This story was produced as part of theNEW (Northeast Wisconsin) News Lab, a consortium of six news outlets covering northeastern Wisconsin.
APPLETON — The slate of candidates for the fall elections in Wisconsin came into focus Monday and included former Neenah Mayor Dean Kaufert's return to politics.
The partisan elections cover the offices of the U.S. president, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Wisconsin Senate (even-numbered districts) and Wisconsin Assembly. County offices such as district attorney, clerk, register of deeds and treasurer also are at stake.
The state Senate and Assembly races will reflect new electoral maps that were signed into law by Gov. Tony Evers. The maps were designed to more evenly divide the legislative districts between Democrats and Republicans and weaken advantages granted to Republicans by district maps passed in 2011.
Here is the list of candidates for the greater Fox Cities area. The deadline to file nomination papers was 5 p.m. Monday.
6th Congressional District (two-year term)
- Democrat: John Zarbano
- Republican: Incumbent Glenn Grothman
8th Congressional District (two-year term)
The candidates will appear on the ballot twice — once for a special election to serve out the remaining two months of Mike Gallagher's term and once for the regularly scheduled election.
Gallagher, R-Green Bay, departed in April and didn't seek reelection.
The winner of the special election will serve until Jan. 3, after which the winner of the regularly scheduled election will serve a two-year term.
- Democrat: Kristin Lyerly
- Republicans: Andre Jacque, Roger Roth and Tony Wied. A primary election will be held Aug. 13 to narrow the field to one candidate.
Wisconsin Senate District 2 (four-year term)
The district covers Little Chute and a portion of Kaukauna along its southern border and stretches north covering Seymour, Clintonville and Shawano.
- Democrat: Kelly Peterson
- Republican: Eric Wimberger, who currently represents District 30
Incumbent Robert Cowles, R-Allouez, who has served since 1987, didn't seek reelection.
Wisconsin Senate District 18 (four-year term)
The district takes in the cities of Appleton, Menasha, Neenah and Oshkosh.
- Democrat: Kristin Alfheim
- Republicans: Anthony Phillips and Blong Yang. A primary election will be held Aug. 13 to narrow the field to one candidate.
Incumbent Dan Feyen, R-Fond du Lac, is seeking reelection to the Senate in District 20 after the new maps drew him out of District 18.
Assembly District 2
The district covers Kimberly, parts of Kaukauna, Wrightstown, Denmark, Mishicot and Reedsville.
- Democrat: Alicia Saunders
- Republican: Incumbent Shae Sortwell
Assembly District 3
The district encompasses Calumet County and parts of Manitowoc County.
- Democrat: Jason Schmitz
- Republican: Incumbent Ron Tusler
Assembly District 5
The district covers parts of Outagamie and Brown counties.
- Democrat: Greg Sampson
- Republican: Incumbent Joy Goeben
Assembly District 52
The district is concentrated around Appleton. The boundaries resemble District 57 under the previous maps.
- Democrat: Lee Snodgrass, who currently represents District 57
- Republican: Chad Cooke
Incumbent Jerry O'Connor will seek reelection to the Assembly in District 60.
Assembly District 53
The district covers Neenah and Menasha.
Former Neenah Mayor Dean Kaufert entered the race, returning to political life after a two-year break. He served as as mayor from 2014 to 2022. Before that, Kaufert served 24years as representative of Assembly District 55.
- Democrat: Duane Shukoski
- Republican: Dean Kaufert
Incumbent Michael Schraa will seek reelection to the Assembly in District 55.
Assembly District 54
The district is centered on Oshkosh and extends west along the north shore of Lake Butte des Morts.
- Democrat: Incumbent Lori Palmeri
- Republican: Tim Paterson
Assembly District 55
The district covers areas of Grand Chute, Fox Crossing, Winneconne and Omro.
- Democrat: Kyle Kehoe
- Republicans: Incumbent Nate Gustafson and Michael Schraa, who is the incumbent in District 53.
Assembly District 56
The district covers sections of Outagamie and Waupaca counties, including Black Creek, Hortonville and New London.
- Democrat: Emily Tseffos
- Republican: Incumbent Dave Murphy
Calumet County clerk (four-year term)
- Democrat: None
- Republican:Incumbent Beth Hauser
Calumet County district attorney (four-year term)
- Democrat: None
- Republican:Incumbent Nathan Haberman
Calumet County register of deeds (four-year term)
- Democrat: None
- Republican:Incumbent Tami Alten
Calumet County treasurer (four-year term)
- Democrat: None
- Republican:Incumbent Mike Schlaak
Outagamie County clerk (four-year term)
- Democrat: None
- Republican: Kelly Gerrits
Incumbent Jeff King didn't seek reelection.
Outagamie County district attorney (four-year term)
- Democrat: None
- Republican: Incumbent Mindy Tempelis
Outagamie County register of deeds (four-year term)
- Democrat: None
- Republican: Incumbent Sarah Van Camp
Outagamie County treasurer (four-year term)
- Democrat: None
- Republican: Incumbent Rochelle Oskey
Winnebago County clerk (four-year term)
- Democrat: None
- Republican:Incumbent Julie Barthels
Winnebago County district attorney (four-year term)
- Democrat: None
- Republican:Incumbent Eric Sparr
Winnebago County register of deeds (four-year term)
- Democrat: Christopher Larson
- Republican:Paul Esslinger and Susan Snyder. A primary election will be held Aug. 13 to narrow the field to one candidate.
Incumbent Natalie Strohmeyer didn't seek reelection.
Winnebago County treasurer (four-year term)
- Democrat: None
- Republican:Incumbent Amber Hoppa
Contact Duke Behnke at 920-993-7176 ordbehnke@gannett.com.Follow him on Twitter at@DukeBehnke.
This story is part of the NEW (Northeast Wisconsin) News Lab's fifth series, covering issues important to voters in the region. The lab is a local news collaboration in northeastern Wisconsin made up of six news organizations: the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Appleton Post-Crescent, FoxValley365, The Press Times, Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Watch. The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Journalism Department is an educational partner. Microsoft is providing financial support to the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation and Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region to fund the initiative. The mission of the lab is to “collaborate to identify and fill information gaps to help residents explore ways to improve their communities and lives — and strengthen democracy.”
