U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany easily secured the Republican nomination in the Wisconsin governor’s race in the Aug. 11 primary, but assumed frontrunner for the Democrats state Rep. Francesca Hong narrowly lost her chance to go toe-to-toe with the current Congressman in a close race with Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.
Local voting, for the most part, mirrored statewide numbers as thousands of voters in northeast Wisconsin cast a ballot either in the Republican primary or the Democratic primary. Oconto County reported 26% for the election. Shawano and Menominee counties did not have voter percentages readily available.
Tiffany bested Andy Manske in all three counties after getting the endorsement of President Donald Trump. In Menominee County, Tiffany got 69 votes to one for Manske. Tiffany received 3,958 votes in Shawano County to Manske’s 111, and the vote in Oconto County was 4,469 for Tiffany and 129 for Manske.
The Democratic race for governor was much more competitive with four candidates remaining on the ballot, even though three more who dropped out did so after ballots were set up. Even though the statewide race was razor thin, Crowley won by a wider margin in Oconto County with 1,526 votes compared to 954 for Hong. The margin was a little closer in Shawano County with 1,388 votes for Crowley and 1,037 for Hong. Hong led in Menominee County with 158 votes, while Crowley received 129.
The frontrunners announced on election night that the fight wasn’t over, and there was more work to be done in the next three months.
“This fight is bigger than any one party,” Tiffany said in a press release. “It’s bigger than any one candidate. This fight is about Wisconsin and protecting the state we know and love. It’s about lowering property taxes, returning the surplus to you, getting utility costs under control, and letting hardworking Wisconsinites keep more of what they earn. Let’s move Wisconsin forward, together.”
“From day one, this campaign has been about what comes next for Wisconsin: making life more affordable, strengthening our schools, creating good-paying jobs, and making sure opportunity reaches every corner of our state,” said Garrett Randolph, Crowley’s campaign manager, in a press release. “Now, David is focused on bringing people together, earning the support of Democrats, Republicans, independents, and anyone who believes Wisconsin is at its best when we work together and deliver results.”
The other major race Aug. 11 was to determine who would face off against Rep. Tony Wied in the November general election. Rick Crosson won the race districtwide, edging out Mark Scheffler and Katrina de Ville, respectively.
In Shawano County, Crosson received 917 votes, while de Ville finished second with 885 votes and Scheffler 809. Crosson received 1,052 votes in Oconto County, followed by Scheffler with 956 and de Ville with 946.
Other competitive race results include the following:
• Lieutenant governor, Republican: Oconto County, 2,387 votes for David Varnam, 1,692 for Will Martin; Menominee County, 34 for Varnam, 21 for Martin; Shawano County, 2,168 for Varnam, 1,442 for Martin.
• Secretary of state, Republican: Oconto County, 2,167 votes for Jay Schroeder, 706 for Brayden Myer, 687 for Nate Pollnow, 472 for Cindy Werner; Menominee County, 27 for Schroeder, nine for Pollnow, eight for Werner, seven for Myer; Shawano County, 2,313 for Schroeder, 696 for Pollnow, 487 for Werner, 437 for Myer.
• State treasurer, Democratic: Oconto County, 1,588 votes for Dylan Helmenstine, 1,315 for Yee Leng Xiong; Menominee County, 176 for Xiong, 127 for Helmenstine; Shawano County, 1,396 for Xiong, 1,227 for Helmenstine.
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
Voters line up to receive their ballots from poll workers Aug. 11 at Shawano City Hall during the partisan primary election. According to City Clerk Lesley Nemetz, Shawano's turnout kept officials busy throughout the day. (Greg Mellis | NEW Media)
