a bachelor’s degree in Christian studies and history minor from California Baptist University. Varnam is married, and the couple has two children. His campaign page can be found online. Information about the candidate provided by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/David_Varnam.
Cindy Werner
Cindy Werner does not currently have a Wikipedia profile. Information on Werner’s campaign page states that she is a “sibling of twelve raised by a single mom in the projects,” and a mom of seven and grandmother of four. She is an Army veteran and a state ambassador of the Frederick Douglas Foundation-Wisconsin. She writes: “My family is from rural America. As children, my siblings and I worked in the field helping with the harvest. Upon the death of my father, our family moved north and lived in the projects. Graduating from high school, I joined the Army; later in life, I worked in the private sector for healthcare and compliance. All of my choices in life have always been about service and commitment to God, family, and community.” Information about this candidate provided by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Cindy_Werner.
David D. King
David King does not currently have a Wikipedia profile. According to his Ballotpedia profile, King ran in 2016 as a nonpartisan Milwaukee City Council candidate is District 9. He was defeated in a primary election. In 2014, King sought election to the U.S. House of Representatives to represent the 4th Congressional District. He was defeated in the primary. In 2012, King was an Independent candidate for District 4 of the Wisconsin State Senate. His first bid for state legislative office was in 2008, when he ran successfully for a seat in the Wisconsin State Assembly. In 2010, King ran as a challenger against longtime incumbent Douglas La Follette for the office of Wisconsin Secretary of State. His bid was unsuccessful. Professionally, King has served as a neighborhood security aide and has managed restaurants in the Milwaukee area. He has also worked to establish youth programs and a prison ministry with the goal of rehabilitating prison inmates. Information provided by Ballotpedia about the candidate is here: https://ballotpedia.org/David_King_(Wisconsin).
Jonathan Wichmann
Jonathan Wichmann does not currently have a Wikipedia profile. According to his campaign page, Wichmann received his formal education from Ottawa University where he majored in business administration and management information systems, with a minor in marketing. He notes that he has over a decade of corporate experience and eight years of experience as a small business owner. He writes: “I subscribe to the Austrian School of economics as it provides the foundation for the most economic participation and personal freedoms.” His campaign page can be found online. According his Ballotpedia profile he was born in Milwaukee and lists his religion as Christian. Information provided by Ballotpedia about this candidate is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Jonathan_Wichmann.
Candidates for Attorney General
Democratic incumbent Attorney General Josh Kaul is running unopposed by challengers from within his party. In November, he will face the Republican challenger emerging successfully Aug. 9. Republican challengers include Eric Toney, Karen Mueller and Adam Jarchow.
Josh Kaul
The 45th Attorney General of Wisconsin, Josh Kaul assumed office in 2019. His predecessor was Brad Schimel. Kaul, 41, according to his Wikipedia profile, is the son of Peg Lautenschlager, an attorney and politician, and Raj Kaul. His stepfather, Bill Rippl, served as a police officer. He was raised in Oshkosh and Fond du Lac. Kaul graduated from Yale University double majoring in history and economics, and earned his law degree from Stanford Law School. Over the course of his career, Kaul clerked for Michael Boudin in the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. From 2007 through 2010, he worked for the law firm Jenner & Block, and worked as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney‘s office in Baltimore through 2014. He next moved back to Wisconsin and joined the law firm Perkins Coie‘s Madison office. In 2018, Kaul won his bid for attorney general. He is married, and the couple has two children. Information provided by Ballotpedia about the candidate is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Josh_Kaul.
Eric Toney
Eric Toney does not currently have a Wikipedia profile. According to his campaign page, Toney was first elected as Fond du Lac County district attorney in 2012. Since then, he has successfully prosecuted crimes as varied as homicide, sexual assault, domestic violence, drug trafficking, financial crimes, and racketeering. Additionally, the page states, Toney helped establish a drug treatment court in Fond du Lac County and recognizes that the state needs to take an “all of the above” approach toward dealing with the ongoing methamphetamine and opioid epidemics that have raged in Wisconsin. Toney earned his undergraduate degree from St. Norbert College in De Pere, with a double major in history and political science. He graduated from law school at Hamline University where he focused on criminal law and received a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution. While in school, Toney served during summer months as an intern with the Fond du Lac District Attorney’s Office where he was inspired to spend his career in criminal law. Toney enjoys spending time with his family and his dog, “Patton.” Information provided by Ballotpedia about the candidate is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Eric_Toney.
Karen Mueller
Karen Mueller does not currently have a Wikipedia profile. According to Mueller’s campaign page, she is a civil rights attorney from Chippewa Falls, where she resides with her family.
Over the past few years Mueller has fought to maintain election integrity, hold healthcare systems accountable for COVID deaths, and eliminate mask mandates in Wisconsin’s schools. Throughout her legal career, she has been a civil rights and employment law attorney in her own private practice and has worked with discrimination and harassment claims. On her page, she identifies as a “Christian, Constitutional and Conservative Attorney.” Among her credentials, she lists: founder of Amos Center for Justice and Liberty, Ally of Alliance Defending Freedom since 2008, and executive board member of the State Bar of Wisconsin Civil Rights Section since 2015. Her campaign page can be found online. Information provided by Ballotpedia about the candidate is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Karen_Mueller.
Adam Jarchow
A former member of the Wisconsin Assembly, Adam Jarchow represented constituents in district 28, assuming office in 2015, and leaving office in 2019. He was a special election candidate in 2018 for Wisconsin State Senate District 10, according to information presented on his Ballotpedia profile. He was unsuccessful in that bid. According to his Wikipedia profile, he is 43, and was born in Saint Paul, Minn. He earned his undergraduate degree and his law degree at the University of Florida. Jarchow grew up in Balsam Lake, Wis. After graduating from law school, he practiced law in Florida and Minnesota before returning to Wisconsin where he practiced law in New Richmond. Information provided about the candidate by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Adam_Jarchow.
Candidates for Secretary of State
Democratic incumbent Secretary of State Doug La Follette will face Democratic challenger Alexia Sabor in a race to claim a spot on the November ballot. The successful candidate will face the successful Republican challenger, who, on Aug. 9, will be chosen by that party’s voters from a field of three. They are Amy Loudenbeck, Jay Schroeder and Justin Schmidtka.
Doug La Follette
Doug La Follette, according to his Ballotpedia profile, has held the position of Secretary of State since 1983. According to his Wikipedia profile, he has served under six governors including Tony Earl, Tommy Thompson, Scott McCallum, Jim Doyle, Scott Walker and Tony Evers. Ballotpedia reports that La Follette ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 1978.
La Follette unsuccessfully ran for Wisconsin Governor in the 2012 recall election against incumbent Gov. Scott Walker, losing in the primary. An issue in the recall election was Wisconsin Act 10, which involved collective bargaining rights. Following its passage, La Follette delayed the bill’s publication. Subsequently, a bill was passed in 2013 to strip the secretary of state of the power to delay the publication of new laws. La Follette served in the Wisconsin State Senate representing Kenosha County for one term, from 1972 to 1974. He ran for the United States Senate in 1988 and for Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District in 1970 and 1996, losing in the primary each time. La Follette holds several degrees, including a bachelor’s degree from Marietta College earned in 1963 in business, a master’s degree from Stanford University earned in 1964 in chemistry, and a doctoral degree from Columbia University earned in 1967 in organic chemistry. He began his career as an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. La Follette is 82. Information provided about the candidate by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Douglas_La_Follette.
Alexia Sabor
Alexia Sabor does not currently have a Wikipedia profile. According to her campaign page, Sabor’s great-great grandparents arrived in Wisconsin from Greece in search of a better life. They settled in Sheboygan County, which is where her maternal grandmother was born. Sabor was born in Illinois, but moved to Wisconsin as a young adult. She has lived in Wisconsin for 28 years. Sabor and her family live in Madison. Sabor lists on her campaign page several of her defining characteristics, including that she is a first-generation college student, has lived in rental housing for decades, has survived cancer and is a “certified patient advocate,” and is an environmental science professional. For the last 15 years, she has worked as a project manager for a nonprofit organization and a tech company, according to her page. Sabor’s campaign page can be found online. Information provided about the candidate by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Alexia_Sabor.
Amy Loudenbeck
A member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, Amy Loudenbeck represents constituents in District 31. She has held her Assembly seat since 2011, according to her Ballotpedia profile. Loudenbeck graduated in 1991 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with two bachelor’s degrees, one in political science and a second in international relations. Loudenbeck is a former supervisor for the town of Clinton. Professionally, she has been self-employed as a business coach, compliance consultant and landlord of a mobile home park, and served as vice president of Stateline World Trade Association Board of Directors. Loudenbeck is 52 and married. According to her campaign page, Loudenbeck and her husband live in Rock County. The couple met when they were serving on a volunteer fire department and living in Walworth County. Loudenbeck’s campaign page can be found online. Information provided about the candidate by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Amy_Loudenbeck.
Jay Schroeder
Jay Schroeder does not currently have a Wikipedia profile. According to his campaign page, Schroeder has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an associates degree in applied science in real estate. He has owned and managed a mortgage company for 15 years and invests in real estate equities. He is married, and the couple has four children. The family resides in Neenah. According to his Ballotpedia profile, in 2014, Schroeder was a candidate running for an Assembly seat representing the 55th district. He was defeated in the primary. Also in 2014, prior to running for that seat, he was “briefly” a candidate for the position of Wisconsin Secretary of State. He has also served as a town supervisor in Menasha. Schroeder’s campaign page can be found online. Information provided about the candidate by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Jay_Schroeder.
Justin D. Schmidtka
Justin Schmidtka does not currently have a Wikipedia profile. According to information found on his Ballotpedia profile, Schmidtka was born in Mesa, Ariz. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2006 to 2009. Schmidtka graduated from the Reinhardt School of Taxidermy in 2009. His career experience includes working as a truck driver and host and founder of the Badger State Resistance podcast. According to his campaign page, Schmidtka is “a constitutional patriot,” husband and father. He served as an on-call firefighter for the village of Howard from 2015 to 2020. Schmidtka’s campaign page can be found online. Information provided about the candidate by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Justin_Schmidtka.
Candidates for State Treasurer
Three Democrats running for state treasurer, including Aaron Richardson, Angelito Tenorio and Gillian Battino will face off with the successful candidate emerging as the Democratic challenger in November. Two Republicans, including John Leiber and Orlando Owens, will vie for placement on the November ballot as their party’s candidate.
Aaron Richardson
Aaron Richardson does not currently have a Wikipedia profile. According to his Ballotpedia profile, Richardson was born in Madison. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in 2000 and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2012. Richardson’s career experience includes serving as the mayor of Fitchburg and working in tech support within the Oregon School District. According to his campaign page, he is the fifth generation of his family to live in Fitchburg. Before taking his position with the Oregon School District, he worked for 16 years in marketing at various companies. He also serves as a youth basketball coach. Richardson’s campaign page can be found online. Information provided about the candidate by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Aaron_Richardson_(Wisconsin).
Angelito Tenorio
Angelito Tenorio does not currently have a Wikipedia profile. According to his campaign page, Tenorio immigrated to the United States with his parents from the Philippines in hopes of finding a better life. The family decided to move to Wisconsin. Tenorio wrote that he and his siblings were born and raised in Southeastern Wisconsin. Both of his parents were postal workers. Tenorio earned an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While in college, he enlisted in the Wisconsin National Guard. “I proudly served and conducted my drill all across Wisconsin from Fort Atkinson to Watertown to Camp Douglas and Fort McCoy,” he noted. Professionally, Tenorio wrote that he has worked in “political finance for a number of years,” and he is working with a nonprofit, environmental group called Wisconsin Conservation Voters. He has also served as an alderman in West Allis. Tenorio’s campaign page can be found online. Information provided about the candidate by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Angelito_Tenorio.
Gillian Battino
Gillian Battino does not currently have a Wikipedia profile. According to her Ballotpedia profile, Battino was born in Athens, Ohio. She earned a bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University in 1992. She earned an M.D. from the Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1996. She earned a graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2011. Battino is the director of Rad-AID Latin America. She is affiliated with the NAACP Milwaukee branch, American College of Radiology, Wisconsin Medical Society, and Radiologic Society of North America. According to her campaign page, Battino lives in Wausau with her husband and two children. Her campaign page can be found online. Information provided about the candidate by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Gillian_Battino.
John Leiber
John Leiber does not currently have a Wikipedia profile. According to his Ballotpedia profile, Leiber ran for a seat in the Wisconsin State Assembly District 62. He lost that bid during the primary held in 2018. According to his campaign page, Leiber’s hometown is Racine, where, the page states, his ties go back four generations. He has served as the president of his local parks and recreation commission and as a commissioner for his local housing authority. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and earned his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. He is married, and the couple has three adult children. Leiber lives in Cottage Grove. His campaign page can be found online. Information provided about the candidate by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/John_Leiber.
Orlando Owens
Orlando Owens does not currently have a Wikipedia profile. On his campaign page, Owens wrote: “Being a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) grad from Morris Brown College of Business, I understand how economics work based on a credit and deficit basis to prioritize the allocation of funds to projects and initiatives that are working. Through my 20 years in economic and workforce development, I understand how to make an economy work better to meet the needs of our community on a much more personal level.” Additionally, he wrote: “As a Minister at Abundant Harvest Church Of God In Christ, my faith plays a major part in everything I do.” Owens wrote that he had been blessed to work with two great men, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, and Pastor Jerome Smith of Greater Praise Church of God in Christ. Together, the three have created a faith-based workforce initiative called the Joseph Project, which, Owens, noted, helps connect individuals with career opportunities, specifically in the manufacturing industry. Owens’ campaign page can be found online. Information provided about the candidate by Ballotpedia is here: https://ballotpedia.org/Orlando_Owens.
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