Republicans retain control of two Assembly seats as their candidates won special elections to fill vacancies created by the resignations of two GOP lawmakers. In central Wisconsin, Stratford roofer Bob Kulp received 67% of the vote to win the 69th district seat vacated by Scott Suder, a veteran legislator who was Assembly Majority Leader when he resigned in September. Kulp defeated Democrat Ken Slezak and Independent Tim Swiggum.
In the south Milwaukee suburbs, school choice advocate Jessie Rodriguez had 56% percent of the vote in her win over Democrat Elizabeth Coppola in the 21st district She replaces Republican Mark Honadel, who also left in mid-September. The GOP’s Assembly majority is 59-to-39.
There was also a Republican primary Tuesday in another suburban Milwaukee Assembly district, where long-time Republican Jeff Stone left to take a job with the state Public Service Commission. Franklin Alderman Ken Skowronski eliminated three other candidates in the 82nd district and will face Democrat John Hermes, the village president in Greendale, in a general election December 17th.