Results from the partisan primary election - August 13

Results from the partisan primary election, Tuesday, August 13:

On Tuesday’s ballot were partisan primary races for U.S. Congress, state Senate and state Assembly, partisan county level races and two state-wide referenda questions that related to limiting the authority of the state’s Governor.


Both Referenda Questions Defeated

By a 58 percent to 42 percent margin, voters across the state rejected two referenda questions relating to the Governor’s ability to spend federal funds without the state legislature’s approval. This issue came about over the past several years as Democratic Governor Tony Evers has had sole discretion to spend unilaterally billions COVID-19 related funds that have been sent to the state of Wisconsin by the federal government.

The defeat of both questions is viewed as a huge victory for Governor Evers, according to many state Capitol followers and pundits.

The wording of the referenda questions and their NO votes are listed below:

Referendum Questions:
NO - QUESTION 1: “Delegation of appropriation power. Shall section 35 (1) of article IV of the constitution be created to provide that the legislature may not delegate its sole power to determine how moneys shall be appropriated?”
NO - QUESTION 2: “Allocation of federal moneys. Shall section 35 (2) of article IV of the constitution be created to prohibit the governor from allocating any federal moneys the governor accepts on behalf of the state without the approval of the legislature by joint resolution or as provided by legislative rule?”

Read more about the state-wide results of the two referenda questions, please click on the link here: https://www.wsaw.com/video/2024/08/14/wisconsin-referendum-questions-fail-august-primary/


Congressional Primary Election Results

Election observers had been following two congressional primary elections. Currently, the GOP holds six of the state’s eight seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Third Congressional District
Democrat Rebecca Cooke of Eau Claire won a three-way Democratic Primary to challenge first-term GOP U.S. Congressman Derrick Van Order (R-Prairie du Chien) in the upcoming November election. Cooke, who finished second in the Third Congressional District Democratic Primary two years ago, received 50 percent of the vote compared to current state Representative Katrina Shankland’s (D-Stevens Point) 41 percent with Eric Wilson of Eau Claire finishing third by receiving under 10 percent.

To read more about Cooke’s primary victory, please click below: 

https://www.wkow.com/news/rebecca-cooke-wins-democratic-primary-for-3rd-congressional-district/article_0dda0b7c-59eb-11ef-bd3e-137fe13e2f6d.html

Eighth Congressional District
Green Bay business owner Tony Wied won a three-way GOP primary to fill the open congressional seat in northeast Wisconsin that was previously held by former Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Green Bay) who abruptly resigned the seat this past April. Wied, who has held no previous elected office, received 44 percent with former state Senator Roger Roth (R-Appleton) receiving 32 percent and state Senator Andre Jacque (R-DePere) garnered 25 percent.

In the upcoming November election, Wied will face Democrat Kristin Lyerly, a Green Bay Ob/Gyn Doctor, in the GOP-leaning district.

To read about Wied’s victory, please click here: https://www.foxnews.com/video/6360409833112


State Legislative Primary Election Results
Primary elections were held across the state for both state Senate and state Assembly races. These races were the first state legislative elections since the passage Act 94, which was comprehensive bipartisan redistricting legislation that was signed into law by Governor Tony Evers in February.

To view full legislative primary election results, please click below: 

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-primary-elections/wisconsin-senate-results
Several incumbent lawmakers faced each other in Tuesday’s primary election.


State Senate
4th District – State Senator Dora Drake (D-Milwaukee) defeated state Rep. LaKiesha Myers (D-Milwaukee).

16th District - State Representative Melissa Ratcliff (D-Cottage Grove) defeated state Representative Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg) and state Representative Samba Baldeh (D-Madison).

20th District – State Senator Dan Feyen (R-Fond du Lac) defeated former state Representative Tim Ramthum (R-Kewaskum).


State Assembly (key primaries)
4th District – State Representative  David Steffen (R-Green Bay) defeated challenger Darwin Behnke, father of current State Rep. Elijah Behnke (R-Oconto, currently AD 89, now running for AD 6).

6th District – State Representative Elijah Behnke (R-Oconto) defeated state Representative Peter Schmidt (R-Shawano).

24th District – Current State Senator Dan Knodl (R-Germantown – currently SD-8) easily defeated State Rep. Janel Brandtjen (R-Menomonee Falls – currently AD-22), setting the stage for Knodl to return to the State Assembly. Knodl beat Brandtjen in a February 2023 primary on his way to winning a special election for the 8th SD. But he decided to make a bid to return to the Assembly, where he served for 14 years, after he was drawn into a state Senate seat with fellow Republican Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville).

25th District – State Representative Paul Tittl (R-Manitowoc) defeated challenger David Wage, a former Manitowoc County Board member and retired owner and CEO of a tube bending and fabrication company.

37th District – State Representative Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam), who is the Assembly co-chair of the Joint Committee on Finance, easily defeated a primary challenge from Steve Rydzewski (Beaver Dam).

55th District – State Representative Nate Gustafson (R-Fox Crossing) defeated state Representative Michael Schraa (R-Oshkosh).

57th District – State Representative Kevin Petersen (R-Waupaca, currently AD 40), who was redrawn into this district, easily defeated Duane Wilson (Waupaca) to secure the Republican spot on the November ballot.

86th District – State Representative John Spiros (R-Marshfield) defeated state Representative Donna Rozar (R-Marshfield).

99th District – State Representative Kevin Petersen (R-Waupaca, currently AD 40), who was redrawn into this district, easily defeated Duane Wilson (Waupaca) to secure the Republican spot on the November ballot.

To read more about the primary elections where incumbent lawmakers faced each other, please click on the link here: https://www.wispolitics.com/2024/gustafson-defeats-schraa-behnke-beats-schmidt-in-gop-primaries/