Local News
Half legislative races in Wisconsin will run unopposed after primary
Lowest number of candidates in 16 years
Thousands of Wisconsin voters won’t have much of a choice when they elect state lawmakers this year.
About 35 percent of the races for Assembly or Senate have just one person listed on the ballot right now – and that’s before the August primary.
It’s the lowest number of candidates in 16 years.
The lack of competition gets even worse after that, according to Wisconsin Taxpayers Association president Todd Berry.
“The number goes up to about half when you get past the primary because (there are) a lot of districts that only have a primary or only have a minor candidate.”
Berry says that in half of the legislative races this fall, one party is guaranteed a victory.
He says apathy or laziness among citizens may be partly to blame, along with the nastiness of political races preventing some people from running.
