State Sen. Eric Wimberger announced his candidacy March 27 for the newly redrawn 2nd Senate District, potentially setting up a Republican primary with state Sen. Robert Cowles.
The 2nd Senate District, which has no incumbent under the new maps, was redrawn to include most of Oconto County south and east of Suring, along with all of Menominee County and parts of Shawano, as well as the villages of Bonduel, Bowler, Cecil and Gresham, and 16 of Shawano County’s 25 towns.
The district also includes parts of Waupaca and Outagamie counties, including Little Chute, Seymour and neighborhoods in Appleton and Kaukauna.
Cowles has made no announcement but indicated an interest in moving so that he can run for re-election to the 2nd District, which contains much of the territory he has represented in the Senate since 1987. The district also contains much of the former 30th Senate District, which ran from Green Bay north to Marinette, which Wimberger has served since 2021.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to be the conservative voice for my current constituents and new constituents in northeast Wisconsin,.” Wimberger said in a statement announcing his candidacy. “From the north of the district near my family’s small business, to the very south where the first generation of Wimbergers immigrated to a Kaukauna farm, I have strong vested ties to the area.”
Wimberger cited highlights from his first term including obtaining funds and drafting legislation to help remediate PFAS contamination in rural and urban areas, and securing funding for the southern bridge across the Fox River in Brown County.
“I look forward to continuing my effective representation as the Legislative Audit Committee Chairman doing government oversight, and as a member of the Joint Finance Committee organizing the state budget,” he said. “I’ll also have an opportunity to live closer to the family business, Sweet Memories Candy Shoppe in Lakewood, and help my mom in our 35th year open.”
Wimberger to run in new 2nd Senate District
