Polls Open For Wisconsin’s Primary Election

A relatively small number of Wisconsin voters are expected to head to the polls on Tuesday for Wisconsin’s August primary election.

In the biggest statewide primary, three Democrats are vying for the chance to be their party’s candidate for Wisconsin attorney general. Jefferson County district attorney Susan Happ, Dane County district attorney Ishmael Ozanne and Milwaukee Assembly member Jon Richards. The winner will take on Waukesha County district attorney Brad Schimel, a Republican, in November.

The biggest congressional primary features four Republicans hoping to fill the seat left vacant by retiring U.S. Rep. Tom Petri. Three of the four are sitting state lawmakers: State Sens. Glen Grothman and Joe Leibham and Rep. Duey Stroebel. The fourth is Tom Denow. The winner faces Democrat Mark Harris, who is Winnebago County executive.

A few state Senate races could shape Wisconsin’s next Legislature. Former state Sen. Van Wanggaard has been battling it out with Jonathan Steitz in a Republican primary for a newly-drawn conservative district in Racine and Kenosha counties.

In southwest Wisconsin, Democrats Pat Bomhack and Ernie Wittwer are both running for the Senate seat vacated by Republican Dale Schultz. One of them will face Republican Howard Marklein in November.

The race for Milwaukee County sheriff has been heating up as incumbent Sheriff David Clarke faces Milwaukee Police Lt. David Moews. While the primary is officially Democratic, Clarke is backed by Republicans.

Also in Milwaukee, U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore faces a Democratic primary challenge from former state Sen. Gary George, who was sentenced to prison in 2004 for accepting kickbacks while in office.

Election officials are expecting turnout of 15 percent. By comparison, turnout in the past couple November gubernatorial elections has been about 50 percent.

Stay tuned to WPR and WPR.org for continuing coverage.