Wisconsin Primary Voters Oust Over Half a Dozen Legislators, Boost Dems

MADISON, Wis. — The recent primary elections in Wisconsin saw significant changes in the political landscape, as several incumbent lawmakers, including prominent figures known for their controversial views on the 2020 presidential election, were defeated. This wave of changes signals a potential shift as Democrats gear up to regain control of the Assembly for the first time in nearly 15 years.

Earlier this year, the state Supreme Court, controlled by a liberal majority, approved new legislative district maps, developed under Democratic Governor Tony Evers. These changes led to a number of legislative incumbents facing off against one another, resulting in some deciding to retire rather than compete against colleagues. Others, who chose to contest, suffered defeats.

A total of seven sitting legislators lost their seats in the primaries. Among them were Republican Representatives Janel Brandtjen, Peter Schmidt, Michael Schraa, and Donna Rozar, alongside Democratic Representatives LaKeisha Myers, Samba Baldeh, and Jimmy Anderson.

Brandtjen, who served the northwestern suburbs of Milwaukee since 2014, became particularly well-known for her refusal to accept the legitimacy of President Joe Biden’s victory in Wisconsin. She openly called for the removal of Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe and harshly criticized Assembly Speaker Robin Vos for not pursuing election inquiries. Despite receiving an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, Brandtjen was denied access to GOP caucuses by Vos.

In a strategic move, Republican Senator Dan Knodl opted to run for Brandtjen’s Assembly seat after new district boundaries placed him in the same Senate district as Senator Duey Stroebel. Knodl emerged victorious in the primary, securing 65% of the vote against Brandtjen. Brandtjen did not respond to requests for comment following her defeat.

While Knodl identifies as more moderate than Brandtjen, his past ties to election denialism remain notable; he was one of the signatories to a letter urging then-Vice President Mike Pence to postpone the certification of Biden’s victory. Despite acknowledging Biden’s win, Knodl cited “abnormalities” in the election process. He will face Democrat William Walter in the upcoming November elections. Walter is the executive director of Our Wisconsin Revolution, an organization advocating against what it terms the “reckless abuse of power by rich elites.”

In another significant primary, incumbent Republican Senator Dan Feyen defeated former state representative and gubernatorial candidate Timothy Ramthun, who gained attention for his efforts to decertify Biden’s election win and counted Trump among his supporters. Feyen won with 64% of the votes and will challenge Democrat Michael Rapp in November.

Meanwhile, in the Fox Cities, Michael Schraa faced off against rookie Representative Nate Gustafson due to the district changes. Schraa had been a member of the Assembly since 2012 and was notable for his work on prison reform. Ultimately, Gustafson defeated him with about 55% of the votes and is set to contest against Democrat Kyle Kehoe, a local real estate agent, this November.

In another Republican primary in central Wisconsin, Rep. John Spiros secured a win against Rozar for a seat representing the Marshfield area, as the new maps reorganized their districts. Spiros will compete against former Marathon County Supervisor John Small in the general election.

However, not all election results were clear-cut, as issues arose in a northern Wisconsin primary where ballots were mistakenly mixed up. Voters in the town of Summit received incorrect ballots that did not allow them to vote in the Republican primary between incumbent Rep. Chanz Green and former prison guard Scott Harbridge. The county clerk acknowledged the error due to the new legislative maps. As of the latest unofficial results, Green was in the lead, but the situation remains unresolved as Harbridge has expressed intentions to contest the outcome.

The primary elections set the stage for more political drama as November approaches. With the new maps enhancing the Democrats’ prospects for significant gains in the Legislature for the first time in over a decade, the political atmosphere is charged. Although Democrats acknowledge that taking control of the Senate may be out of reach this cycle, the reshuffled districts have left nearly 60 of the Assembly’s 99 seats available, presenting a genuine opportunity for the party.

In the primaries, Democrats managed to secure seven open Assembly seats and two Senate seats outright, having no Republican opposition in those races. Meanwhile, one Republican also won an open Assembly seat without opposition from Democrats, with the GOP continuing to maintain control over that seat. All of these shifts indicate an ongoing seismic shift in Wisconsin politics, driven largely by the recent redistricting.