Hartwig, Barnes, LaFollette Nab Nominations For State Offices

While the media and many voters focused their attention on the gubernatorial race or those vying for seats in Congress in Tuesday’s primary election, a group of candidates competed for statewide offices further down the ballot.

A former mutual fund administrator has captured the Republican nomination for state treasurer.

Travis Hartwig defeated Jill Millies in Tuesday’s primary. He advances to face Democrat Sarah Godlewski in the November election. Godlewski survived a three-way primary Tuesday.

Incumbent Republican Treasurer Matt Adamcyzk is running for the Legislature and isn’t seeking re-election to the office.

Hartwig made headlines in July when U.S. Bank fired him after he refused the bank’s demands that he drop out of the race. The bank was concerned his candidacy could be seen as a conflict of interest as it works to win a contract to provide banking services for the state.

The treasurer’s office has almost no power, but voters in April decided against eliminating it.

Godlewski, an Eau Claire management consultant, spent the spring campaigning to save the office.

LaFollette Seeks Another Term As Secretary Of State

Incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Doug LaFollette has survived a primary challenge.

LaFollette defeated fellow Democrat Arvina Martin in Tuesday’s primary. He advances to face Jay Schroeder in the November general election.

Schroeder, a Neenah stock investor, defeated Janesville chauffeur Spencer Zimmerman on Tuesday to win the Republication nomination

LaFollette, great-grandson of famed Wisconsin progressive Robert LaFollette, has served as secretary of state for 36 years. Martin is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation and serves on the Madison Common Council.

Republicans have stripped the secretary of state of any meaningful duties over the years. They delivered the final blow in 2015 when they forced LaFollette to move his office into the state Capitol basement.

Barnes Wins Nomination For Lieutenant Governor

Former state Rep. Mandela Barnes has defeated a Sheboygan businessman to win the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.

Barnes bested Kurt Kober in Tuesday’s primary. He’ll join Tony Evers on the Democratic gubernatorial ticket. They’ll face Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Republican Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch in November’s general election.

Barnes, an African-American, represented a swath of Milwaukee in the Legislature for two terms. He decided not to seek re-election in 2016, choosing instead to challenge state Sen. Lena Taylor in a Democratic primary. She defeated him by a wide margin.

Wisconsin’s lieutenant governor holds no authority or responsibilities beyond being first in the line of succession to the governorship.