By: Associated Press//June 1, 2020//
By SCOTT BAUER
Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Candidates running for Congress and the Wisconsin Legislature faced a deadline on Monday to qualify to appear on the ballot.
Republicans are looking to maintain their majorities in both the state Senate and Assembly heading into 2021, when the Legislature will be charged with the once-a-decade job of redistricting. There will be seven open seats in the Senate due mostly to retirements. Republicans hold a 19-14 majority there and 63-36 in the Assembly, making their opposition difficult for Democrats to overcome.
Republicans also hold five of Wisconsin’s eight congressional seats.
For the first time in 42 years, Jim Sensenbrenner will not be on the ballot for Congress. The Republican, who represents a conservative congressional district that takes in most of Milwaukee’s western suburbs, is retiring. Scott Fitzgerald, the Republican state Senate majority leader, is vying for the seat. He faces Democrat Tom Palzewicz, who ran against Sensenbrenner in 2018 and lost by 24 points.
There will be a rematch of last month’s special election to fill northern Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District. Republican Tom Tiffany handily won the special election by 14 points over Democrat Tricia Zunker.
They will meet again in November with a full, two-year term on the line.