Democrat Field Down to 8 in Gubernatorial Primary

The once massive Democratic field of gubernatorial candidates has been whittled down to eight for the Aug. 14 primary. Two candidates (Andy Gronik and Dana Wachs) who have since dropped out, will still be listed on the ballot, for a total of 10 Democratic candidates listed on the ballot. The eight remaining candidates are:

• State School Superintendent Tony Evers, the front-runner going into the primary.
• Milwaukee attorney Matt Flynn.
• Madison activist Mike McCabe.
• State firefighter union president Mahlon Mitchell.
• Kenosha attorney Josh Pade.
• Former state representative Kelda Roys.
• Madison Mayor Paul Soglin.
• State Senator Kathleen Vinehout.

Two Democrats are facing off as candidates for lieutenant governor – Mandela Barnes and Kurt Kober. Incumbent Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch is unchallenged.

Two-time incumbent Gov. Scott Walker will face fellow Sun Prairie small businessman and self-proclaimed “fiscally conservative moderate” Robert Meyer in the primary.

Madison Democrat Arvina Martin is challenging incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Doug LaFollette, while two Republicans have also registered for the race – Jay Schroeder of Neenah and Spencer Zimmerman of Janesville.

For the office of State Treasurer, Republicans Travis Hartwig of Oak Creek, and Jill Millies of Big Bend will face off in the primary, while three Democrats duke it out – Dawn Marie Sass of Belleville, Cynthia Kaump of Madison and Sarah Godlewski of Madison.

Five Republicans are on the ballot for the United States Senate seat held by Tammy Baldwin, who is running unchallenged by fellow Democrats. The five Republicans are the two frontrunners, Kevin Nicholson and Leah Vukmir, followed by George Lucia of De Pere, Griffin Jones of Madison and Charles Baman of Delavan.

Rep. Mike Gallagher, first-term incumbent in the 8th Congressional District, is unchallenged by fellow Republicans.

In the 1st Senate District race, Washington Island resident Bill Nauta, a retired U.S. Army Lt. Col., will face state Rep. Andre Jacque of De Pere for the right to face Democratic Sen. Caleb Frostman in November.

For more information on the primary candidates, visit the State Capitol broadcast network WisconsinEye, which conducted 107 interviews with candidates in the Aug. 14 primary, wiseye.org/Campaign-2018. Some of the candidates also responded to questions from the League of Women Voters of Dane County. Find those responses at lwvdanecounty.org.