Congressman Tom Petri emerged victorious in his first primary challenge in more than 30 years. With 82 percent of the vote, he easily defeated businesswoman Lauren Stephens Tuesday, the first person to oppose him in a primary since he originally ran for the office.
“There was a time back in 1979 when six of us ran, including Tommy Thompson, and this is only time since,” said the Fond du Lac Republican.
Petri will face Democrat Joe Kallas in the November election. They faced each other in 2010 with Petri picking up 70 percent of the vote in that race.
Wisconsin’s only other U.S. House primary Tuesday saw State Rep. Mark Pocan the winner in the 2nd Congressional District, occupied by Tammy Baldwin who is running for Senate.
Bob Nelson-KFIZ contributed to this report
