Oconto County election races shaping up

Four primary elections Aug. 11 will set stage for November
By: 
NEW Media Staff

MADISON — A handful of partisan primaries will be held in August to set the final fall election ballot, but for the most part the races were established when the deadline for submitting nomination papers passed on June 1.

The presidential election at the top of the ballot is the main statewide race. Both of Wisconsin’s U.S. senators are in the middle of their six-year terms; Sen. Ron Johnson’s current term runs through 2022 and Sen. Tammy Baldwin through 2024.

Races affecting Oconto County include U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher’s bid for a third two-year term. The Green Bay Republican is challenged by state Rep. Amanda Stuck, D-Appleton, who has been in the state Assembly since 2015.

Four candidates are running unopposed for county-level positions, including incumbent Oconto County District Attorney Ed Burke. County Clerk Kim Pytleski and Treasurer Tanya Peterson are running for re-election, while Deputy Register of Deeds Laurie Wusterbarth is running for the top post after Annette Behringer declined to seek a new four-year term in office.

A two-way race emerged in the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who gave up his 12th Senate District to run in a special election in May. State Rep. Mary Czaja-Felzkowski, R-Irma, faces Democrat Ed Vocke, a farmer from Minocqua. The district includes Gillett, Lena, Oconto Falls, Suring and the towns of Bagley, Brazeau, Breed, Chase, Doty, Gillett, How, Lakewood, Lena, Maple Valley, Morgan, Mountain, Oconto Falls, Riverview, Spruce, Townsend and Underhill.

Assembly Rep. Jeff Mursau, R-Crivitz, who represents the Oconto County portion of the 12th District, is unopposed for election to his ninth two-year term.

Two Democrats and one Republican will vie for the 30th Senate District seat that Sen. Dave Hansen has held for the past 20 years. Hansen’s nephew, Jonathon Hansen of De Pere, and Sandra Ewald of Green Bay will be on the Aug. 11 Democratic primary ballot.

The primary winner will face Eric Wimberger, a Green Bay Republican, in the Nov. 3 general election.

State Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, will have a Republican primary opponent in his quest for an eighth two-year term serving the 89th Assembly District. Andi Rich of Marinette has also registered as a GOP candidate.

The winner on Aug. 11 will face Karl Jaeger of Marinette in the general election.

The 89th District, and that part of the 30th Senate District that crosses Oconto County, includes the city of Oconto and the towns of Abrams, Little River, Little Suamico, Pensaukee, and Stiles.

Oconto County has a tiny swath of one other district. Ward 5 in the village of Pulaski is part of the 2nd Senate District and the 6th Assembly District.

State Sen. Robert Cowles, R-Green Bay, is unopposed for re-election, and state Rep. Gary Tauchen, R-Bonduel, has two Democratic opponents.

Simon Moesch and Richard Sarnwick, both of Shawano, will vie for Tauchen’s seat in the Aug. 11 primary.