3 will face off in state Senate race

Dems optimistic about chances

MADISON – Republican state Rep. Adam Jarchow will face Democrat Patty Schachtner in a special election in western Wisconsin to replace state Sen. Sheila Harsdorf.

Jarchow, of Balsam Lake, beat fellow state Rep. Shannon Zimmerman of River Falls in Tuesday’s Republican primary, according to Wisconsin Public Radio.

Schachtner, the chief medical examiner for St. Croix County, won a three-way Democratic primary.

Libertarian Brian Corriea is also running in the Jan. 16 special election.

The seat came open when GOP Gov. Scott Walker appointed Harsdorf, a Republican from River Falls, to be his agriculture secretary last month.

The district has long been held by Republicans, but Democrats argue they have a shot at winning given successes by their party around the country this year.

Republicans control the Senate, 19-13.

In the GOP primary, Jarchow had 56% of the vote and Zimmerman had 44%, according to unofficial results cited by Wisconsin Public Radio.

Schachtner got 70% of the vote in the Democratic primary, besting John Calabrese of Glenwood City and Reuben Herfindahl of River Falls.

Also Tuesday, Washington County Supervisor Rick Gundrum won the Republican primary for the 58th Assembly District that covers West Bend, Slinger and Jackson, according to Wisconsin Public Radio.

He will face Democrat Dennis Degenhardt in the Jan. 16 special election for the heavily Republican district.

The special election is being held to replace state Rep. Bob Gannon (R-West Bend), who died in October.

In the GOP primary, Gundrum beat Tiffany Koehler, who served as an aide to Gannon after losing the 2014 primary to him.

In Racine, former nonprofit director Greta Neubauer beat Ald. John Tate II in the Democratic primary for the 66th Assembly District, according to the Racine Journal Times.

Neubauer is all but assured of taking the seat on Jan. 16 because no Republican has registered to run for the race.

That election was called because Democratic Rep. Cory Mason is stepping down after winning the race for Racine mayor in October.

Neubauer is the former director of the nonprofit Fossil Fuel Divestment Student Network.

She is the daughter of state Appeals Judge Lisa Neubauer and former state Rep. Jeff Neubauer.

Republicans control the Assembly 63-35.