Election season has begun for the Wisconsin Assembly, and Rep. Elijah Behnke kicked off his mission for a fourth term in office with a campaign fundraiser May 14 at Scolly’s Hometown Pub in Pulaski.
If he wins in November, it will be his second two-year term in the 6th Assembly District, which includes most of Shawano County, all of Menominee County, and Gillett and Oconto Falls in Oconto County. He is potentially facing independent and Democratic opponents, along with a possible primary in his own party.
Behnke told a crowd of about 50 people that fundraising is his least favorite job in terms of running for political office. He said he prefers focusing on providing money to the needs of his constituents.
“Whether it’s talking to the county board or the sheriff about a new jail or talking to constituents who love it or hate it, that’s part of the job,” Behnke said.
Among the work he’s proud of during the most recent legislative session is a bill that updated the manufactured home licensing process and policies with the state. Behnke did this at the behest of North Country Homes in Bonduel.
Behnke noted the existing system for manufactured homes is more than 50 years old.
“One person in the bureaucracy knows what they’re doing,” he said. “If that person’s not at work that day, things don’t get done. It’s a really jammed up system.”
Behnke also sponsored a bill that would have added $1,000 from the state to the new Trump savings accounts, which are set up for children born through 2028 that could give the next generation a head start on saving up for homes and other big expenses. That bill passed the Assembly, he said, but did not get through the Senate.
“Social Security’s going to be insolvent by the time I retire, so let’s get our kids in a personal, private equity fund to save up for their future,” Behnke said.
He expressed frustration that more legislation didn’t get signed into law, and he said he hopes that Rep. Tom Tiffany, a Republican representing the 7th Congressional District, wins the governor’s race in November in the hopes that GOP priorities can prevail.
“You get these bills through to the governor’s desk, and then nothing happens,” Behnke said. “It’s heartbreaking that you work for six weeks or six months, and then it gets signed into law, even though it’s the most common sense, basic thing.”
Behnke is not convinced Republicans can hold on to both chambers this fall. He believes the Assembly will remain under GOP control albeit by a tighter margin, while the Senate has enough incumbents retiring that Democrats might be able to take charge there. That will leave who becomes governor as pivotal.
“We’re the closest elected officials, besides the sheriff, to the people,” Behnke said. “The Assembly is the red wall in Wisconsin. I believe the governorship is leaning Republican, not just because we’ve had eight years with a Democratic governor, but because the Democrats have put up the most liberal candidates in the entire state.”
Behnke has the support of Shawano County Sheriff George Lenzner. Lenzner noted that most political candidates he has supported have lost, including when Dean Neubert ran four years ago to replace the retiring Gary Tauchen, but the tide turned when he supported Behnke for his first run in the 6th Assembly District two years ago.
“He was such a great family man, and I was drawn to his character right away, so I really wanted to support him,” Lenzner said.
The sheriff pointed out that he and his deputies see challenges that county residents have to deal with, whether it’s public safety, maintaining businesses or even being able to keep their homes. Lenzner said it’s important for leaders to understand the challenges and deal with them, and he believes Behnke rises to the challenge.
“In my role, I’ve had a chance to work with many elected officials. Some listen and some don’t,” Lenzner said.
“Assemblyman Behnke has consistently shown a tendency to listen to law enforcement. When he gave me his phone number, he answers himself. He listens to law enforcement. He listens to the small businesses in Shawano County. He listens to farmers and people who keep the community running.”
Lenzner said Behnke is visible. He doesn’t just go to Madison and then pop back up for election every two years, but he comes when people call.
“He’s someone who shows up, and not just for a photo op but for conversations that matter,” Lenzner said. “He’s taken the time to understand our experiences.”
