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2 More Candidates Announce Bids For Harsdorf’s Vacant Senate Seat

Former Republican Sen. Sheila Harsdorf's Seat Is Open After Being Appointed To Walker's Cabinet

By
Wisconsin state Senate
Jimmy Emerson, DVM (CC-BY-NC-ND)

Two more candidates say they’re running for western Wisconsin’s 10th State Senate District seat vacated this week after sitting Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, R-River Falls, was appointed to Gov. Scott Walker’s cabinet.

State Rep. Shannon Zimmerman, R-River Falls, and Democrat Patty Schachtner are the latest to announce bids for the Senate seat.

Harsdorf left the office Tuesday after being sworn into her new role as secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

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Zimmerman is the founder of an online translation company. He was elected to the state Assembly in 2016.

Schachtner is the St. Croix County medical examiner. Though she hasn’t filed papers with the Wisconsin Elections Commission, a press release announcing her run paints her as a bear hunting, straight talking candidate who will put western Wisconsin first.

“I’m running to fight for western Wisconsin families. Whether it’s roads, schools or jobs, Madison politicians take money away from us and give it to Milwaukee,” Schachtner said in the release. “And we’re wrestling with a historic mental health and addiction epidemic here at home that’s largely ignored by Madison politicians. That’s why I say that it’s time for the kind of change that puts Western Wisconsin first.”

Neither candidate was able to respond to requests for comment about their campaigns by deadline.

Schachtner and Zimmerman join state Rep. Adam Jarchow, R-Balsam Lake, in running for the vacant Senate seat.

Walker has called for a special election to be held Jan. 16. A primary will be held Dec. 19.