Democrat Russ Feingold delivers his nomination papers to the GAB in Madison. (Photo: Andrew Beckett)
Hundreds of candidates plan to seek state and federal offices in November.
The deadline for nomination papers to be filed with the state Government Accountability Board was Wednesday afternoon, with 362 candidates turning in the signatures required to get them on the ballot. Election officials and the campaigns will now review those papers. Any challenges will be taken up by the GAB on June 10.
Most candidates who are certified will appear on ballots during the state’s August 9 partisan primary. Several candidates are battling it out for open seats in the state Legislature, while multiple incumbents are also facing challenges from within their own parties.
While the top federal race on the ballot in November is expected to be the presidential contest, Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate race is also expected to draw out many voters. Incumbent Republican Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) is facing a challenge from Democrat Russ Feingold, who Johnson unseated in the 2010 election. Feingold will face a primary challenge from Scott Harbach of Kenosha, while Libertarian Phillip Anderson of Fitchburg will appear on the ballot in November.
A total of five candidates filed paperwork to run for the state’s only open Congressional seat in the 8th District, which U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble (R-WI) plans to retire from at the end of his current term. Gary Schomburg of Lakewood, Terry McNulty of Forestville, State Sen. Frank Lasee of De Pere, and Mike Gallagher of Green Bay are all seeking the Republican nomination, while Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson is the only Democrat in the race.
All seven of Wisconsin’s other House incumbents will face challengers. Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan of Janesville has six others running for his seat, including an August primary challenge from Paul Nehlen. Former state Senate Democrat Gary George of Milwaukee is making his second straight bid for the House seat held by Milwaukee Democrat Gwen Moore.
All 99 seats in the state Assembly and 16 seats in the state Senate are up for election this fall, with primaries expected in several of those districts.