Five-way primary set in the 89th Assmbly District

There is no shortage of Republicans interested in the state Assembly seat vacated by John Nygren’s recent resignation.

Five GOP candidates submitted the necessary paperwork to get on the ballot for the Feb. 16 primary election in the 89th Assembly District.

They are Elijah Benke, Oconto; Debbie Jacques, Green Bay; David J. Kamps, Coleman; Michael T. Kunesh, Marinette; and Michael Schneider, Suamico.

The winner will be the Republican nominee on the April 6 ballot against Democrat Karl Jaeger of Marinette.

Nygren represented the 89th from 2007 through Dec. 1, when he resigned to become executive director of the Wisconsin Association of Health Plans. The announcement came less than a month after he picked up close to 70% of the vote over Jaeger to secure what would have been his eighth two-year term.

Gov. Tony Evers scheduled the special election to coincide with the regular spring election. A statewide seven-way primary for state superintendent of public instruction is also planned for Feb. 16.

The 89th Assembly District includes parts of Brown and Marinette counties as well as the city of Oconto and the Oconto County towns of Abrams, Little River, Little Suamico, Oconto, Pensaukee and Stiles.