In the Nov. 5 general election, voters will elect a president as well as decide U.S. Senate, House and Wisconsin legislative races.
The state's legislative races will be run under new electoral maps that Gov. Tony Evers signed into law in February.
There are lots of resources for voters atmyvote.wi.gov. You can:
U.S. PRESIDENT
Democrat: Kamala D. Harris
Republican: Donald J. Trump
Constitution: Randall Terry
Libertarian: Chase Russell Oliver
Wisconsin Green: Jill Stein
Party for Socialism and Liberation: Claudia De la Cruz
Justice for All: Cornell West
We the People: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
U.S. SENATE
Tammy Baldwin, Democrat, incumbent
Baldwin, 62, is seeking her third term in the Senate. She became the first openly gay senator when she was elected to the high chamber in 2012. She previously served the state's 2nd Congressional District anchored in Madison from 1999 until she entered the Senate in 2013 — making her the first woman from Wisconsin elected to either chamber.
Before her arrival in Congress, Baldwin represented the Madison area in the Wisconsin State Assembly.
Baldwin has campaigned on preserving access to abortion, strengthening Wisconsin's manufacturing sector, lowering prescription drug prices and supporting vetrans.
Eric Hovde, Republican
Hovde, 60, is a banking mogul and real estate executive making his second run for Senate in Wisconsin. He previously ran for Senate in 2012 but finished a close second to former Wisconsin Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson in the primary. Baldwin defeated Thompson in that race. He weighed a race against Baldwin in 2018 but backed off, and he also briefly considered a run for governor in 2022.
Hovde is the CEO of a Madison-based commercial and residential real estate company started by his grandfather. He also leads two West Coast-based businesses — H Bancorp and its primary subsidiary, Sunwest Bank.
Hovde is running on restraining federal government spending that he blames for causing inflation, cracking down on immigrant border crossings, extending the Republican enacted 2017 tax cuts that are set to expire and overhauling the health care system to reduce costs. Hovde said during his 2012 candidacy that was "totally opposed to abortion" and has since said he's always been in favor of exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother and believes state voters should decide abortion policy via referendum.
Third-party candidates for Senate
Also appearing on the ballot for U.S. Senate are Phil Anderson, listed under the. Distrupt The Corruption party, andThomas Leager, listed under the America First party. Anderson describes himself as a "libertarian activist." Leager, a former lobbyist for a gun rights organization, calls for a major downsizing of the federal government.
U.S. HOUSE
8th Congressional District
Voters will vote twice: once for a term ending Jan. 3 and once for the two-year term starting Jan. 3.
Kristin Lyerly, Democrat
Lyerly, 54, is an OB-GYN from Ledgeview running in the northeastern Wisconsin House district that has strongly favored Republicans.
She has centered her campaign around healthcare access — particularly on abortion rights following the 2022 overturning of the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade. She was at the center of Wisconsin Democrats’ pushback to a 19th-century state law that made it a felony for doctors to perform abortions. She makes monthly commutes to Minnesota, working in hospitals in Hibbing and Montevideo.
Tony Wied, Republican
Wied, 48, is a former gas station owner who won the Republican primary to replace former Rep. Mike Gallagher this year with the help of an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
Wied was recruited to run for the post by the Trump-aligned GOP consultant Alex Bruesewitz after Gallagher drew criticism from Trump’s base for his vote against impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in February. Wied had been largely uninvolved in local politics before his run. He sold the Green Bay-based Dino Stop gas and convenience store chain in 2022 and has remained in line with Trump on nearly every national issue.
Debate: Lyerly, Wied spar in sole debate in the race to replace former Rep. Mike Gallagher
Here are the contested races in northeastern Wisconsin for the Legislature as well as a Brown County race and the referendums that could be on your ballots. You can see the new legislative district maps here.
WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE
Senate District 2
The 2nd Senate District's boundaries include all or part of Outagamie, Brown, Waupaca, Shawano, Menominee, Oconto and Brown counties. Municipalities includes Little Chute, a portion of Kaukauna along its southern border and Oneida, Hobart, Lawrence, Howard, Suamico, Little Suamico, Oconto, Oconto Falls, Gillett, Suring, Shawano and Clintonville.
Kelly Peterson, Democrat
Residence: Lawrence
Political experience: None
Occupation: Former journalist; English and oral communications instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College; public speaking instructor at University of North Dakota
Policies: Peterson cited the repeal of Roe v. Wade in 2022 as the reason she decided to get involved in politics at her campaign announcement. She also mentioned her focus on PFAS child care deserts in the state — places where child care facilities are prohibitively far — as well as economic struggles of farmers. If elected, her priority would be to reach across the aisle to "meet and work together on fixing these issues that are a long time coming."
Eric Wimberger, Republican
Residence: Green Bay
Political experience: One-term state senator of District 30 since 2020
Occupation: Attorney with legal practice out of Green Bay; candy store owner in Lakewood
Policies: According to his campaign website, Wimberger’s policies focus on business development: reducing bureaucratic red tape for small business owners, keeping agricultural taxes low, and supporting the Southern Bridge construction. He also wants to “stop SEL and DEI in schools.” Wimberger declined to answer questions over the phone about his platform.
— Jesse Lin
Senate District 30
The district covers Green Bay, Ashwaubenon, Allouez, Bellevue, De Pere.
Jim Rafter, Republican
Residence: Allouez
Political experience: Two years as Allouez Village Board member, eight years as Village Board president
Occupation: Business technology consultant
Policies: According to Rafter’s campaign website, he would push to increase support for law enforcement, address high cost of living, promote “appropriate” state funding for schools and vocational education opportunities, and “bring a spirit of respect to the political process" through nonpartisan politics. If elected, he hopes to ensure a good quality of life for Wisconsinites by making the state is "a place where young adults want to start their careers, families want to raise their children, and seniors want to retire."
Jamie Wall, Democrat
Residence: Green Bay
Political experience: None
Occupation: Independent business consultant
Policies: According to Wall’s campaign website, he would support the Child Care Counts program, expand Medicaid in Wisconsin. He opposes policies that would “hold down wages for Wisconsin workers.” If elected, Wall said he would look at the supply of single-family homes, duplexes, apartments. He said we would "do more to support first-time homebuyers to afford mortgages." He would also look to alleviate prescription drug costs and return any surplus budget to citizens in the form tax cuts.
— Jesse Lin
Assembly District 1
The 1st Assembly District covers Door and Kewaunee counties and a small portion of northeastern Brown County.
Joel Kitchens, Republican, incumbent
Residence: Sturgeon Bay
Political experience: Five terms in the Wisconsin Assembly, previously served 15 years on the Sturgeon Bay School Board
Occupation: Large animal veterinarian
Policies: On his campaign website, Kitchens supports efforts to make it easier for people to work and to reduce fraud in the unemployment system. He's focused on education-related priorities including fully implementing the Right to Read Act, addressing the skills gap and addressing school funding issues, especially for districts experiencing declining enrollment. He hopes to revive with Rep. David Steffen a bill to eliminate the tax on retirement funds.
Renee Paplham, Democrat
Residence: Carlton (Kewaunee County)
Political experience: This is her first run for office. Paplham organized the 2022 and 2024 March for Women’s Rights in Kewaunee
Occupation: Caregiver to individuals with special needs and a mediator for the Mediation Center of Greater Green Bay.
Policies: On her campaign website, Paplham supports economic security, affordable health care, investments in public schools, and protection for the environment and safe drinking water. She wants to focus on workable solutions. If elected, she said she would focus on child care and housing as key issues related to economic security. "Everyone is worried about the economy and these two things are so tied into it," Paplham said.
— Jeff Bollier
Assembly District 2
The 2nd Assembly District includes parts of Brown, Manitowoc and Outagamie counties. It includes the municipalities of Kimberly, parts of Kaukauna, Wrightstown, Ledgeview, Denmark, Two Creeks and Francis Creek.
Alicia Saunders, Democrat
Residence: Kimberly
Political experience: This is Saunders’ first run for office. She volunteered for state Sen. Randy Hopper when he was recalled.
Occupation: Industrial sanitation
Policies: On her campaign website, Saunders wants to support veterans, farmers, unions, LGBTQ+ communities and the restoration of reproductive rights/access to comprehensive health care. She wants to bring "Midwest Nice" back to the Legislature. If elected, Saunders wants to fully fund public schools and emergency services without raising taxes on middle class people.
Shae Sortwell, Republican, incumbent
Residence: Mishicot area
Political experience: Three terms in the Assembly, previously served on the Gibson Town Board.
Occupation:Legislator and part-time truck driver
Policies: On his campaign website, Sortwell supports enacting work requirements and drug testing people who receive unemployment and state support, opposing tax increases and keeping communities safe. To make it easier to recruit out-of-state workers, he wants to make it easier for people to get the equivalent certification to work in Wisconsin.
— Jeff Bollier
Assembly District 4
The 4th Assembly District mostly covers the old 89th Assembly District — from Howard and Suamico in Brown County along the bay to Oconto County. It includes the municipalities of Oconto, Oconto Falls, Lena, Abrams, Little Suamico.
Jane Benson, Democrat
Residence: Suamico
Political experience: Ran for the 89th District seat in 2022 and lost. Serves on the Clean Water Action Council of Northeast Wisconsin and has worked with nonpartisan organizations focusing on fair voter maps.
Occupation: Retired web development specialist
Policies: Benson stated her priorities included clean water, reproductive rights and caring for the community. If elected, she said she would budget more for the Department of Natural Resources, which she said has historically been underfunded and understaffed. Benson also lists reliable public school funding and rural high-speed internet as priorities on her campaign website, https://bensonforwisconsin.com.
David Steffen, Republican, incumbent
Residence: Howard
Political experience: Has served as representative for the 4th Assembly District for 10 years. Previously served on the Brown County Board.
Occupation: Director of operations for Taxpayers Network Inc., and external affairs director for AT&T.
Policies: Steffen’s priority would be to finish what he was unable to complete this session; specifically, tax relief bills, such as a bill that would eliminate income tax on retirement funds, or a middle-class tax cut. As representative, he’s chaired the Committee on Energy and Utilities and the Committee on Government Accountability and Oversight.
— Nadia Scharf
Assembly District 5
The 5th Assembly District map includes parts of Brown and Outagamie counties. Municipalities include Seymour, Lawrence, Hobart and part of Little Chute.
Joy Goeben, Republican, incumbent
Residence: Hobart
Political experience: Has served as representative for the 5th district for one term.
Occupation: Spends most time on Assembly work, but family owns a carpet cleaning business.
Policies: One main priority for Goeben is child care: as a legislator, she’s focused on adding more child care options and reducing program costs. If reelected, she plans to revise these bills with the help of child care workers. On her campaign website, she also lists secure elections, low taxes and balanced government spending as key issues.
Greg Sampson, Democrat
Residence: Little Chute
Political experience: None
Occupation: Sales. Previously worked as an Evangelical pastor.
Policies: On his campaign Facebook, Sampson has posted videos supporting labor unions and the LGBT community and opposing gun violence. If elected, Sampson said he would listen to constituents and respond to their concerns with the best possible outcomes. He hopes to represent the people of the district with “compassion and integrity.”
— Nadia Scharf
Assembly District 6
The 6th Assembly District covers the western edge of Oconto County and parts of Brown, Menominee, Shawano, Outagamie and Waupaca counties. Municipalities in District 6 include Pulaski, Bonduel, Shawano, Cecil, Clintonville, Gillett, Suring, Gresham and Bowler.
Elijah Behnke, Republican
Residence: Pensaukee
Political experience: Assembly District 89 representative since 2021
Occupation: Small business owner of a cleaning service
Policies: Behnke's Facebook page highlights the candidate’s focus on “conservative family values," a “no-exceptions pro-life position,” support for the Second Amendment right to bear arms. Behnke also professed support for strong First amendment rights. If elected, he said he would continue work on a raw milk bill and a tax cut for food producers.
Shirley Hinze, Democrat
Residence: Shawano
Political experience: Alternate on the Shawano Plan Commission; former Hartland Planning Commission member; former Harbor Advisory Commission board member in Marquette, Michigan.
Occupation: Retired
Policies: A Shawano County Democratic Party Facebook post said Hinze would focus on rural voting concerns, including health care affordability, preserving small family farms against larger conglomerates, and preventing her district from “turning into a bedroom community for Green Bay.” If elected, Hinze said she would attempt to reach across the aisle to make changes. She wants to expand Medicaid and "an expansion of farm issues."
— Jesse Lin
Assembly District 88
The 88th Assembly District includes Allouez, Bellevue, De Pere.
Benjamin Franklin, Republican
Residence: De Pere
Political experience: None
Occupation: Small business owner
Policies: Franklin said that if elected, he wants to help those who deal with benefits cliff, which pertains to when people can't receive certain benefits because they make too much money. "I would really like to look at things like that that just don't make a ton of sense, in my opinion, and help those people be able to contribute more to the workforce that they so choose," he said. According to his website, other issues he wants to focus on includes increasing public safety, supporting health care, as well as focusing on education equity, infrastructure development, and economic development.
Christy Welch, Democrat
Residence: De Pere
Political experience: None
Occupation: Chair of the Democratic Party of Brown County
Policies: "If I get elected, then that means that Democrats will have a majority in the state Legislature, which will open up the possibilities for lots of good things to happen in the state," Welch said. Her priorities for the community, according to her website, include funding public education, fully funding child care, expanding Medicaid, protecting the environment, reproductive freedom, and defending LGBTQ+ rights.
— Rashad Alexander
Assembly District 89
The 89th Assembly District includes Ashwaubenon and west Green Bay.
Patrick Buckley, Republican
Residence: Green Bay
Political experience: Brown County Board member since 2010, chairman for five years
Occupation: Subway franchise owner of 48 stores
Policies: In his campaign announcement, Buckley focused on economic priorities of “runaway inflation,” government waste, and general fiscal responsibility. Crime is another focus of his, he said. If elected, he hopes to work on inflation. "Whatever we can do to bring down the cost of living for Wisconsin residents is needed. Government needs to focus on how we can help them help themselves," he said.
Ryan Spaude, Democrat
Residence: Ashwaubenon
Political experience: None
Occupation: Assistant district attorney in the Brown County District Attorney's Office
Policies: Spaude’s campaign website states five priorities: prevent tax increases for the middle class, invest more money in public education, raise the minimum wage, fully fund the Child Care Counts program, and expand Medicaid. If elected, he said his top priority would be to reduce the high cost of living with "policies that will keep more money with working families...Anything I can do to alleviate that pain is a good thing."
— Jesse Lin
Assembly District 90
The 90th Assembly District includes much of east Green Bay, including UW-Green Bay.
Jessica Henderson, Republican
(Henderson did not respond to interview requests from the Press-Gazette.)
Residence: Green Bay
Political experience: N/A
Occupation: Case manager
Policies: According to her campaign website, Henderson is "frustrated by the decline" in Green Bay and wants to bring "real solutions" to issues the community faces.
Amaad Rivera Wagner, Democrat
Residence: Green Bay
Political experience: Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich's chief of staff, co-chair of the Greater Green Bay Chamber's Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, former policy adviser to Sen. Ed Markey
Occupation: Mayor Genrich's chief of staff
Policies: According to his campaign website, Rivera-Wagner wants to give back to a community that has given him "so much." He wants to build an economy that supports working families with more mental health services, create safe streets by expanding public transportation access, create more housing opportunities, and strengthen democracy because "the goal of government is to make sure we are helping people thrive, not getting bogged down in conspiracy theories and chaos," he said.
— Benita Mathew
COUNTY OFFICE
Brown County treasurer
Ray Suennen, Republican
Residence: Howard
Political experience: Brown County Board member for six years, Howard Village Board member for 14 years
Occupation: Certified public accountant and management accountant, small business owner
Policies: If elected, Suennen will work on improving cooperation between municipalities for tax collection procedures, delinquencies, and foreclosures, he said He wants to review the information technology programs that are "inefficient and outdated" and recommend programs that have "reconciling accuracy," he said. He will also review and update any policies related to the investment of the county's cash reserves.
Dana Vaughan, Democrat
Residence: Green Bay
Political experience: None
Occupation: Financial professional in credit unions in Brown County
Policies: If elected, Vaughan said she wants to create an "efficient and accurate" treasury department. "While the treasurer does not set policies, I do value timely and friendly service as well as transparencyon all levels," she said.
— Benita Mathew
REFERENDUMS
Statewide
The statewide referendum would amend the state constitution regarding who is eligible to vote. The state constitution now says that "every United States citizen age 18 or older who is a resident of an election district in this state is a qualified elector of that district." The referendum, if approved, would change "every" it to "only a United States cititzen ..."
Here is the question:
“Eligibility to vote. Shall section 1 of article III of the constitution, which deals with suffrage, be amended to provide that only a United States citizen age 18 or older who resides in an election district may vote in an election for national, state, or local office or at a statewide or local referendum?”
Referendum question explained: What to know about noncitizen voting and the November referendum question in Wisconsin
Ashwaubenon School District
"Shall the Ashwaubenon School District, Brown County, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $950,000 per year for three years, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and ending with the 2027-2028 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of expenses associated with providing student mental health and behavioral supports?"
A yes vote would maintain 10 positions related to mental health support in the school district.
More: Here's why the Ashwaubenon School District is asking for an additional $2.8 million through an operational referendum
De Pere School District
"Shall the Unified School District of De Pere, Brown County, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $22,000,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school facility improvement project consisting of: district-wide safety, security, building infrastructure, capital maintenance, accessibility and site improvements; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment?"
More: Why is the De Pere School Board considering another referendum? Here's what to know
Green Bay School District
"Shall the Green Bay Area Public School District, Brown County, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $183,000,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school building and facility improvement project consisting of: district-wide capital maintenance, building infrastructure, systems, safety, security, accessibility and site improvements; construction of a new west side elementary school on a portion of the Kennedy Elementary School site; construction of additions, renovations and related demolition at certain district facilities; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment?"
More: Green Bay School Board votes to put $183 million referendum on November ballot
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Voter guide for state, county races and referendums in Green Bay area
