Wisconsin Primary Election Results 2018: Vukmir, Evers, Steil Win

WISCONSIN — State Sen. Leah Vukmir was declared the winner Tuesday night in the GOP U.S. Senate primary against Marine veteran and businessman Kevin Nicholson in unofficial returns. With all precincts reporting, Vukmir received 49 percent of the vote. Nicholson had 42.9 percent.

Vukmir and Nicholson were considered the frontrunners to be the Republican challenger to incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin in the November election. Vukmir can expect a lot of help in the race to defeat Baldwin, who did not have an opponent in the Democratic primary.

9:52 p.m. Sensenbrenner Keeps Going

U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, who was first elected to Congress in 1978, was declared the winner Tuesday in his first primary challenge in the last 10 years. Jennifer Vipond, a pediatrician from Elm Grove, had challenged the 75-year-old Republican congressman. With all precincts reporting, Sensenbrenner had captured 81 percent of the vote to Vipond's 18.8 percent.

Sensenbrenner will face Democrat Tom Palzewicz of Brookfield in November.

Sensenbrenner touted his experience in Congress and his conservative politics while Vipond, 55, said voters were ready for a change. She described herself as a fiscal conservative who is moderate on social issues.

Vipond focused on health care issues in her campaign. She has said that guidance from physicians is needed for creating health care policy and lawmakers need to reduce health care costs. Vipond has been a pediatrician with Medical Associates/Prohealthcare in Waukesha for 27 years.

9:23 p.m. It'll be Steil vs. the "Iron Stache"

Voters in Wisconsin's First Congressional District will have two choices this November: Steil, or the Iron Stache. Democratic candidate Randy Bryce has defeated fellow democrat Cathy Myers to advance to the Nov. general election to face Republican Bryan Steil.

It only took four minutes, but it's already ugly: “You’d need a Boeing 747 to fit all of the baggage Randy Bryce is carrying into November. The only thing longer than his rap sheet is the number of ridiculously out of touch liberal policies he supports.” That's a comment from National Republican Congressional Committee Spokesperson Chris Martin.

Meanwhile, the Bryce campaign had this to say: "Lyin' Bryan pretends to care about working people, but his support of tax cuts for the wealthy -- paid for by cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security -- proves he has no idea what people in this district need. I do understand--I know what it's like to fall on hard times. Bottom line-- we need to build a bigger table for everyone. And I will work every day for the next three months to make sure the people in this district get the respect and representation they deserve."

9:14 p.m. It Will Be Tony Evers vs. Scott Walker this November

Democratic candidate for Governor Tony Evers has risen to the top of an 8-way race to secure the party's nominee and will take on Gov. Scott Walker this November.

Evers, the state's Department of Public Instruction chief, will now take on the author of Act 10 in a November showdown.

9:10 p.m. Republicans Like Steil

Republican voters in Wisconsin's First Congressional District have spoken and have chosen Bryan Steil as their candidate to run in Paul Ryan's place in November.

Steil, a 37-year-old from Janesville, says he's a conservative problem-solver. "In Congress, I will use my background working for Wisconsin manufacturers to fight for legislation that cuts needless government regulations and creates high-wage jobs. We also need to prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow," he told Patch.

The polls for our Republican Primary are open! Please be sure to get out and vote today before 8 pm. I am committed to representing our district and fighting for Conservative Wisconsin Style Values in Congress. I would be honored to have your vote. #TeamSteil pic.twitter.com/XOudP7mbBM
— Bryan Steil (@BryanSteilforWI) August" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/BryanSteil... 14, 2018

8:58 p.m. Milwaukee Sheriff Stunner

The race for Milwaukee County Sheriff on the Democratic side has been decided and Retired Milwaukee police captain and commander Earnell Lucas has defeated interim Milwaukee County Sheriff Richard Schmidt on Tuesday night. Lucas' victory is an all-but-certain appointment to the Sheriff job as no Republican challenger is on the ballot.

"Earnell is running for Sheriff to restore the public's trust in the Sheriff's Office, to reduce violent crime by restoring a trusted law enforcement presence to our parks and highways, and to ensure that the rights and dignity of everyone working or detained in the Milwaukee County Jail are honored," he stated to Patch earlier this year.

8:52 p.m. Steil Looking Good

In the battle to succeed Paul Ryan in Congress, Republican Bryan Steil has taken the early lead over his Republican cohorts - taking a commanding 49 percent to 14 percent lead over Kevin Steen. On the Democratic side, Randy Bryce is leading fellow Democrat Cathy Myers 58 percent to 42 percent.

According to official Wisconsin Election Commission numbers, a total of 98,568 absentee ballots had been cast statewide - a major increase of 13.5 percent when compared to the 2016 primary.

8:49 p.m. Vukmir Takes Lead

State Sen. Leah Vukmir took an early lead Tuesday against Marine veteran and businessman Kevin Nicholson in early returns of the GOP U.S. Senate primary. With 12 percent of precincts reporting, Vukmir had captured almost 58 percent of the vote. Nicholson had 37 percent.

Vukmir and Nicholson are considered the frontrunners to be the Republican challenger to incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin in the November election. The candidate who wins the GOP primary can expect a lot of help in the race to defeat Baldwin.

Learn more about local and statewide candidates here.

Know Wisconsin's Voter ID Law: Acceptable forms of ID at the polls.

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Succeeding Paul Ryan In Congress

Voters on Tuesday, Aug. 14 got their first opportunity to whittle down the number of candidates who will eventually replace longtime Republican legislator and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan in Wisconsin's First Congressional District.

In Wisconsin, Ryan appeared to be a heavy favorite to retain his Wisconsin 1st District seat for an 11th consecutive term. In fact, Ryan has never lost an election except as the Republican vice presidential candidate in 2012. Ryan has never received less than 54 percent of the vote when he has won, according to ABC News.

Tuesday's ballot featured a raft of candidates, including six candidates listed as Republicans and two listed as Democrats.

Republicans
Bradley Boivin
Paul Nehlen
Nick Polce
Jeremy Ryan
Kevin A. Steen
Bryan Steil
Democrats
Randy Bryce
Cathy Myers

Gov. Scott Walker Battle Tested

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's political path has seemingly never been easy.

He survived mass protests that consumed the state capitol building after proposing and passing Act 10, which limited the ability of public workers of the ability to collectively bargain drew mass protests and demonstrations.

The next year, Walker survived his own recall election by defeating Democratic Opponent Tom Barrett in a rematch of the 2010 election.

Walker put forward a proposal to bring Voter ID to Wisconsin in January 2011. After five years, Voter ID survived many legal challenges before becoming law.\

In January 2015, Walker set up a presidential campaign called "Our American Revival." Facing eroding political support and dwindling expenses, Walker suspended his campaign by September, and threw his support behind presumptive nominee Donald Trump.

He survived two John Doe investigations, both of which went on for years as prosecutors investigated Walker's recall campaign financing and at-work campaign activity by Walker staff members when he was Milwaukee County Executive.

As Walker gears up his 2018 gubernatorial campaign, Walker has assembled a list of accomplishments - some of which have been largely praised while others seem controversial.

"We've got an incredible organization," Walker said in a Washington Examiner report. "We're strong. We've been battle-tested."

Walker will face one of 10 Democratic challengers, each who has hopes of advancing past Tuesday's primary:

• Tony Evers
• Matt Flynn
• Mike McCabe
• Mahlon Mitchell (Read more about Mahlon Mitchell here)
• Joshua Pade (Read more about Josh Pade here)
• Kelda Roys (Read more about Kelda Roys here)
• Paul Soglin
• Kathleen Vinehout
• Dana Wachs

Vying For a Senate Seat

State Sen. Leah Vukmir and Marine veteran and businessman Kevin Nicholson were the frontrunners to be the Republican challenger to incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin in the November election.

President Donald Trump won Wisconsin by less than a percentage point in 2016 and Republicans are targeting Baldwin for defeat in the fall. According to a Huffington Post article, conservative groups had already spent at least $3.1 million by January against Baldwin, which is more than what all the other Democratic Senate incumbents on the ballot this year have faced combined.

According to CNN Politics, Wisconsin is one of the Senate races to watch, and is named among the several Senate seats to switch parties in the fall of 2018.

Challenging Sensenbrenner For Congress

U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, who was first elected to Congress in 1978, faced his first primary race in the last 10 years on Tuesday. Jennifer Vipond, a pediatrician from Elm Grove, challenged the 75-year-old Republican congressman. The incumbent will face Democrat Tom Palzewicz of Brookfield in November.

Sensenbrenner touted his experience in Congress and his conservative politics while Vipond, 55, said voters were ready for a change. She described herself as a fiscal conservative who is moderate on social issues.

Vipond focused on health care issues in her campaign. She said that guidance from physicians was needed for creating health care policy and lawmakers needed to reduce health care costs. Vipond has been a pediatrician with Medical Associates/Prohealthcare in Waukesha for 27 years.

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