Polls open at 7:00 for today’s primary election in Wisconsin. It’s a primary that’s primarily local, with only one statewide election, in the U.S. Senate. Democrat Russ Feingold faces a low-profile challenge from Scott Harbach. The winner faces Republican Ron Johnson, who defeated Feingold in 2010.
The most high-profile primary race is in the 1st Congresstional District, where House Speaker Paul Ryan is being challenged by businessman Paul Nehlen.
There’s also a three-way Republican race in northeastern Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District, where incumbent Reid Ribble chose not to seek re-election. The candidates are state Senator Frank Lasee, Mike Gallagher – who served as foreign policy advisor to Scott Walker’s presidential campaign – and businessman Terry McNulty.
The polls close at 8:00 this evening.
State election officials are also reminding voters that, despite recent court rulings, Wisconsin’s voter ID law remains in full effect for today’s primary. A federal judge last month ordered that those who are unable to obtain a qualifying ID for voting be allowed to sign an affidavit at the polls. The decision is not set to take effect until the November election, although the state has appealed the ruling.